Winamp FhG AAC encoder with gapless fix, Updates from the 5.62 release Options

[benski]

Steve from the AAC listening test topic found a bug related to gapless information in m4a files encoded with Winamp/FhG's new AAC encoder.

Updates from the 5.62 release
* Fixed a bug that was preventing gapless playback information from being written to the encoded file in some circumstances
* Fixed compatibility issue that was preventing HE-AAC files from being used with iTunes
* Fixed a bug that was causing the ADTS encoder to fail with the default settings

To install, just unzip this to your Winamp plugins folder. It should overwrite an existing file (unless you are using an older version of Winamp).

This will be released with 5.63 (or 5.621 depending on what version number we decide upon)

Attached File(s)

 enc_fhgaac_v1_01.zip ( 434.58K ) Number of downloads: 842

 

[Gainless]

I think I've found a new problem sample. The total ABX result is not that great, but after a reset I got a 9/10.
When you've downloaded the sample you'll notice a more or less subtle hi-hat after the kick starts. It sounded kinda off and harsh to me, which was the reason I started the test. I think there is already a difference when the kicks start, but I mainly focussed on the hi-hats that start at around 16 seconds and "respond" to the kicks. Everything was converted with the latest Winamp btw.

Someone may do a re-test?

Attached File(s)

 ABX___IM___Hush_Mail.rar ( 3.54MB ) Number of downloads: 68

 

[C.R.Helmrich]

...the hi-hats that start at around 16 seconds and "respond" to the kicks.

These are quite tough for an encoder, since they are actually composed of many extremely short clicks. See spectrogram of the first of those hi-hats in the FLAC file. However, the encoder preserves them very well, except for above 16 kHz or so.




I've ABXed the sample. Even if you disregard the last vote (I got tired), I'm still hovering around 20% guessing, so no significant ABX from me.

CODE

foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v1.1.10
2012/01/14 13:37:16

File A: C:\Unrar\Infected Mushroom - Hush Mail (sample).flac
File B: C:\Unrar\Infected Mushroom - Hush Mail (sample).m4a

13:37:16 : Test started.
13:39:17 : 01/01  50.0%
13:40:05 : 02/02  25.0%
13:41:07 : 02/03  50.0%
13:42:38 : 03/04  31.3%
13:43:43 : 04/05  18.8%
13:46:05 : 05/06  10.9%
13:47:38 : 06/07  6.3%
13:49:42 : 06/08  14.5%
13:50:07 : 06/09  25.4%
13:51:17 : 06/10  37.7%
13:53:18 : 07/11  27.4%
13:53:49 : 08/12  19.4%
13:54:44 : 08/13  29.1%
13:54:51 : Test finished.

----------
Total: 8/13 (29.1%)

Chris

[Gainless]

...the hi-hats that start at around 16 seconds and "respond" to the kicks.

These are quite tough for an encoder, since they are actually composed of many extremely short clicks. See spectrogram of the first of those hi-hats in the FLAC file. However, the encoder preserves them very well, except for above 16 kHz or so.




I've ABXed the sample. Even if you disregard the last vote (I got tired), I'm still hovering around 20% guessing, so no significant ABX from me.

Chris

Thanks for your effort, Chris!
What do you think, is there any room for improvement on this issue (if you can call it like that)?

[C.R.Helmrich]

Thanks for your effort, Chris!
What do you think, is there any room for improvement on this issue (if you can call it like that)?

Other than pumping more bits into high frequencies at VBR 5, no. I'll think about it. In the meantime, would you mind listening to the attached file at normal listening level (i.e. the same volume as during casual listening to music) and tell me how many tone pulses you can hear?

 hf_test44.wav ( 258.44K ) Number of downloads: 142

Chris

[Gainless]

Thanks for your effort, Chris!
What do you think, is there any room for improvement on this issue (if you can call it like that)?

Other than pumping more bits into high frequencies at VBR 5, no. I'll think about it. In the meantime, would you mind listening to the attached file at normal listening level (i.e. the same volume as during casual listening to music) and tell me how many tone pulses you can hear?

 hf_test44.wav ( 258.44K ) Number of downloads: 142

Chris

The first one is pretty clear, the second one is already very quiet, and after that I hear nothing at all.

I guess that's not really good, isn't it?

This post has been edited by Gainless: Jan 15 2012, 12:54