┌─ FILE ANALYSIS ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┐
│ DEVELOPER : N/A (Universal standard)
│ CATEGORY : Audio
│ MIME TYPE : audio/L16
└ ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┘
What is a PCM file?
PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) is the standard method for digitally representing raw analog audio signals. PCM files contain uncompressed audio samples without any container format or metadata headers. They represent the purest form of digital audio but require knowledge of the sample rate, bit depth, and channel count to play correctly.
How to open PCM files
- Audacity (Windows, macOS, Linux) — Import raw data with parameters
- FFmpeg —
ffplay -f s16le -ar 44100 -ac 2 file.pcm - SoX (Command-line) — Sound processing tool
- Adobe Audition (Windows, macOS) — Professional audio editor
Technical specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Compression | None (raw samples) |
| Sample Rates | 8-192 kHz (common: 44.1, 48 kHz) |
| Bit Depth | 8, 16, 24, 32 bit |
| Byte Order | Little-endian or big-endian |
| Channels | Mono, stereo, or multichannel |
Common use cases
- Audio processing: Raw input for DSP pipelines.
- Embedded systems: Audio in firmware and microcontrollers.
- Telephony: Raw voice data in telecom systems.
- Professional recording: Intermediate format in DAW workflows.