A File is a self-contained resource for storing information on a computer storage medium, identified by a filename and typically a file extension that dictates how the operating system should interpret the data. In audio engineering, understanding file management is critical because production relies on linking multiple file types. For instance, a Standard MIDI File is a standardized format that stores musical performance data—notes, velocity, and tempo—rather than actual sound waves, facilitating the interchange of compositions between different sequencers and notation software. Conversely, audio files like Broadcast WAV carry both the sonic information and metadata such as timecode stamps. A common point of confusion for beginners is the distinction between these source files and the "Project File" or "Session File" generated by recording software, which acts merely as a database pointing to where the actual media is stored on the disk.