If you’re looking for the best video format for high quality, it’s important to understand the different formats available and their strengths and weaknesses. The best video format will depend on your intended use, whether it’s for streaming, editing, or playback on a specific device.
Best Video Formats for Streaming
Streaming video has become increasingly popular in recent years, with platforms like Netflix and YouTube dominating the market. To ensure the best quality streaming experience, the best video format is one that is optimized for streaming.
The most popular streaming video format is H.264, which is widely supported by most devices and platforms. It offers high-quality video compression with a relatively small file size, making it ideal for streaming. Another popular streaming format is VP9, which is used by YouTube and offers higher quality video at lower bitrates.
Best Video Formats for Editing
If you’re planning to edit your videos, it’s important to choose a format that will retain the highest quality of your footage. The best video formats for editing are those that support high bitrates and high color depths.
One of the most popular formats for editing is ProRes, which is a proprietary format developed by Apple. It offers high-quality compression and is widely supported by most editing software. Another popular format is DNxHD, which is supported by Avid editing software and offers high-quality compression for editing.
Best Video Formats for Playback on Specific Devices
If you’re planning to playback your videos on a specific device, it’s important to choose a format that is compatible with that device. Different devices support different video formats, so it’s important to do your research to ensure compatibility.
For example, if you’re planning to playback your videos on an iPhone or iPad, the best format is H.264, which is supported by Apple devices. If you’re planning to playback your videos on a Samsung device, the best format is MP4, which is widely supported by Android devices.
What about 4K and HDR?
If you’re looking to create or playback 4K or HDR videos, it’s important to choose a format that supports these features. The most popular format for 4K video is HEVC/H.265, which offers high-quality compression with a smaller file size compared to other formats.
For HDR video, the most popular formats are HDR10 and Dolby Vision, which offer improved color depth and contrast compared to standard video formats.
What is the Future of Video Formats?
As technology continues to advance, video formats are also evolving. One of the newest formats is AV1, which is developed by the Alliance for Open Media and offers high-quality compression with a smaller file size compared to other formats.
Another format on the horizon is MPEG-5 Part 1 (EVC), which offers improved compression for HDR video and is expected to become the standard for video compression in the future.
People Also Ask
What is the difference between a container and a codec?
A container is a file format that holds audio, video, and other data together in a single file. A codec is a software that compresses or decompresses audio or video data. The container format and the codec used can affect the quality and compatibility of your videos.
What is the difference between lossy and lossless compression?
Lossy compression is a method of compressing video or audio data by removing some of the data to reduce file size. Lossless compression, on the other hand, compresses the data without losing any information. Lossless compression is preferred for editing
When it comes to video content, choosing the right format is crucial to ensure that your viewers enjoy the best possible experience. With so many different video formats to choose from, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, it can be difficult to know which one to use. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between lossy and lossless video formats, compare the pros and cons of popular video formats like MP4, AVI, and MOV, and explain how video compression affects quality and file size. Finally, we’ll provide some tips on how to choose the right video format for your specific needs.
Best Video Format
Understanding the Differences Between Lossy and Lossless Video Formats
Before we dive into the specifics of different video formats, it’s important to understand the basics of video compression. Video compression is the process of reducing the size of a video file without sacrificing too much quality. There are two types of video compression: lossy and lossless.
With lossy compression, data is removed from the video file in order to decrease its size. This results in a smaller file size, but the quality of the video is often compromised. Lossy compression is often used when a smaller file size is a priority, such as when uploading videos to the internet or sending them via email.
Lossless compression, on the other hand, maintains the quality of the video while reducing its size by removing any redundant data. However, this often results in a larger file size. Lossless compression is often used when high-quality video is essential, such as when creating a master copy for archiving or when working on a video project that requires the highest possible quality.
Comparing the Pros and Cons of Popular Video Formats
Now that we’ve covered the basics of video compression, let’s take a look at some of the most popular video formats and their pros and cons.
MP4
MP4 is a popular video format that uses lossy compression to strike a good balance between quality and file size. MP4 files can be played on a variety of devices and are widely supported across different platforms. They’re also ideal for uploading to the internet or sending via email due to their smaller file size. However, the quality of the video may suffer if the compression is set too high.
AVI
AVI is an older video format that uses lossless compression to ensure the highest possible quality. This format is often used when the quality of the video is of utmost importance, such as when creating a master copy for archiving. However, the trade-off is a larger file size, which can make AVI files difficult to work with or share.
MOV
MOV is a video format created by Apple that uses lossy compression to achieve a good balance between quality and file size. MOV files are often used in the film and television industry due to their high quality, but they can be difficult to work with on non-Apple devices. They’re also less widely supported on the web than other formats, such as MP4.
FLV
FLV is a video format that was popularized by Adobe Flash Player. FLV files are often used for streaming video on the web due to their small file size and ability to be played back in a web browser. However, the quality of the video may be lower than other formats, and the format itself is becoming less popular as Adobe discontinues support for Flash Player.
WMV
WMV is a video format created by Microsoft that uses lossy compression. It’s often used for streaming video online, as it provides a good balance of quality and file size. However, like MOV, WMV files can be difficult to work with on non-Microsoft devices.
How Does Video Compression Impact Quality and File Size?
As we’ve seen, video compression is essential for reducing file size and ensuring that videos can be easily shared or uploaded to the internet. However, the amount of compression used can have a significant impact on the quality of the video.
When a video is compressed, some of the data is removed in order to reduce the file size. The more data that is removed, the smaller the file size will be, but the quality of the video will suffer. If too much data is removed, the video may become pixelated or blurry, with visible artifacts or distortion.
The amount of compression used can also impact the “burstiness” or variety of the video file. A highly compressed video may have less variation in its color and contrast, which can make it appear less dynamic and engaging to viewers. On the other hand, a less compressed video may have more variation in its color and contrast, which can make it appear more vibrant and visually interesting.
What Video Format is Best for Streaming, Editing, and Archiving?
Now that we’ve covered the basics of video compression and explored some of the most popular video formats, let’s take a closer look at which format is best for specific use cases.
Streaming
For streaming video on the web, MP4 is often the best choice due to its small file size and wide compatibility with different devices and platforms. However, if high-quality video is essential, MOV may be a better choice, despite its limited support outside of Apple devices.
Editing
When it comes to editing video, lossless formats like AVI or MOV are often the best choice. These formats maintain the highest possible quality, which is important when making edits to the video. Once the editing is complete, the video can be exported to a more compressed format like MP4 for sharing or uploading to the internet.
Archiving
If you’re creating a master copy of a video for archiving purposes, a lossless format like AVI is often the best choice. This ensures that the highest possible quality is maintained, which is essential for long-term preservation. However, keep in mind that lossless formats often result in larger file sizes, which may be difficult to store or share.
Using Mp4Gain to Normalize Video Formats
No matter which video format you choose, it’s important to ensure that the audio is normalized to a consistent level. This is where Mp4Gain comes in. Mp4Gain is a tool that allows you to convert between the major video formats and normalize the audio to a consistent level.
By using Mp4Gain, you can ensure that your videos have a consistent level of audio, regardless of the format they were originally recorded in. This can be particularly helpful if you’re working with videos from different sources or if you’ve edited together multiple videos into one project.
Additionally, Mp4Gain can also be used to normalize the audio of music files, which can be especially helpful if you’re creating a playlist or if you’re a DJ who needs to ensure that all the tracks have a consistent volume.
Using Mp4Gain is easy. Simply download the software and choose the video or audio file that you want to normalize. Mp4Gain will automatically analyze the file and adjust the volume to a consistent level. You can then save the file in the format of your choice, with the normalized audio included.
Conclusion
When it comes to video formats, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The best format for your needs will depend on a variety of factors, including the intended use of the video, the devices and platforms it will be viewed on, and the desired balance of quality and file size.
However, by understanding the differences between lossy and lossless formats, comparing the pros and cons of popular video formats, and considering the impact of video compression on quality and file size, you can make an informed decision about which format to choose.
Regardless of the format you choose, it’s important to ensure that the audio is normalized to a consistent level. Mp4Gain is a powerful tool that can help you achieve this, while also allowing you to convert between the major video formats. By using Mp4Gain, you can ensure that your videos and audio files have a consistent level of audio, making them more enjoyable and professional.
So whether you’re a videographer, editor, or simply a video enthusiast, consider using Mp4Gain to take your videos to the next level.
The process of human hearing sound is very complicated.
Audio Quality
But compared to the metaphysics of headphones and audio, the complexity of the human ear is basically not worth mentioning. But before we get into whether Beats is shallow, whether Sony is good, and whether headphone noise reduction is good for your ears, let’s take a look at what we’re talking about when it comes to sound quality. It may be that when you feel that the sound quality of a certain headset is not good, the problem is in your ears or in the sound file itself.
01 What is sound quality?
The essence of music and sound is the vibration of air, and sound quality is generally attributed to three aspects: volume, pitch, and timbre.
Everyone knows the volume and the tone is Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti. And what is the tone?
The American National Standards Institute defines timbre as “…a sensory attribute by which a listener can judge that two tones of the same volume and pitch are not the same.” We can tell the difference between a guitar playing a 440Hz tone and a piano playing a 440Hz tone.
The sound reproduced by different headphones is different, and the timbre is also different. However, in terms of volume, different headphones will also have a certain volume difference due to different internal circuitry; as for the tone, there is no obvious change without accident.
02Digital recording and analog recording
There is no doubt that pre-CD audio carriers: magnetic tapes, vinyl records, etc., are all analog recording products. The word “analog” is also translated as “analog”, in short, it restores and reproduces the vibration in the air at that moment in a physical way. Whether it’s vinyl or tape, physical features such as bumps, depressions, or magnetic dust splits on tape or disc are used to restore the vibrance detail of the audio.
But in the age of CDs and computers, all audio vibrations are converted to 0 or 1 on the surface of the disc and go into the so-called binary algorithm. After decoding, it is restored to physical vibration.
In popular music recordings, there are probably three most common formats:
People are looking for the best audio and video quality in 2022, what is it?
best format for music and sound
If you are seriously looking for high-quality audio and video, we advise you to stay away from the data-throwing fundamentalists and adopt a more practical attitude.
First of all you must ask yourself, on which devices will you listen to the audio or see the videos.
We have listened to dozens of fundamentalists who use numbers and certain statements as dogmas and have turned even this discussion of quality into a dogma.
And that is diametrically different from the simple my real aspiration to really enjoy the best audio and video quality that your equipment can deliver and that your eyes and ears are capable of detecting.
Mathematical statements are useless if you do not have an HD computer to listen to your audios and watch your videos.
Nor if the extreme is reached where the difference is already indistinguishable for 99.99% of the population.
It is fully demonstrated that for 99.99% of the population, even for those who have auditory training, an mp3 with 320 kbps and 48000 as sample rate is indistinguishable from a WAV or FLAC.
You can improve your audio with Mp4Gain regardless if you decide to continue using mp3s or prefer to switch to FLAC (Mp4Gain can convert and use these and other formats like ogg, m4a, etc)
In short, the discussion of sound quality should be based more on actually hearing the best possible audio and not a fundamentalist discussion about numbers.
In addition, when editing, because some details have been compressed and sacrificed, the editing space is relatively small.
It should be noted that the sound quality will be compromised every time these formats are output. After too many output programs, the quality can be terrible, so the number of times of recompression and conversion should be reduced.
Pros: small file size, maximum device compatibility
Disadvantages: destructive compression leads to loss of sound quality, less spatial flexibility for reissue
Resume
When it comes to sound files for editing, it’s ideal to work with uncompressed formats like .WAV or .AIFF. Such a format allows users to get the greatest degree of tolerance and freedom when editing, and most of these file formats are still supported, regardless of software or equipment. Also, when the video is output at the end of the project, the music file will still be compressed, so it’s ideal to use a file format with higher sound quality from the start, which is ideal for a project that needs to go through post-edit layers. But if it is based on the premise of convenient, fast and easy-to-use transmission, .MP3 can still meet your needs without sacrificing sound quality.
Mp4Gain is a program that allows you not only to normalize the audio of your sound or cvideo files, but also to improve the quality and offers you to perform a whole series of modifications so that you have better audio quality used.
Below are their respective advantages and disadvantages.
1. Uncompressed file format
Uncompressed music files are just like the concept of Raw files. Essentially no compression will of course have the best sound quality. (The sample rate and bit rate of the original recording are also very important. If the compressed music file is converted to an uncompressed file, the music won’t magically improve the sound quality.)
The most common disadvantage of uncompressed files is the file size. Generally, the file size of a song is around 25 ~ 40 MB. While that capacity is no longer an issue for cloud hard drives, it is still an issue for email. Also big (25MB max for Gmail attachments). Also, some portable music players or devices may not be able to play such music files.
Advantages: original sound reproduction, no compression, lossless, easier to use in post production
Disadvantages: large file format, fewer supported devices
2. Lossless compression format
The term “compressed and lossless” seems contradictory, but compression does not necessarily affect sound quality. More precisely, it’s more like “compressed to save space”. It’s like compressing a high quality file into a .ZIP and decompressing it when you want to use it, the quality of the file will not be affected.
Therefore, this type of file has a compressed capacity, but the file will be decompressed during playback to restore sound quality. Although the concept of reducing capacity without affecting sound quality is great, the downside is that support for this format is extremely low and in order to decompress the file during playback, an additional codec is required to use it, and it will. also take some performance.
Advantages: small file capacity (about 1/2 ~ 1/3 lossless files), good sound quality
Disadvantages: Decompression can eat performance when used, and support from hardware or software is extremely low
3. Destructive compression format
The destructive compression format is currently the most common music file format, the main reason is that it has the greatest compatibility with portable devices (mobile phones, MP3 players, etc.), and the files are small and have a space of limited storage. , users can store more music (compressed capacity is about one-tenth of lossless sound quality), and most of the music provided by today’s streaming media is files in this format. There is always a price to pay for smaller files. Compared to lossless formats, this destructive compression will affect the audio range that the original sound can present and will cause some distortion. So, to be safe, keep the compression rate above 320 kbps as much as possible.
I looked around the forest of audio formats for normal use and chose the 5 most important ones. It is true that, in part, a bit simplified, a bit rough in presentation. I refrain from differentiating the exact settings of the respective codecs, that would be too complex.
I also don’t want to get into the nasty topic of DRM. The most important one I dropped is probably Vorbis. . Of course, I assume that the correct settings are used when encoding and that a high quality level is selected.
1st place:
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3)
The most widespread digital format, with good encoding (for example, with LAME) in high bit rates, a format of the highest quality and transparency.
Windows proprietary format. Of course, Microsoft has the reins here, so variable format doesn’t run on all playback devices. Otherwise, no major strengths and weaknesses and, for example, the standard format with Napster.
As the only lossless codec on this list. FLAC works in something like a ZIP program: the original can be restored from the compressed file by approximately 50% without restrictions. In times of low hard disk space, a real alternative, especially since many playback devices can play this format. My winner of hearts, the popularity will certainly increase in the future.
The original format of the normal audio CD data. Impeccable quality and still widespread thanks to the well-known compact disc. It actually started out of the competition because it’s completely unzipped.
Dematerialized music has evolved considerably for almost 15 years and has played an important role in the daily life of every individual. We’ve all heard more or less about FLAC, MP3, WAV, etc.! Few people really know the difference between each size, its pros and cons …
This article is intended to enlighten you to make the best possible choice for extracting and compressing your audio files.
There are different types of layouts that can be grouped into several large families:
– uncompressed files
-lossless compressed files
– Lossy compressed files
-Uncompressed files
WAV: WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) is an audio file format created by Microsoft for Windows. This format is usually an uncompressed container. Therefore, an audio CD with a duration of about 80 minutes in WAV weighs plus or minus 800 MB
Advantages: the file remains in its original form, no loss of information (no loss)
Disadvantages: The WAV file is an uncompressed format that gives it a large size and therefore takes up more space in the storage space.
AIFF – Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) is the Mac OS equivalent of the WAV format. Therefore, it has the same characteristics as this. The pros and cons of this format are the same as for WAV.
– Lossless compressed files
FLAC: The FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) format is without doubt the most beneficial file for the user. Firstly, in terms of WAV and AIFF, this format is a lossless format, ie the digitization of the file does not imply any loss of information from the audio spectrum. The file is scanned and returned as is. The second advantage of this format is the size it occupies in the storage space. Nondestructive compression is applied to this type of format as a ZIP file, making the scanned file about 2 times less space than a WAV file. Therefore, for 80 minutes of music on CD, the occupied space will be approximately 400 MB. Finally, this format is universal, compatible with most multimedia players, it is compatible with all operating systems except iOS,
Advantages: file size, identical reproduction of the original file during scanning, free and compatible with almost all media players and operating systems
– Disadvantages: none
ALAC: The ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) format is simply the Apple equivalent of the FLAC file.
– Lossy compressed files
MP3: The MP3 format (Mpeg Layer 3) is a well-known format. It is a format with destructive compression, that is, a recording from which musical information has been removed thanks to the so-called psychoacoustic compression algorithm (taking into account the peculiarities of the human ear), so that less scanning is needed to create a lighter file to obtain . This format is most commonly used for dematerialized music, as it allows a significant space saving in the storage space with a size of about 150 MB for an 80 minute CD. Compression can be more or less destructive depending on the speed used, which can range from 4: 1 (320 Kbits / sec) to 12: 1 (128 Kbits / sec).
-Advantages: it takes up little space on the hard disk and does not affect the quality of the songs with a dynamic range and a limited variety of timbres
– Disadvantages: paid MP3 license, destructive compression for “richer” songs.
AAC: The AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) format is a format close to the MP3 format, but provides additional definition with an identical compression rate. Apple uses this specific format in the iTunes Store, but also on YouTube. the extension can be written in various forms, such as .AAC, .M4A or MP4
AAC, MP3, MP3 Pro, Ogg Vorbis, WMA. In the digital age, choosing one or the other of these standards is not easy. Especially since their properties lend them to one use instead of another. Detailed review
Which format for digital music should you choose?
MP3 is far from alone in the world. Feeling that compressed digital music is likely to change the record market, many developers have begun designing formats designed to offer the best compromise between the amount of data used and the sound quality. Thus, AAC for Apple, WMA from Microsoft and other OGG Vorbis communities were born. So many standards that have their advantages and disadvantages and that it is advisable to know them well before choosing the most appropriate coding software for your needs.
First, remember that an audio CD uses uncompressed data. Music is digitized on its surface at a rate of 44,100 samples per minute. Second, each of these samples is encoded in 16 bits (2 bytes) and in stereo. This gives a total of 176 KB per Second music, or about 10 MB per second. Minute. Even if an increasing number of Internet users use broadband, websites that sell music for download cannot afford to offer 40-minute four-minute songs. Compression formats allow this amount of data to be shared by a factor ranging from 8 to 15, with little or no loss of quality.
All of these compression algorithms work on the same principle: eliminate frequencies that the human ear does not perceive at all, or very little, and level the frequencies close to each other for identical values to increase compression. These are the so-called “destructive” algorithms. In other words, when converting a compressed audio file from an audio CD to an audio CD format, the resulting data will not be the same as the original file. Depending on the formats and needs, compression may be more or less important. It is defined by what is called bitrate, that is, the flow of information per. Second of music. It can range from 32 kbps (kilobits per second) to 320 kbps. Detailed review of the different formats.
MP3
Commonly designed by the Fraunhofer Institute and Thomson and standardized in 1992, it is a derivative of audio compression used for MPEG-1 format videos (MP3 also stands for MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3).
This is the format offered by the main configuration panel. In fact, we can define a bit rate (“bit rate” in jargon) that ranges from 32 to 320 kbps. From 128 Kbps the sound quality becomes enough to encode songs. At 192 Kbps, the quality is similar to an audio CD. At this compression rate, one minute of music equals 1.4 MB of data. But it is also possible to choose a variable bit rate called VBR (variable bit rate). In this case, the encoder increases the compression ratio in less complex music regions, reducing the size of the final file slightly. The benefit depends largely on the type of song: 5 to 10% with an extract from classical or jazz music, not much with rock or rap.
The great advantage of MP3 remains its compatibility with all portable audio players, but also certain hi-fi systems, car radios and DVD players in the living room. Almost universal, it appears on all free download sites such as Kazaa or eDonkey. On the other hand, this format sinks slightly at the level of high frequency recovery and is therefore less suitable for e.g. Classical music.
Free MP3 encoding software includes WinAmp and MusicMatch JukeBox. Lastly, note that there are several MP3 coding algorithms, with “Fraunhofer” being the most widely used, and “Lame” being the most effective, with the latter being especially compatible with Pinnacle’s CDex.
WMA
Launched in 1999 by Microsoft, WMA (Windows Media Audio) was only intended to counter the rise of MP3. With compelling arguments. By utilizing the features of the human ear more effectively in the audible spectrum, WMA is able to eliminate frequencies that are truly useless while maintaining certain high frequencies that affect sound quality. The relatively efficient compression algorithm maintains a quality that corresponds to an audio CD with a 128 kbps bit rate, or 1 MB per second. Minute of a song.
Completely free of charge, WMA also has the advantage of having an encoder built into Windows Media Player. An effective way to ensure the spread of this support. Especially since this format is linked to precise copyright management (DRM or Digital Right Management) that allows, for example, to define a limited useful life of files or prohibit recording options. That’s why some music download sites use it. Many digital audio players also support WMA and reputable shareware such as WinAmp allows encoding in this format.
AAC
Contrary to belief, AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is not a format developed by Apple, but by a consortium that includes the Fraunhofer Institute (father of MP3), Sony and even Dolby. Prestigious names that grow well. In fact, AAC is arguably the most efficient compression algorithm. Unlike MP3 and WMA, it is not based on MPEG-1 but on MPEG-4 (the format behind DivX). This choice seems to have paid off as it allows you to get a better compromise between compression ratio and sound quality. That’s why at AAC we get the equivalent of audio CD quality with a bit rate of only 96 kbps. In addition, as with WMA, the DRM (copyright management) features and the ability to control sounds on 48 different channels,
We found AAC on the Apple iTunes online music site and on your iPod player. But it is also integrated into software like WinAmp.
OGG Vorbis
OGG Vorbis is in audio compression format, as Linux is in operating systems. In fact, it is an “open” format whose source codes are public and can be customized and changed by anyone. It’s still a pretty effective format. At 128 kbps, we reach the quality level of an audio CD (1 MB in 1 minute). The compression structure of OGG format is also significantly different from MP3, WMA and other AACs. Segmenting audio sources into successive packets, the compression algorithm works first on each packet independently of the others. This allows you to not really have weakness at certain frequencies and to maintain the same quality regardless of the type of music.
In addition, polyphony features allow playback of up to 255 audio channels (sic). The package structure also makes it very suitable for streaming on the Internet, especially for online radios. Open, OGG Vorbis needed to evolve quickly and maybe move closer to AAC in terms of performance.
Digitizing music involves compressing the original sound that may distort the work. AAC, MP3, WMA or Wav: which of these formats offers the best representation?
If we are not aware of or no longer aware of the quality of today’s music in its digital form, it is often because our audio rendering tools are so poor. This is due to the speakers that come with desktops or built-in laptops, but also to the headphones / earphones that come with MP3 players, which are mostly entry-level products. On the other hand, for those with high performance equipment, listening to poorly recorded or poorly coded songs quickly becomes unpleasant.
Therefore, choosing the best audio format for the same recording is best for fun. Today, there are 5 main audio file formats: AAC (promoted by Apple, iPod and iPhone in mind), WMA (promoted by Microsoft), MP3, Wav and Ogg (the last three are neutral).
In addition to the file format, there is another criterion called the compression ratio. The more a file is compressed, the more it removes the frequency bands in the music and therefore potentially small nuances that enrich the listening. The compression ratio is expressed in the number of bits, the basic computing unit. Values range from 56 Kbits / s (56,000 bits per second, minimum quality for radio or podcasts) to 320 Kbits / s. The lower the number, the more compressed and small the file will be, but the less comfortable it is to listen to.
The sampling frequency is also important. This value is expressed in Hz and must be as large as possible to preserve the shape of the original audio signal and therefore the accuracy of the recording. In general, we prefer a file with a sampling rate for CD quality (44,100 Hz), but we also found lower quality files (22,000 Hz).
The study from the Musiclassics studio.
This online digital music sales site dedicated exclusively to classical music launched a modernization of its interface during 2009. On this occasion, the question arose about the best audio formats that its customers could offer. To make it right, the site invited 15 people (bloggers, musicians, fans, audiophiles) to a listening session in a professional studio. They had to judge from 1 to 5 the quality of 4 different musical excerpts representative of the diversity of classical music (voice, violin, piano, orchestra and heart), coded in 6 different ways: MP3 320 Kbps, Wav, WMA 192 Kbps and 320 Kbps, AAC 192 Kbps and 320 Kbps. Here are the results of this study:
Since formats compressed at 128 Kbps or less have not been studied, the difference in ratings is relatively small. However, the MP3 format, even compressed at 320 Kbps, is the worst with a significant difference. More surprisingly, the CD (Wav file) is located behind the WMA and AAC formats. These files seem to change the rendering slightly. It is observed that the difference in notation between the 192 and 320 Kbps compression is not significant.
But too bad MusiClassics did not want to integrate the free and open OGG file format into these results. However, we noticed that as a consumer it would be better to choose 192 Kbps AAC or WMA files instead of 320 Kbps MP3 and 192 192 Kbps MP3. 128 Kbps files would score less than 3/5, which is not satisfactory.
