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Topic: Anything new? (Read 9547 times) previous topic - next topic
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Anything new?

So a while ago I started using Nero AAC 0.5

because it is compatible with everything that I use (Ogg vorbis unfortunately is not)

Have there been any new developments in audio encoding...within the last 2-3 years? How does apple compare nowadays? It seems like their aac encoder is still under active development, while Nero looks like they stopped like 5 years ago and said it was good enough.

Anything new?

Reply #1 –
Quote
Have there been any new developments in audio encoding...within the last 2-3 years?

The Opus audio codec was created, but you probably already know this

For AAC:
I would recommend using Apple's AAC or Fraunhofer's AAC encoder. On the listening tests Apple's AAC encoder is on par or slightly ahead of Fraunhofer.
For an open source AAC encoder usable from ffmpeg then Fraunhofer's FDK-AAC is the best choice.

Nero AAC is petty much dead and doesn't really compare well.

Anything new?

Reply #2 –
Fraunhofer FDK AAC codec consistently beats all other AAC codecs, so use it.

Nero loses even to Apple's QuickTime encoder which usually is a runner up.

Anything new?

Reply #3 –
Quote from: birdie on
[...] Apple's QuickTime encoder which usually is a runner up.
No, it's not. It's on par with Fraunhofer's AAC encoder, and both are at the top.
It's only audiophile if it's inconvenient.

Anything new?

Reply #5 –
Depending on how you massage the data either Apple or Fraunhofer could be declared the winner. It is the FhG version that did so well, which is not the one found in ffmpeg, however.

What is important to note is the bitrate tested was in the 96k range, significantly lower than what you get using Nero at 0.5.  At these higher bitrates you're likely going to get acceptable results with any of these encoders with most content.

Anything new?

Reply #6 –
thanks.

I use foobar to encode. Yes, I'm old school. Basically just need something to bulk-encode flac files.

Can fraunhofer do this?

Anything new?

Reply #8 –
Look for fhgaacenc

Anything new?

Reply #9 –
So i just installed winamp and I'm not seeing this aac encoder anywhere.

Anything new?

Reply #10 –
I've also tried to get apple's aac working with a foobar style bulk encode. Kind of confusing. ANy help here?

Anything new?

Reply #11 –
Quote from: adlai on
I've also tried to get apple's aac working with a foobar style bulk encode. Kind of confusing. ANy help here?

qaac is really easy, read here:

https://github.com/nu774/qaac/wiki/Encoder-configuration

https://github.com/nu774/qaac/wiki/Examples

You can try this "foo_converter.dll.cfg" I made as well (you will need to copy each encoder inside the folder \encoders): http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....howtopic=104627

Anything new?

Reply #12 –
Winamps is even easier, right click on "all artists" in your media library -> send to -> format converter, and set your  aac settings and wait. Make sure you've selected format converter and media library as install options

Anything new?

Reply #13 –
Quote from: eahm on
Quote from: adlai on
I've also tried to get apple's aac working with a foobar style bulk encode. Kind of confusing. ANy help here?

qaac is really easy, read here:

https://github.com/nu774/qaac/wiki/Encoder-configuration

https://github.com/nu774/qaac/wiki/Examples

You can try this "foo_converter.dll.cfg" I made as well (you will need to copy each encoder inside the folder \encoders): http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....howtopic=104627


I'm not that smart.

I can't get it to work.

Anything new?

Reply #14 –
Here's a command-line example from Foobar: 
Code: [Select]
-V 73 --no-optimize - -o %d

This will give you Apple/Quicktime VBR files @ approximately 145kbps on average.  Change the 73 to 82 to jump up the quality to the next step.  Change to 91/100/109/118/127 for subsequent jump ups in quality.

Change the encoder preset to custom, point the encoder to where the qaac.exe is stored, and type in m4a for the file extension, and add your command-line as desired.  Hope this helps. 

P.S. 
Code: [Select]
-V 63 --no-optimize - -o %d
  This might be a good place to start.  The VBR encodes will average around 128kbps.

Anything new?

Reply #15 –
@adlai QAAC also requires at least Apple Application Support installed if one does not use extracted files or QuickTime or iTunes installed. Also, you did not speciffy what is wrong, what is error message.

Anything new?

Reply #16 –
Quote from: eahm on
Quote from: Kohlrabi on
Quote from: birdie on
[...] Apple's QuickTime encoder which usually is a runner up.
No, it's not. It's on par with Fraunhofer's AAC encoder, and both are at the top.

We've had a long discussion about this while ago, Apple is better.

At 96 kbps this might be true. But for other bit-rates there have been no tests on HA which incl. Fraunhofer AAC encoders.

In fact, IgorC did a 64-kbps test in 2012 with Fraunhofer's Winamp encoder at 64 kbps, apparently twice. His latest results:

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....st&p=796836

Chris
If I don't reply to your reply, it means I agree with you.

Anything new?

Reply #17 –
Quote from: LedHed8 on
Here's a command-line example from Foobar: 
Code: [Select]
-V 73 --no-optimize - -o %d

This will give you Apple/Quicktime VBR files @ approximately 145kbps on average.  Change the 73 to 82 to jump up the quality to the next step.  Change to 91/100/109/118/127 for subsequent jump ups in quality.

Change the encoder preset to custom, point the encoder to where the qaac.exe is stored, and type in m4a for the file extension, and add your command-line as desired.  Hope this helps. 

P.S. 
Code: [Select]
-V 63 --no-optimize - -o %d
  This might be a good place to start.  The VBR encodes will average around 128kbps.

thx for this. still, get this error

Code: [Select]
Source: "C:\Users\v\Desktop\Our Brother The Native - Terra Traipse-1\Our Brother The Native - Terra Traipse - 04 Unquieted.flac"
  An error occurred while writing to file (The encoder has terminated prematurely with code 1 (0x00000001); please re-check parameters) : "C:\Users\v\Music\iTunes\new music drop\Our Brother The Native - Terra Traipse\04. Unquieted.m4a"
  Additional information:
  Encoder stream format: 44100Hz / 2ch / 16bps
  Command line: "C:\qaac\x64\refalac64.exe" -V 73 --no-optimize - -o "04. Unquieted.m4a"
  Working folder: C:\Users\v\Music\iTunes\new music drop\Our Brother The Native - Terra Traipse\
  
  Conversion failed: The encoder has terminated prematurely with code 1 (0x00000001); please re-check parameters

Anything new?

Reply #18 –
refalac encodes to ALAC, not to AAC. You need qaac.exe

Anything new?

Reply #20 –
Quote from: LedHed8 on
Here's a command-line example from Foobar: 
Code: [Select]
-V 73 --no-optimize - -o %d

This will give you Apple/Quicktime VBR files @ approximately 145kbps on average.  Change the 73 to 82 to jump up the quality to the next step.  Change to 91/100/109/118/127 for subsequent jump ups in quality.

So, what settings and quality levels for qaac do the people in this thread use, personally?
 

Anything new?

Reply #21 –
Quote from: adlai on
So, what settings and quality levels for qaac do the people in this thread use, personally?

You don't need --no-optimize.

I use -A for archiving, -V63 for iPhone and even -V36 +ReplayGain for the Sansa Clip Zip.