FLV VS WAV
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Flash Video and Waveform Audio File Format.
FLV
flvLegacy streaming container widely used before HTML5 video adoption.
Pros
- Small file sizes
- Progressive playback
- Easy to embed in legacy players
Cons
- Deprecated technology
- No iOS/Android support
- Must be converted for modern browsers
WAV
wavUncompressed audio format, studio quality.
Pros
- Lossless uncompressed quality
- Easy to edit
Cons
- Very large file sizes (10MB/min)
- No metadata standard
When FLV wins
Stay with FLV when you need legacy archives or intranet training portals. Its strengths center on small file sizes and a feature set native to Macromedia.
When WAV wins
Choose WAV when your workflow prioritizes audio recording or mastering. It delivers lossless uncompressed quality plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | FLV | WAV |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | video/x-flv | audio/wav |
| Developer | Macromedia | Microsoft & IBM |
| Release Year | 2002 | 1991 |
| Best For | Legacy archives, Intranet training portals | Audio recording, Mastering, Sound design |
Need to switch?
Where FLV still wins
Keep FLV when you need small file sizes and workflows depend on legacy archives / intranet training portals. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship WAV deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .flv glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use WAV for audio recording while archiving originals as FLV.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.