SAMPLED

MIDI, formats and standards · updated 2026-08-16

BROADCAST WAV (BWF)

A WAV file with an embedded metadata chunk carrying timecode, originator and coding history. The standard delivery format for post.

MIDI DIN in/out connectors on an RME audio interface card — the physical ports behind the MIDI, interface and I/O terms in this section.
MIDI, formats and standards — MIDI DIN in/out connectors on an RME audio interface card — the physical ports behind the MIDI, interface and I/O terms in this section.

Photo: RME Hammerfall DSP 9652 MIDI connectors (opens in a new tab) by Dan Lynch (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 2.0 (opens in a new tab)

Key takeaways

  • A WAV file with an embedded metadata chunk carrying timecode, originator and coding history.
  • The standard delivery format for post.
  • The embedded timecode is what lets a recording drop back into a session at the exact position it was captured.
  • Field recordings delivered as BWF auto-align to picture in a post session with no manual syncing.
  • Watch out: converting BWF to plain WAV mid-workflow.

Quick checklist

  • Can you define broadcast wav (bwf) in one sentence without looking?
  • Can you point at broadcast wav (bwf) in a real session, mix or contract?
  • Have you tried the practical move above at least once?
  • Would you catch the common mistake before it costs you a take?
  • Have you opened one of the primary sources below rather than a forum thread?

BROADCAST WAV (BWF) IN DEPTH

Broadcast WAV extends the WAV format with a metadata chunk carrying timestamp, originator and description fields. The embedded timecode is what lets a recording drop back into a session at the exact position it was captured.

How it works in practice

Field recordings delivered as BWF auto-align to picture in a post session with no manual syncing.

The mistake people make

Converting BWF to plain WAV mid-workflow. The timestamp is silently discarded and the auto-sync stops working.

WHERE BROADCAST WAV (BWF) SITS

Broadcast WAV (BWF) belongs to midi, formats and standards in the Sampled music glossary. The plumbing — the specs your gear, files and delivery pipeline agree on.

TEST YOURSELF

0/3 answered · 0 correct

3 quick questions on broadcast wav (bwf). Answers are marked instantly — nothing is sent anywhere.

  1. 1. Which statement best describes broadcast wav (bwf)?

  2. 2. What is the mistake people most often make with broadcast wav (bwf)?

  3. 3. In practice, which of these applies to broadcast wav (bwf)?

Ready for the full thing? Take the 25-question terminology test and get a certificate with your name and score.

SOURCES AND CITATIONS

Free, primary references for broadcast wav (bwf) — standards bodies, manufacturers, government offices and university course material. Each one lists the line of this entry it backs up.

  • EBU Tech 3285 (BWF) (opens in a new tab)

    Broadcast standards body · European Broadcasting Union

    “A WAV file with an embedded metadata chunk carrying timecode, originator and coding history.”— the claim this source supports

    Why it counts: The EBU tech document sets the delivery targets broadcasters and platforms actually enforce.

  • AES standards (opens in a new tab)

    Professional standards body · Audio Engineering Society

    “The standard delivery format for post.”— the claim this source supports

    Why it counts: AES writes and reviews the engineering standards and peer-reviewed papers this terminology comes from.

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