Windows uses the audio file formats wma for compressed RealTracks and wav for uncompressed RealTracks. Mac uses audio file formats MP4a for compressed RealTracks and AIF for uncompressed RealTracks. The file formats used on each platform are native to the platform.

However, RealTracks are not just audio files. RealTracks are made of audio files and supporting files. The supporting files are not cross platform compatible.

Both Windows and Mac Band-in-a-Box versions can import cross platform audio files. You record an audio file in MAC BiaB and Windows BiaB can import the file.

The talk about the loss of fidelity is when you convert from a lossless audio file to a compressed audio file or if you convert from one compressed file format to another compressed file.

A lossless audio file is CD quality. Compressing an audio file looses some data. Compressing an audio file twice like you do when you convert from one compressed file format to another looses even more data.


Jim Fogle - 2024 BiaB (1111) RB (5) Ultra+ PAK
DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab (CbB) - Standalone: Zoom MRS-8
Laptop: i3 Win 10, 8GB ram 500GB HDD
Desktop: i7 Win 11, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home