Choosing an audio codec for online streaming and recording.
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?
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.
