Pre-Test thread, for the 64kbps test Options

[rjamorim]

Hello.

As most of you already know, I am planning to start a 64kbps public listening test in September.

So here are the planned details. Nothing is definitive so far:

The test starts at September 3rd and ends at September 14th

The codecs that will be tested are:
- Ahead HE-AAC "Streaming :: Medium" VBR profile, high quality.
- Ogg Vorbis post-1.0 CVS -q 0
- MP3pro codec in Adobe Audition, VBR quality 35, high quality, m/s and is stereo, no CRC, no narrowing.
- WMAv9 Standard 64kbps (there's no PRO version at such bitrate, AFAIK)
- Real Audio Cook 64kbps (I didn't investigate other settings yet. Comments welcome)

The samples that will be tested have been announced on this thread. If you have concerns/comments about the sample suite choice, please post there.

The test results will be calculated the same way my former tests were. I don't plan to include bitrates in the formula. Comments are welcome now (they are of no use to me after the test has been started).

I haven't decided about anchors yet (my guru is traveling ), but someone suggested me that I use Lame ABR 128 as higher anchor, so that we can verify which one of these codecs really deliver the marketing of "sounds like MP3 at half the bitrate"

Then, the lower anchor would be a standard 3.5kHz lowpass, like it is done on most formal tests at low bitrates.

So, I'd like to know your thoughts on what I planned.

Thanks for your attention;

Roberto.

This post has been edited by rjamorim: Aug 22 2003, 07:53

[rjamorim]

I thought is wasn't about chosing the best codecs out of the bunch, but more to include some well known ones... or am I getting something wrong here?!   

My tests were *always*about*quality*

Other features like price, support, license, popularity, etc. come far behind.

edit: damn, Rjamorim has smuggeld a post in before mine... 

Well, nothing has been decided so far