Which one among the following is not an audio file format?

Which one among the following is not an audio file format?

WAV
MPEG
WMA
RAW
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CBI DSP LDCE – 2023
An audio file format is a file format for storing digital audio data on a computer system.
Let’s examine the options:
A) WAV (Waveform Audio File Format): A standard digital audio file format used for storing waveform audio data. It is an audio file format.
B) MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group): MPEG is a standard for digital video and audio compression. While MPEG standards define audio compression formats (like MP3, AAC), and file formats based on these standards (.mp3, .aac, .mp4 which can contain audio), the term “MPEG” itself often refers to the standards or formats that primarily handle video with accompanying audio (like .mpeg or .mpg files). However, given the context of typical audio formats, MPEG is related to audio formats.
C) WMA (Windows Media Audio): An audio data compression technology developed by Microsoft. Files using this technology (e.g., .wma) are audio file formats.
D) RAW: In computing and digital media, “raw” data refers to data that has received minimal processing. While “raw audio” exists (uncompressed PCM), “RAW” as a file format name is most commonly associated with image files produced by digital cameras (like .cr2, .nef, .dng, .arw). It’s not a standard name for an audio file format in the same way WAV or WMA are. Compared to the other options, RAW is the least likely to be considered a standard audio file format.

Therefore, RAW is the one that is not a standard audio file format.

Audio file formats are specific structures for storing digital sound. WAV and WMA are standard audio formats. MPEG relates to standards that include audio, though specific format names are often used (like MP3). RAW is primarily associated with image formats or unprocessed data, not a standard audio file format name.
Other common audio file formats include MP3, AAC, FLAC, OGG, AIFF, etc. While “raw audio” data exists, it’s generally considered data *before* being put into a standard audio file format container, or it might be saved in simple `.raw` or `.pcm` files without the header information found in formats like WAV.
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