Format Headers

Many computer file formats shared header structures in order to make it easier to read their contents.

Absent

Many formats don't use headers because the developers never intended for them to be read outside of the game.

• Used In: (Category)

AIFF-C

Apple used the IFF structure as a base when it made the AIFF-C header.

• Used In: AIFF

Custom

Most audio files have a unique custom header used nowhere else.

• Used In: (Category)

HMI

The Human Interfaces Group created a series of format headers for their own files.

• Used In: HMI, HMP

IFF

Originally designed by Electronic Arts for the Amiga to store any type of data. Derivatives include the AIFF-C, RIFF, RIFX and RF64 headers.

• Used In: 8SVX, AIFF, XMI

N/A

Non-specific formats that cover a style of format rather than a particular format cannot have a specific header.

• Used In: (Category)

Ogg

Ogg is a container and header format used for several open-source patent-free formats.

• Used In: FLAC, OGG, OPUS

PSF

The Portable Sound Format header was originally designed to house PlayStation audio, but it proved so convenient, that it was expanded to other game audio as well.

• Used In: 2SF, DSF, GSF, PSF, PSF2, SNSF, SSF, USF

QuickTime

Formats created by Apple for their QuickTime media player have this header.

• Used In: MID!

RIFF

Microsoft's RIFF header is a derivative of the IFF header.

• Used In: DLS, DSM, MDS, ORC, RMI, SBK, SF2, SGT, STXG, STY, WAV

SMF

The Standard MIDI File header was designed for MIDI files, but has been reused by files with similar data.

• Used In: EMIDI, MDI, MIDI, MUS (Activision)

Unknown

Audio files with unknown headers need to be inspected and identified.

• Used In: (Category)