# About Compressed Sample

**URL:** <https://qa.fmod.com/t/about-compressed-sample/19181>\
**Category:** FMOD Engine\
**Created:** [August 25, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/about-compressed-sample/19181 "2022-08-25T00:17:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jiyongman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ebca7d/32.png) [@jiyongman](https://qa.fmod.com/u/jiyongman)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/about-compressed-sample/19181/1 "2022-08-25T00:17:03Z")

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I heard from somewhere that the “Compressed Sample” mode uses a 200kb-sized buffer.  
If so, I think there’s no benefit to using the mode with 200kb audio files.  
Is this correct?

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**Author:** ![jeff\_fmod](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/qa.fmod.com/jeff_fmod/32/1766_2.png) [@jeff\_fmod](https://qa.fmod.com/u/jeff_fmod)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 5:51am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/about-compressed-sample/19181/2 "2022-08-29T05:51:25Z")

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I am not sure on the exact size of the buffer, but you are correct the advantage of [Compressed Sample](https://fmod.com/docs/2.02/api/glossary.html#compressed-sample) over [Stream](https://fmod.com/docs/2.02/api/glossary.html#stream) or [Decompresed Sample](https://fmod.com/docs/2.02/api/glossary.html#sample) is the size in memory and load time increases in relation to sound size at a reduced ratio, at the cost of CPU. So if you have a small enough sound, you may be better off using Decompressed Sample and reduce some CPU overhead.  
As for how small such a sound should be before deciding to use Decompressed Sample, that depends on factors unique to your project, but you can make a decision based on profiling and test data.