One last question and , again , excuse my ignorance but can AIFF and ALAC files only be played back on Apple systems and WAV and FLAC on Windows?
WAV - Waveform Audio File Format (WAVE, or more commonly known as WAV due to its filename extension), is a
Microsoft and
IBM audio file format standard for storing an audio bitstream on PCs.
AIFF - Audio Interchange File Format, is an audio file format standard used for storing sound data for personal computers and other electronic audio devices. The format was developed by
Apple Inc.
ALAC - Apple Lossless Audio Codec, is an audio coding format, and its reference audio codec implementation, developed by
Apple Inc.
FLAC - Free Lossless Audio Codec, is an audio coding format for lossless compression of digital audio. FLAC is an
open format with royalty-free licensing and a reference implementation which is free software.
Basically, there is no "only can be played", those 4 format audio codec can be played between Windows or Apple or other devices interchangeably
but you most likely need additional effort to search for tools or other conversion or interface software if you want to play a format in an environment it is not supposedly to be played, especially on those 'elite-inclusively' Apple devices (platform).
Playing WAV or FLAC on Windows based platform, playing AIFF or ALAC on Apple based platform is the default (common) usage so no additional effort needed, because it is already played on a platform it supposed to be played.
And because FLAC is an open format, it is free, and because it is free many devices including DAP (Digital Audio Player, portable player, cellphones, etc) support it.
Further reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Cheers,
Ex.