<!--
{
  "availability" : [

  ],
  "documentType" : "symbol",
  "framework" : "QuickTime File Format",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Sound_media_information_header_atom",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "Atom",
  "symbol" : {
    "kind" : "Atom",
    "modules" : [
      "QuickTime File Format"
    ],
    "preciseIdentifier" : "__docc_universal_symbol_reference_$Sound_media_information_header_atom"
  },
  "title" : "Sound media information header atom ('smhd')"
}
-->

# Sound media information header atom ('smhd')

An atom that stores the sound media’s control information, such as balance.

## Overview

The layout of a sound media information header atom is as follows.

|Sound media information header atom                                                                      |Bytes|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----|
|``doc://com.apple.qtff/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Sound_media_information_header_atom/Size``    |4    |
|``doc://com.apple.qtff/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Sound_media_information_header_atom/Type``    |4    |
|``doc://com.apple.qtff/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Sound_media_information_header_atom/Version`` |1    |
|``doc://com.apple.qtff/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Sound_media_information_header_atom/Flags``   |3    |
|``doc://com.apple.qtff/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Sound_media_information_header_atom/Balance`` |2    |
|``doc://com.apple.qtff/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Sound_media_information_header_atom/Reserved``|2    |

## Topics

### Data fields

[`Size`](/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Sound_media_information_header_atom/Size)

A 32-bit integer that specifies the number of bytes in this sound media information header atom.

[`Type`](/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Sound_media_information_header_atom/Type)

A 32-bit integer that identifies the atom type.

[`Version`](/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Sound_media_information_header_atom/Version)

A 1-byte specification of the version of this sound media information header atom.

[`Flags`](/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Sound_media_information_header_atom/Flags)

A 3-byte space for sound media information flags.

[`Balance`](/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Sound_media_information_header_atom/Balance)

A 16-bit integer that specifies the sound balance of this sound media.

[`Reserved`](/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Sound_media_information_header_atom/Reserved)

Reserved for use by Apple.



---

Copyright &copy; 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)