Disclaimer

WhatsMyBitrate's analysis is automated and provided for informational and educational purposes. This page explains, in plain terms, what that means for how you should treat a result.

Results are estimates, not certificates

The tool measures a file's metadata and frequency content and reports an estimated bitrate bracket based on where the audio's frequency content ends. This is strong evidence of how a file was encoded, but it is an estimate derived from measurement, not a certified or legally binding determination of a file's history or authenticity.

Source material affects results

Some genuine, unmodified audio  solo bass recordings, certain spoken-word content, older analog transfers, or heavily processed ambient material  naturally contains little high-frequency content and can resemble a lossy transcode even though it is not one. Results should always be read alongside the debug log and, where relevant, your own knowledge of the source material.

Encoders vary

Different encoders and encoder versions place their frequency cutoff at slightly different points, so the bitrate brackets reported by the tool are typical values rather than exact figures for every possible encoder.

A lossless wrapper does not undo a prior lossy step

If a file was originally compressed at a low bitrate and later converted into a lossless container (such as FLAC or WAV), the tool will correctly report it as lossy, because the frequency content lost in the original compression cannot be recovered by changing the file format afterward.

Not a substitute for professional judgment

Do not rely on a result from this tool as the sole basis for a professional, commercial, or legal decision  for example, a dispute over a purchase, a mastering decision, or a copyright claim  without independent verification.

No guarantee of completeness or suitability

We do not guarantee that results are complete, error-free, or suitable for any particular purpose. Use of the Services and any reliance on their results is at your own discretion, subject to the Terms & Conditions.