The default download format is MP3, and this is probably what you want. These files play back beautifully in Apple Music, Windows Media Player, your iPhone/Android phone, etc. and include high quality cover art, accurate artist and track names, and lyrics when available. Our MP3s use variable bit-rate encoding (VBR) to shrink the size of the files while maintaining the highest quality, so you get fast downloads and can fit more songs on your phone.
You can also download in FLAC, ALAC (Apple Lossless), AAC, Ogg Vorbis, WAV and AIFF formats. These options are, ahem, for “audiophiles and nerds.” If you aspire to become either, this isn’t a bad place to start.
Burning a CD? Your best bet would be to download in WAV or AIFF for an audio CD (most common) or in MP3 for a data CD.
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