Audio codec


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Audio codec

Audio Codec

Software codec

AUDIO CODEC

A software level audio codec is a specialized computer program, a codec that compresses (compresses) or decompresses (decompresses) digital audio data according to an audio file format or streaming audio format. The task of an audio codec as a compressor is to provide an audio signal with a certain quality / precision and the smallest possible size. Compression reduces the amount of space required to store audio data, and it is also possible to reduce the bandwidth of the channel through which the audio data is transmitted. Most audio codecs are implemented as software libraries that interact with one or more audio players such as QuickTime Player, XMMS, Winamp, VLC Media Player, MPlayer, or Windows Media Player.

Popular software audio codecs by application:

MPEG-1 Layer III (MP3): a proprietary audio codec (music, audiobooks, etc.) for computers and digital players
Advanced Audio Codec (AAC) – The second most common proprietary codec, positioned as an alternative to MP3. Most popular along with H.264 (AVC) video codec received in online video (eg flash video on YouTube)
Ogg Vorbis (OGG) is a free codec widely used in computer games and file-sharing networks to transfer music.
Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) is a free codec that uses lossless compression. Alternative and less common lossless codecs: WavPack (WV), Monkey’s Audio (APE), etc.
GSM-FR is the first digital voice coding standard used in GSM phones
Adaptive multi rate (AMR): human voice recording on mobile phones and other mobile devices
G.723.1: one of the basic codecs for IP telephony applications
G.729 is a proprietary narrowband codec used to digitally represent speech
Internet Low Bit Rate Codec (iLBC) – A popular free codec for IP telephony (in particular for Skype and Google Talk)

Hardware codec
Realtek ALC 882 HD audio codec chip on motherboard
Realtek ALC 882 HD audio codec chip on motherboard
A hardware audio codec refers to a separate chip that encodes and decodes an analog audio signal into a digital signal and vice versa using analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters. Digital-to-analog conversion occurs when the computer sends sound to external speakers, and analog-to-digital conversion occurs when sound enters the computer from outside.

The audio codec is the main, but not always the only, component of a sound card. It is an intermediate link, an interface between analog ports to receive and transmit sound and digital sound processing units

In massive onboard sound cards on motherboards, the audio codec actually represents the entire sound card: it converts the analog signal received from the connectors into digital and transmits it to the south bridge of the motherboard, from where the sound digital goes to the central processor. This technology for processing digital audio in a central processor is called host signal processing.

In discrete sound cards connected to the motherboard, the audio codec performs the same function as in the integrated ones, but after digitization it transmits the audio signal not to the central processor, but to an audio processing and control chip special, also located on the sound card.

An audio codec chip is typically about 7mm², and in the case of an integrated sound card, it is typically located near the back of the motherboard. The main manufacturers of hardware audio codecs are Realtek, VIA Technologies, C-Media, Intel, and Analog Devices.


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Choosing an audio codec for online streaming and recording.

Choosing an audio codec for online streaming and recording.

Audio Codec

Are you interested in what is an audio codec and how to choose the right one to get the best result from online streaming or recording?

Audio Codecs

Imagine that we live in a completely analog world. Then there would be no need for audio codecs. What is it, you ask? It is an algorithm used to convert analog audio to digital. This is what is needed in the world of digital devices, media players and the Internet.

The quality of audio codecs has improved significantly over the years. Let’s go back, for example, to the 80s, when the first digital amplifiers appeared. Compared to the reproduction quality of a modern digital amp, the difference will be obvious. The best audio codecs offer better and more realistic sound.

But now there are so many different audio codecs. Which to choose?
Many codecs are quite specific. Some of them are proprietary, while others were created for specific applications, most often telecommunications. For voice signals, such as on your phone, you do not need to use high-fidelity audio codecs, as the reproduction of a signal with a limited audio range is more suitable in this case. But for music playback, a high-quality audio signal is certainly preferable.

If you dig deeper, you will find that different audio codecs serve different purposes in processing the original analog signal. For example, an audio codec like PCM is a lossless compression algorithm. This means that the signal is reproduced in digital form without losing a single bit of original information. Other audio codecs, such as AAC and MP3, compress audio with some loss.

Compression reduces the bits of the original content and therefore reduces the file size. If you are listening to songs on a mobile device, you can be sure that these files have been compressed to take up less space. And that is why you can save a large number of music files on your device, but their quality will differ from optimal.

Audio codecs for Epiphan Pearl and Pearl-2
Of course, it is impossible to tell in detail all the characteristics of audio codecs in one article, but it can still help to clarify some of the nuances in choosing the correct audio codec for live streaming or recording using Epiphan Pearl or Pearl- 2 .

There are 3 audio codecs available:

-PCM – Uncompressed audio codec, which may be the best option if you plan to record shows for further editing and if you are not limited by network bandwidth.

-AAC: audio codec with compression algorithm best suited for live streaming or content recording with immediate playback on media players or for uploading to the Internet. Experts believe that AAC plays better audio than MP3 with the same audio bit rate. As a rule, the newer codecs reproduce the analog signal better than their predecessors, you can trust the experts on this.

-MP3: a fairly old, but still very popular audio code compression algorithm, also suitable for live streaming or recording content with immediate playback on media players or uploading to the Internet.
Choosing the correct audio codec is important when setting up live streaming or recording with the Epiphan Pearl or Pearl-2. Sample rate and audio oversampling effects are other important parameters for improving sound quality.

What is the CODEC?

CODEC is a program that reduces the number of bytes contained in large files (similar to WinZIP) so that they can be stored on storage media and then played back. Typically used to compress and decompress multimedia files such as songs or videos (CODEC is actually short for CO compression / DEC compression, ie compression / decompression). There are audio and video codecs. MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, Vorbis, DivX, … are examples of CODEC.

codec

The main difference between a CODEC and a compression algorithm like WinZIP is that in CODECs the compression / decompression is done in real time. This means that while CODEC is watching a video behind the scenes, it processes the data stream by unpacking it. A CODEC can consist of two parts: an encoder for compressing the multimedia file (encoding) and a decoder for decompressing the file (decoding). Some CODECs can contain both parts, others only one.

codec

CODECs can be installed and updated on older computers or multimedia devices or integrated in dedicated hardware components (e.g. CD or DVD players). CODECs should not be confused with containers. A container contains one or more streams that have already been coded by CODEC. Very often you will find an audio and a video stream in the container at the same time. AVI, Ogg, MOV, ASF, … are examples of containers. while others just one of them.

CODECs should not be confused with containers. A container contains one or more streams that have already been coded by CODEC. Very often you will find an audio and a video stream in the container at the same time. AVI, Ogg, MOV, ASF, … are examples of containers. Very often you will find an audio and a video stream in the container at the same time. AVI, Ogg, MOV, ASF, … are examples of containers. Very often you will find an audio and a video stream in the container at the same time. AVI, Ogg, MOV, ASF, … are examples of containers.

Where can I find the CODEC?

If Tizio creates a document with the Word program and sends it to Caio, the latter must use the Word program to open it. If a film is compressed with the XYZ-CODEC, the same CODEC must be used for the display.
At this point the question arises: Where can the CODECs be found? CODECs are available on the Internet. There are dozens of audio and video formats and related CODECs. However, there is no point in downloading them individually and then installing them on the computer. It is much better to download a collection of CODECs like K-Lite Codec Pack. K-Lite Codec Pack is a collection of CODEC for Microsoft Windows, with which the operating system can play various audio and video formats that are not supported by default.

In addition to CODECs, the K-Lite Codec Package can also contain other tools, including: Media Player Classic for playing multimedia files, information tools such as Media Info and tools for editing CODECs. There are four versions of the K-Lite codec package:

Basic – Plays many of the popular video file formats, e.g. B. AVI, MKV, MP4, OGM and FLV
Standard: Contains everything that is required to reproduce the most commonly used formats.
Full: Supports multiple audio and video formats. It also has coding support
Mega: combines the content of “K-Lite Codec Pack (Full)” and Real Alternative. In the past, it also included QuickTime Alternative. QuickTime Alternative (with Media Player Classic) and QT Lite (without Media Player Classic) are now available as separate programs
The standard version is for the average user, while the full version is for advanced users who edit and decode videos. The K-Lite Codec Pack is updated regularly and contains everything you need to play all movies and music. Any uninstallation will also remove everything that has been installed from the package.