Skip to main content ↑ ↓

Notice

Please note that most of the software linked on this forum is likely to be safe to use. If you are unsure, feel free to ask in the relevant topics, or send a private message to an administrator or moderator. To help curb the problems of false positives, or in the event that you do find actual malware, you can contribute through the article linked here.
Topic: Codec for 5.1 sound (Read 5194 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Codec for 5.1 sound

Hello,

I'm looking for codecs (free or commercial) able to reproduce an hi-fi 5.1 audio track (music), for a relatively low bandwidth -- below 384 kb/s if possible, 256 kb/s would be perfect. Does this exist ? If yes, what is your advice ? If no, what is the minimum bandwidth for "CD quality" in 5.1 format, with which coded ?

Thanks

Codec for 5.1 sound

Reply #1 –
Not sure where you want to play this item but when I encode ac3 5.1 to he-aac with nero it comes out about 200kbits b/w and sounds very good.

You wont be able to use mp3 since i dont think it caters for more than 2 channels.

If you opt for the LC-aac i think the b/w comes in at around 220 upwards depending on the profile used.

HTH

Data

Codec for 5.1 sound

Reply #2 –
hm i doubt that there exist any hardware player which are able to decode any multichannel source except ac3, dts and whatever may be used for dvd-a, which all need high bitrates

so he-aac should be definitely a good choice
I know, that I know nothing (Socrates)

Codec for 5.1 sound

Reply #3 –
Actually I'm looking for software codecs only ; I have to make a technology choice to encode/decode 5.1 music tracks in a limited disk space.

Codec for 5.1 sound

Reply #4 –
He-AAC is your best bet then. You can create 5.1 surround sound tracks with 160 kbps with it, and they sound pretty nice still. At 200 kbps they are hardly distinguishable to the original AC3 they were made of IMO.

Foobar2000 or BeSweet are the encoding tools of your choice to make them, the 3ivX MP4 parser filter and the CoreAAC decoder filter will allow playback of them on any DShow based player .....

Codec for 5.1 sound

Reply #5 –
rjamorim will offer you (and us) the best answer for this.

Please wait till rjamorim opens a Public Listening Test for 5.1 Channel Audio. I am very much eagerly waiting till this Listening Test starts. The main audio formats I am after are:
  • Ogg Vobis 5.1 Audio (Best method: VBR is possible)
  • Advanced Audio Coding (LE and HE) 5.1 Audio (Best method: VBR is possible)
  • Windows Media Audio 9 Professional 5.1 Channel Bitrate VBR
  • RealAudio 9 VBR 5.1 Channel
Cheers,
McoreD

Codec for 5.1 sound

Reply #6 –
Quote
rjamorim will offer you (and us) the best answer for this.

Please wait till rjamorim opens a Public Listening Test for 5.1 Channel Audio.

what makes you think he will do that? did you ask him and have informations we have not? don't get me wrong, but I think you don't.
in fact, given Roberto's recent (understandable) comments about his tests and the way the feedback / discussion / participation goes, I would rather say there is a very, very slim chance of him puting up a multichannel test.
Nothing but a Heartache - Since I found my Baby ;)

Codec for 5.1 sound

Reply #7 –
Take current number of responders * percentage of people owning full 5.1 setup.

Small number eh.

Codec for 5.1 sound

Reply #8 –
Quote
Take current number of responders * percentage of people owning full 5.1 setup.

Small number eh.

Correct.

Other issues:
-All sources are lossy
-You can't hear the same level of detail with a 5.1 system and a pair of good headphones
-AFAIK, no ABC/HR comparator available today supports multichannel (major issue)
-I will retire after the dial-up bitrate test. Will I conduce tests again after that? Maybe, but definitely don't expect anything for this year.

BTW, @McoreD: Real Audio doesn't support VBR.