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Format

Broadcast WAVE

Download XML

Summary

Name
Broadcast WAVE
Version
2 MPEG Encoding
Identifiers
  • MIME: audio/x-wav
  • PUID: fmt/708
Format type
Audio
Family
WAVE
Description
Broadcast WAVE is a chunk-based audio format developed by the European Broadcasting Union, and based on the Microsoft WAVE format, which is in turn based on the generic Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF) specification developed by Microsoft and IBM. Structurally, a BWAVE file is composed of a number of chunks, each comprising a four character code chunk identifier, the chunk size, and the chunk data. It comprises a RIFF header with a WAVE data type identifier, followed by a series of chunks. Every file must include a Broadcast Audio Extension chunk, containing metadata required for exchange of information between broadcasters, a Format chunk, which describes the format of the audio data, and a Data chunk, containing the audio data itself. BWAVE files which contain MPEG-encoded audio data must also include a Fact chunk, containing file-dependent information about the audio data, and an MPEG Audio Extension chunk, containing extra information required to describe the MPEG encoding.
File extensions
wav
Source
National Library of New Zealand / National Library of New Zealand

Relationships

Has priority over

Internal signatures

BWAVE MPEG 2

Note
RIFF header, WAVE ID, BEXT chunk (Version=2), Format chunk

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
0
Byte Sequence
52494646{4}57415645*62657874{350}0200*666D7420{4}5000
Endianness
None

BWAVE MPEG 2 variant

Note
RIFF header, WAVE ID, Format chunk, BEXT chunk (Version=2)

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
0
Byte Sequence
52494646{4}57415645*666D7420{4}5000*62657874{350}0200
Endianness
None

Changelog

  • Updated in V97

    Release date
    1 October 2020

    Broadcast WAVE 2 MPEG Encoding: Added priority over fmt/142 Waveform Audio (WAVEFORMATEX). Submitted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

  • Added in V81

    Release date
    18 February 2015

    Broadcast WAVE 2 MPEG Encoding: New signature submitted by National Library of New Zealand.

    Broadcast WAVE 2 MPEG Encoding: Full entry added.