Many different audio file formats exist for storing recorded audio data on a computer system. This post compares multiple file types and gives suggestions on which formats and bitrates one should use, especially when producing podcasts or other online audio.
We also added two listening examples to compare MP3, AAC and Opus files at various bitrates.
If you just want to see some practical tips, skip the description and read the conclusion.
UPDATE 2017:
The original article was updated to include the new Opus audio codec, concrete bitrate suggestions, audio examples at various bitrates and other recent developments!