What is a .OGA file?
An .OGA file is a type of audio file that uses the Ogg format, which is a way to store audio information in a digital form. This format is special because it can use different methods, called codecs, to save the audio. Some of these methods include FLAC, Ghost, Opus, or OggPCM. However, it's important to note that while OGA files can use the Ogg Vorbis or Speex codecs, the organization that created the Ogg format, Xiph.Org, suggests not using these codecs for OGA files due to some issues with how well they work with different devices or programs.
To listen to or work with OGA files, you can use various programs. Some of the most popular ones include VideoLAN VLC media player, MPlayer, and Totem. There are also specific programs like File Viewer Plus that you can download from the Microsoft store, and Microsoft Media Player, which comes with your operating system. Other options include Nullsoft Winamp, Media Player Classic, JRiver Media Center, and Zinf. If you're using an Android device, there are apps like File Viewer for Android that can open OGA files.
The Ogg format is managed by the Xiph.Org Foundation, which is focused on creating free and open-source multimedia formats. Initially, all audio files using the Ogg format were saved with the .OGG extension. However, in 2007, Xiph.Org recommended using the .OGG extension specifically for audio files encoded with the Vorbis codec and saved in an Ogg container. For most other types of audio files using the Ogg format, they suggested using the .OGA extension instead. This means that while OGA files are a type of Ogg audio file, they are saved with a different extension to distinguish them from the specific Ogg Vorbis audio files.
Even though OGA files are different, they might still show the OGG extension icon in some cases, like in the VideoLAN VLC media player. This is because OGA files are closely related to the broader category of Ogg audio files.
For developers interested in adding OGA file support to their Windows applications, whether they are open-source or commercial, Xiph.Org has released a codec pack that makes this possible. This shows the foundation's commitment to making the Ogg format widely usable and supported across different platforms and applications.
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