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23 November 2009
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This section describes the BBC standard for BWAV files.

The Broadcast Wave Format File (BWF or BWAV) is a computer file format for audio, based on the Microsoft wave (.wav) file. It supports the interchange of audio and associated metadata between audio systems.

BBC Audio & Music audio requirements for BWAV specification can be found on (External) BBC Radio Resources web site .

The Basic Broadcast Wave Format - BWF or BWAV - construct:-

<wave-data> contains the Audio data.

PLUS Headers in the following order:-

• <broadcast-audio-extension> (<bext>) A custom chunk defined by EBU Tech 3285 version 1
• <fmt-ck> A compulsory chunk defined by Microsoft.
• <fact-ck>compulsory chunk defined by Microsoft used by non PCM formats. (e.g. MPEG)
• <mpeg-audio-extension> A custom chunk defined by EBU Tech 3285 supplement 1 containing additional information for MPEG 2 audio data.
• Any other custom chunks.

Documents ratified by the EBU can be found on the (External) EBU website .

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