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Topic: Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding (Read 14378 times) previous topic - next topic
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Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Quote
Sony Japan announced today that the much anticipated SonicStage CP 4.0 will be available for download-update beginning May 25, 2006 (1.00 pm Tokyo time). The new SonicStage CP 4.0 will finally include full support for features exclusive to the WALKMAN A Series – specifically its Intelligent features such as Artist Link and Intelligent Shuffle (but not limited to these aforementioned features).

In addition, SonicStage CP 4.0 will also include new recording and playback support for AAC format – encode and transfer 3GP/MP4/M4A at 80-320kbps. Note: a new firmware for the WALKMAN A series (specifically, NW-A3000/1200/1000; curiously, the NW-A600/500 series has been left out) should complement the new SonicStage CP 4.0 on its debut to utilize recording and playback support for AAC format.


Link for the news



Quote
SonicStage CP (Version 4.0) is available for the following Sony products:
  • Hi-MD WALKMAN Net MD WALKMAN
       
  • Network WALKMAN (NW-E series NW-A series NW-HD series NW-MS series)
       
  • ATRAC CD WALKMAN
       
  • ATRAC CD Personal Audio System
       
  • Micro System


SonicStage CP 4.0 new features:
  • NW-A series Network Walkman is supported.
     
  • Importing and playing back in AAC format is supported. (Format: .3gp/.mp4/.m4a)
     
  • Ripping Audio CD in AAC format is available. (Format;3gp*Bit rate; 320kbps/256kbps/192kbps/160kbps/128kbps/96kbps/80kbps)
     
  • Transferring AAC files to an external device is supported.
     
  • Artist link function is available.
     
  • The intelligent function of the Walkman A series is available.
     
  • Adding the background image is supported.

Notes

  1. For transferring "AAC" to Walkman, the device needs to support the AAC format. If not, the AAC-file needs to be converted to ATRAC (OMA) before transferring it.
  2. Copyright protected AAC files are not supported.

System requirements:


Compatible operating systems (factory preinstalled only):

    * Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.
    * Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004.
    * Windows XP Media Center Edition.
    * Windows XP Professional.
    * Windows XP Home Edition.
    * Windows 2000 Professional (Service Pack 3 or later).
    * Windows Millennium Edition.
    * Windows 98 Second Edition.


Link for download

Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Reply #1 –
Is there any Sony player supporting natively AAC?
To me it means that Sonic Stage supports AAC DEcoding, not encoding.

Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Reply #2 –
From the first quote:

"Note: a new firmware for the WALKMAN A series (specifically, NW-A3000/1200/1000; curiously, the NW-A600/500 series has been left out) should complement the new SonicStage CP 4.0 on its debut to utilize recording and playback support for AAC format."

In other word, it seems that Sony is going to support AAC. A very good point for them, for their customers and for the AAC format

I wonder what AAC encoder is bundled with SonicStage. A new one?
Wavpack Hybrid -c4hx6

Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Reply #3 –
Quote from: guruboolez on
In other word, it seems that Sony is going to support AAC. A very good point for them, for their customers and for the AAC format

Although Sony will remain unable to support m4p files downloaded from itunes.

Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Reply #4 –
Quote from: peter312 on
Quote from: guruboolez on

In other word, it seems that Sony is going to support AAC. A very good point for them, for their customers and for the AAC format

Although Sony will remain unable to support m4p files downloaded from itunes.


That's is because Apple does not allow to do.
And Sonic Stage 4.0 encoder wrap LC-AAC in .3gp container. (no option for .mp4, correct me if im wrong)

Other DAP support .3gp for AAC?
 

Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Reply #5 –
I have the Sony NW-A3000, and it indeed does support AAC with the 3.0 firmware. I only have one album encoded in the AAC format, so I couldn't test it much. Playback worked fine, only it didn't read the tags. Not sure why, I'd have to investigate.

But it's a really nice player. Battery life is great, looks super sexy and even support gapless. Well, if you use Atrac.

Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Gambit on
I have the Sony NW-A3000, and it indeed does support AAC with the 3.0 firmware. I only have one album encoded in the AAC format, so I couldn't test it much. Playback worked fine, only it didn't read the tags. Not sure why, I'd have to investigate.

because those tags are invented by apple and are not official mpeg-4 (so sony has no specs of them)?
I know, that I know nothing (Socrates)

Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Reply #7 –
I downloaded this update for my 1GB Sony flash player (NW-E407) and noticed something interesting (well, besides the AAC support): there's now a 352kbps mode for ATRAC3plus. Although that's really a ridiculously high bitrate for any codec (even ATRAC), I wonder how it performs on problem samples that traditionally gave ATRAC/ATRAC3/ATRAC3plus the shits. The only reason why I mention this is because many Sony players will play back ATRAC gaplessly - so if 352kbps is finally transparent, it might be useful for those rare albums that REALLY need to be played back seamlessly (i.e., Dark Side of the Moon, et al).

I also wonder who's AAC codec Sony has licensed?

Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Reply #8 –
FIIS?

Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Reply #9 –
Interesting. The line about HE-AAC also makes me wonder if Sony's AAC-capable hardware can decode the SBR portion of such files.

Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Reply #10 –
Also, how is it going to affect battery life?

Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Reply #11 –
I've just recently bought the NW-A3000 specifically because it now has AAC playback support. Here's what I've found so far:

I had to manually tag all my tracks within SonicStage CP 4.0 in order to get the tags to work on the player.
I converted all my albums in foobar2000 from Wavpack to AAC using the latest Nero command line encoder at ~135kbps (Q0.42). I also used the 'optimize mp4' option after conversion to ensure that they played back on the player without any problems.

Gapless: I was really surprised about this. Although the change between tracks isn't gapless, there's no real pause either. All you can hear is a slight pop as the tracks change.

Battery Life: Just over 24Hrs. (24Hrs & 5min to be percise)
DAP: NW-A3000 fully charged before test. (2nd full charge since owning the unit)
Headphones: E4C
Album: Beverley Knight: Voices, set to repeat
File format: AAC ~135Kbps
Volume:16
Sound (EQ): None
Screensaver: None
Brightness: Lowest Setting, screen set to switch off after 15 seconds, and screen was on 4 times during the test.

UPDATE: I've since removed the volume lock, set volume at 8 and run the same test again. This time I got 25Hrs 10Min

Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Reply #12 –
Quote from: stel on
I also used the 'optimize mp4' option after conversion to ensure that they played back on the player without any problems.

Was it just a precaution or was it needed for the files to play properly?
Every night with my star friends / We eat caviar and drink champagne
Sniffing in the VIP area / We talk about Frank Sinatra
Do you know Frank Sinatra? / He's dead

Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Reply #13 –
Quote
Was it just a precaution or was it needed for the files to play properly?


The tracks play fine on the NW-A3000 without using the 'Optimize MP4 Layout'.
I have to use it because I've got a car player that does have problems if I dont optimize them.

Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Reply #14 –
Pretty interesting guys...
Do these hardware play AAC-HE ?

Sincerely,
Nick

Sonic Stage 4.0 supports AAC encoding

Reply #16 –
Notice the part about the bitrate. No less than 80kbps means no point in using HE-AAC.