Stuff for the AAC 96 kbps listening test, Bitrate tables, sample files, etc Options

[Sebastian Mares]

There were 30 samples in previous test. Large number of samples helps to get more statistically valid results.
It was a good decision (not a coincidence).
The only price to pay is some extra time for recollecting the samples.

So, there will be 20 samples in this test.

But it was a lower bitrate test. The higher the bitrate, the more difficult it is to spot differences and then people might lose interest if there are a lot of samples. Anyways, your decision.

[hellokeith]

Every suggestion has a down side.
It will be very difficult to classify artifacts. Somebody hears some temporal distortion other hears stereo issues. The artifacts are rarely have a single nature.
We will have days and days of hot discussions and probably will end with the same situation as purely random choice.

I was thinking more along the lines of genre or type: music, spoken word, sample, effect, etc.
I don't think it would take that long to classify.. listen to a few seconds of each sample. Besides, shouldn't someone be checking every sample anyways? To ensure it is a valid file and not corrupted or some joke.

[IgorC]

There were 30 samples in previous test. Large number of samples helps to get more statistically valid results.
So, there will be 20 samples in this test.

But it was a lower bitrate test. The higher the bitrate, the more difficult it is to spot differences and then people might lose interest if there are a lot of samples. Anyways, your decision.

I understand your fears. Some people told me it was insane to include 30 samples.
But a lot of listeners have participated in last test and there were a lot of results.
Yes, it was 64 kbits and 30 samples.
It's not about being child but 20 samples are still affordable at 96 kbps. Encoders are good but artifacts are still easy distinguishable.

So, twenty, Sebastian, twenty.

This post has been edited by IgorC: Jul 11 2011, 02:58

[IgorC]

To ensure it is a valid file and not corrupted or some joke.

Have you seen any corrupted, invalid or some joke files in previous public tests?

This post has been edited by IgorC: Jul 11 2011, 06:06

[hellokeith]

To ensure it is a valid file and not corrupted or some joke.

Have you seen any corrupted, invalid or some joke files in previous public tests?

A standard disclaimer in financial investments is that “past results do not guarantee future returns.”

[lvqcl]

2 samples from Muse - Absolution:

1.  Apocalypse.flac ( 2.5MB ) Number of downloads: 187
10 last seconds of "Intro", then 17 seconds of "Apocalypse Please"

2.  Hysteria.flac ( 2.86MB ) Number of downloads: 120
10 last seconds of "Interlude", then 20 seconds of "Hysteria"

This post has been edited by lvqcl: Jul 11 2011, 21:18

[IgorC]

I was thinking more along the lines of genre or type: music, spoken word, sample, effect, etc.

Yes, it will be sorted by musical genres, speech etc.

[Diow]

2 samples from Muse - Absolution:

1.  Apocalypse.flac ( 2.5MB ) Number of downloads: 187
10 last seconds of "Intro", then 17 seconds of "Apocalypse Please"

2. Hysteria.flac: 10 last seconds of "Interlude", then 17 seconds of "Hysteria" {sorry, will be uploaded later}

Good samples, anyway they are almost the same isn't? Stereo effect, syntetised guitar, piano.

This post has been edited by Diow: Jul 11 2011, 20:04

[Alex B]

Electronic music samples from my archive for testing high frequency fidelity. Apparently the encoders in this test use a low pass frequency of about 15 kHz. These samples have distinct high frequency content from about 13 kHz up to 20 kHz.

Some of the samples are also otherwise difficult (in addition to the more or less audible lowpass). I tested quickly Nero and Winamp/FhG (I didn't have time to configure and test the QuickTime encoder on this PC now). For example, Wild And Blue 1 is very difficult for Nero. FhG is better with this sample. On the other hand Go Jam And Spoon Mix is quite a killer to FhG. Nero handles it better.


Go Jam And Spoon Mix



 Go_Jam_And_Spoon_Mix.flac ( 2.28MB ) Number of downloads: 128


Return Of The Tempel



 Return_Of_The_Tempel.flac ( 3.39MB ) Number of downloads: 117


Wild And Blue 1



 Wild_And_Blue_1.flac ( 2.95MB ) Number of downloads: 103


Wild And Blue 2



 Wild_And_Blue_2.flac ( 3.54MB ) Number of downloads: 115


This post has been edited by Alex B: Jul 11 2011, 22:09

[IgorC]

It also important to have a mixed class of samples (voice + music)

Example:

Attached File(s)

 Coral.flac ( 1.3MB ) Number of downloads: 118

 

[/mnt]

Sample from Kraftwerk's Radio-Activity.

Creates pre-echo and tonality problems at low bitrates.

Attached File(s)

 Radioactivity.flac ( 2.22MB ) Number of downloads: 111

 

[/mnt]

-- Please delete --

This post has been edited by /mnt: Jul 13 2011, 04:27

[IgorC]

I remind that random selection of sample will be perfomed in less than 12 hours. (12:00 GMT -3) here http://rolz.org/?p=group# in looby room

[Steve Forte Rio]

I remind that random selection of sample will be perfomed in less than 12 hours. (12:00 GMT -3) here http://rolz.org/?p=group# in looby room

Sorry, but did you mean lobby?

[IgorC]

Yes, my mistake.
And it will start in 10 minutes.

[Steve Forte Rio]

Here is the final table of samples sorted by musical genre.

After the random selection this table (with selected samples marked) will by also uploaded to this thread.

Attached File(s)

 Samples_final_v3.zip ( 19.02K ) Number of downloads: 95

 

[Steve Forte Rio]

Here is the result of random selection.

The samples will be uploaded here within ~1 hour.

Attached File(s)

 Samples_selected.zip ( 4.9K ) Number of downloads: 87

 

[Steve Forte Rio]

Unfortunately for now I have some connection problems. Hopefully the samples will be uploaded today by /mnt.

This post has been edited by Steve Forte Rio: Jul 13 2011, 18:28

[Alex B]

Is it necessary to upload them? The links are in the Excel file and they seem to work (I already donwloaded all files). To make downloading easier I copied the links from the Excel file:

Mahler http://www.rarewares.org/test_samples/Mahler.wv
fugue_premikres_notes http://audiophilesoft.ru/misc/killer-sampl...kres_notes.flac
Convulaion http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....ost&id=5079
Berlin Drug http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....ost&id=5666
skinny2a http://ff123.net/samples/skinny2a.flac
tomsdiner http://audiophilesoft.ru/misc/killer-sampl.../tomsdiner.flac
Blackwater http://www.rarewares.org/test_samples/Blackwater.wv
1.flac http://ff123.net/samples/1.flac
on_the_roof_with_Quasimodo http://audiophilesoft.ru/misc/killer-sampl..._Quasimodo.flac
castanets http://audiophilesoft.ru/misc/killer-sampl.../castanets.flac
Enchantment http://ff123.net/samples/Enchantment.flac
ATrain http://www.rarewares.org/test_samples/ATrain.wv
trumpet http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/2681777/Problem...es/trumpet.flac
Jazz http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....ost&id=1873
male_speech http://www.rarewares.org/test_samples/male_speech.wv
dogies http://ff123.net/128test/dogies.flac
experiencia http://www.rarewares.org/test_samples/experiencia.wv
Jerkin Back 'n Forth http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....ost&id=6585
i_want_to_break_free http://audiophilesoft.ru/misc/killer-sampl...break_free.flac
EnolaGay http://www.rarewares.org/test_samples/EnolaGay.wv

This post has been edited by Alex B: Jul 13 2011, 18:33

[nao]

A CLI wrapper for enc_fhgaac.dll:
 fhgaacenc_20110714.zip ( 168.54K ) Number of downloads: 1040

[Steve Forte Rio]

A CLI wrapper for enc_fhgaac.dll:
 fhgaacenc_20110714.zip ( 168.54K ) Number of downloads: 1040

Great! Thank you very much, nao

Now we have access to every encoder through the command line.

Alex B, thanks. Uploading really wasn't necessary.

[/mnt]

Looks like the Pop / Rock section scored some good samples.

A CLI wrapper for enc_fhgaac.dll:
 fhgaacenc_20110714.zip ( 168.54K ) Number of downloads: 1040

Awesome, thanks!

Jerkin Back 'n Forth http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....ost&id=6585

Are we not men?

[Alex B]

Thanks nao. It seems to work fine.

Are we not men?

A: We Are Devo!

[IgorC]

ABCHR configurations for verification

Attached File(s)

 ABCHR_configurations_for_verification.zip ( 39.69K ) Number of downloads: 104

 

[lvqcl]

ctaacenc: a slightly modified version of fhgaacenc that works with enc_aacplus.dll instead of enc_fhgaac.dll (this zip file doesn't include libsndfile DLL; copy it from fhgaacenc bundle).

[attachment=6625:ctaacenc_20110717.zip]