# Audio Hosting

How to upload audio, how it streams, and how fans download it.

---

## Supported Formats

| Format | Extension | Notes |
|--------|-----------|-------|
| FLAC | `.flac` | Recommended for lossless |
| WAV | `.wav` | Accepted |
| AIFF | `.aiff` | Accepted |
| MP3 | `.mp3` | Accepted as-is |
| AAC | `.m4a` | Accepted as-is |
| OGG | `.ogg` | Accepted as-is |

Upload the highest quality source you have. Files are stored as-is and streamed in-browser.

---

## Streaming

Audio items get a built-in in-browser player. No app required. Streaming uses your original file: no separate transcoded preview, no quality loss.

---

## File Limits

Per-file size limits depend on your [pricing tier](./tiers.md): {{ tier_limits.basic_per_file }} (Basic), {{ tier_limits.small_files_per_file }} (Small Files), {{ tier_limits.big_files_per_file }} (Big Files and Everything). Cover images: {{ tier_limits.basic_per_file }} on all tiers.

Batch upload: up to 50 files at once.

---

## Upload Process

1. Drag files onto the upload area (or click to browse)
2. Files upload in parallel with progress indicators
3. Add metadata while uploading or after
4. Set tags, pricing, visibility
5. Save as draft or publish immediately

---

## Metadata

**Required:** Title

**Optional:** Description, genre tags, release date, credits/collaborators, lyrics

**Auto-extracted:** Title, artist, album, track number, cover art (when embedded in the audio file). Override any auto-extracted value during upload.

---

## Album Upload

1. Create a [project](./projects.md) first
2. Upload all tracks
3. Drag to reorder
4. Set album-level metadata
5. Publish project (publishes all tracks)

---

## Downloads

Fans who purchase the item or subscribe to a tier can download the original file directly. No DRM, no device tracking, no per-download fees. Re-downloads allowed anytime.

To offer multiple formats (e.g., FLAC and MP3), upload them as separate [versions](./items.md#versions) of the same item.

---

## See Also

- [Video Hosting](./video.md)
- [Software & Downloads](./software.md)
- [Items](./items.md): organizing items and projects
- [Metadata & SEO](./metadata.md): tags, descriptions, and discoverability