audio-codec.docx

Title: Audio Codec (Encoder + Decoder):How to Compare and Convert It?
Keywords: audiocodec, whatisanaudiocodec,audioencoder,audiocodecs, idthighdefinition
audiocodec,bluetoothaudiocodec,audiocodecnotsupported
Description: What’s the audio codec? How to compare audio codec formats? How to change the
audio codec? What are the audio codecs that had been developed?
URL: https://videoconvert.minitool.com/video-converter/audio-codec.html
Summary: This article expressed by MiniTool Software Ltd. mainly introduces a type of audio data
processing technology device called an audio codec. It involves the definition, comparison,
conversion, examples, etc. If you are interested in this topic, just read on!
What Is an Audio Codec?
An audiocodecreferstoa hardware device orsoftware applicationthatisable toencode ordecode
a digital datastreamin type of audioor sound. The audiocodec that can encode anaudiostream
and create audiofiles iscalledanaudioencodersuchasa soundrecorder. Whereasthe codecthat
can decode an audiostream andplayaudiofiles isnamedanaudiodecoderlike amusicplayer.To
make it simpler, anaudiocodecisthe share name of an audioencoderand audiodecoder.
Hardware Audio Codec
In the physical hardware field,anaudiocodecstandsfora device thatencodesanalogaudioas
digital signalsanddecodesdigital signalsbacktoanalog.It consistsof bothan analog-to-digital
converter(ADC) and a digital-to-analogconverter(DAC) runningoff the same clocksignal.
That is appliedinsoundcardsthatsupportboth audioinand audioout. Audiocodechardware sends
and receivesdigital datarelyingon USBbuseslike AC-Link,I2
S, Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI),Inter-
IntegratedCircuit(I2
C),andsoon.

Usually,the digital datasignal islinearPulse-code modulation(PCM),whichisthe onlyaudiocodec
formatthat most audiocodecsare compatible with.Yet,some legacyaudiocodecssupportother
formats,G.711 for telephonyforexample.
Software Audio Codec
A software audiocoderimplementsanalgorithmthatcompresses(encodes) anddecompresses
(decodes) digital audiodatabasedona givenaudiofile orstreamingmediacodingformat. The
algorithmaimstorepresentthe high-fidelityaudiosignal withminimumfilesize whileretaining
audioquality.
That can greatly save the storage space andthe bandwidthneededtotransferthe compressed
audio.Most modernaudiocompressionalgorithmsare basedonmodifieddiscrete cosine transform
(MDCT) codingandlinearpredictive coding(LPC).Besides,mostsoftware codecsare implemented
as librariesthatinterface toatleastone mediaplayer.
https://videoconvert.minitool.com/video-converter/vlc-could-not-open-mp4a-audio-encoder.html
Compare Audio Coding Formats
To compare differentaudiocodingformats,engineersortechniciansmaytake theirsupported
operatingsystems(OSes),supportedmultimediaframeworks,adoptedtechnologies,aswell as
general specificationsintoconsideration.
Next,let’ssee the specificaspectsthatneedtocompare among variousaudiocodecs.
# Supported OS
In general,mostaudiocodecformatsare designedtobe appliedtothese operatingsystems,
includingcomputersystemsandmobile phone OSes.
 Windows
 macOS
 Linux
 BSD
 Unix
 Chromium
 PalmOS
 SymbianOS
 Rockbox
 iOS
 Android
# Supported Multimedia Frameworks
Next,let’shave alookat whatsoftware appsare usuallytakenasthe standards forestimatingthe
audioplayersupport.
 AudioCompressionManager(forWindows)
 DirectShow(forWindows)
 MediaFoundation(forWindowsincludingWindows11/10/8/7)
 QuickTime (formacOS)
 GStreamer(formultiple systems)
 FFmpeg(forvarioussystems)

# Supported Technologies
As forcomparingthe audiocodec formats’technologies,firstof all,we needtosortthose codecs
intodifferentgroupsthatwill be comparedwithdifferenttechnical parameters.
LossyAudioCodecFormats
Lossyaudiocodecsare codingformats that will lose some informationafterencoding/compressing
the audiodata. For thiskindof codec,we usuallyestimate the followingtechnical details.
 Codecalgorithm
 Sample rate
 Bitrate
 Constantbitrate (CBR)
 Variable bitrate (VBR)
 Latency
 Stereophonicsound
 Multichannel (surroundsound)
https://videoconvert.minitool.com/video-converter/stereo-to-mono.html
LosslessAudioCodecFormats
On the contrary,losslessaudiocodecsare codingformatsthatwon’tlose anyqualityafter
compressioncomparedtothe original audio file.The below technologieswillbe comparedwhen
choosinga properlosslessaudioencoder. Mostof the aspectsare the same as those of lossy video
soundcodecs.
 Codingalgorithm
 Sample rate
 Bitsper sample
 Latency
 Stereo
 Multichannel
ITU-T formats
The followingwill listthe comparisonitemsforaudioencoders/decodersbelongingtoITU-T
standards.
 Comparisonalgorithm
 Sample rate
 Bitrate
 Bitsper sample
 Constantbitrate (CBR)
 Variable bitrate (VBR)
 Latency
 Stereo
 Multichannel (surroundsound)

How to Convert Audio Codec?
Afterlearningthe comparisonstandardsof differentaudiocodecs,youmayfigure outyourfavorite
audiocodingformats.If your currentvideosare notof the audiocodesyoulike,youcan change itto
the one you preferwithaprofessional andreliableaudiocodecconverter– MiniTool Video
Converter,whichcaneasilyandquicklyalteraudioand videoencodersforfree.
VC-Free
1. Download,install, andopenMiniTool VideoConverteronyourcomputer.
2. Go to the Convertingsubtabunderthe mainVideoConvert tabto add your audiofile(s).
Alt=addaudioto MiniTool VideoConverter
3. Then,clickthe editingiconin the Target sectiononthe audiofile.

Alt=clicktoeditaudiooutputformat
4. In the pop-upeditingwindow,move tothe Audiotab.There, selectyourfavorite audioformat
fromthe leftmenuandchoose a qualityinthe rightsectionordirectly clickthe Create Custom
optioninthe lowerrightpart.

Alt=change audioquality
5. To checkyour newaudiocodec,youneedtoclickon the editingicon behindthe qualityyou
choose.If youselectCreate Custominthe laststep,youwill be directlyshownthe audiosettings
window.

Alt=audiosettings
6. There,youcan change otherparametersof youraudiolike channel,samplerate,andbitrate.If
youmake some changes,remembertoclickthe Create buttonto save them.
7. Back to the audioformatselectionwindow,justchoose yourcustomized audiothatappearsafter
youclick the Create buttonabove.

Alt=selectcustomizedaudioformat
8. Finally,clickonthe Convertbuttonon the audiofile tobeginthe process.
In additiontoaudiocodecformatconversion,MiniTool VideoConvertercanalsorecorda video
(withaudio) of different file formatsincludingWMV,MKV,AVI,MOV, FLV, MP4, and TS, all encoded
by H.264. Moreover,itcan download songsandvideos fromYouTube indifferentformatslike MP3,
MP4, WEBM, WAV,etc.
Audio Formats/Codecs List
Here in thispart,we will collectthe listsof audiocompressionformatsandtheirrelatedcodecs.
Generally,the audioencoderformatscanbe dividedinto three categories:non-compressionaudio
formats,losslessaudiocompressionformats,andlossyaudiocompressionformats.
Non-Compression Audio Formats
Linear pulse-code modulation(LPCM)
 FFmpeg
Pulse-densitymodulation(PDM)
 DirectStreamDigital (DSD):foobar2000 SuperAudioCDDecoder, FFmpeg
Pulse-amplitude modulation(PAM)
Lossless Compression Audio Formats
Activelyused

Most popular
 Free LosslessAudioCodec(FLAC):libFLAC,FFmpeg
 Apple LosslessAudioCodec(ALAC):AppleQuickTime,libalac, FFmpeg, Apple Music
 Monkey'sAudio(APE):Monkey'sAudioSDK,FFmpeg
 OptimFROG(OFR)
 Tom's verlustfreierAudiokompressor(TAK):TAKSDK,FFmpeg
 WavPack (WV):libwavpack,FFmpeg
 True Audio(TTA):libtta,FFmpeg
 WindowsMediaAudioLossless(WMAL):WindowsMediaEncoder,FFmpeg
https://videoconvert.minitool.com/video-converter/flac-to-alac.html
Other
 DTS-HD Master Audio (alsoDTS++ andDCA XLL): libdca,FFmpeg
 DolbyTrueHD:FFmpeg
 MeridianLosslessPacking(MLP),alsoknownasPackedPCM(PPCM):FFmpeg
 MPEG-4 AudioLosslessCoding(MPEG-4ALS):SSC,DST, ALS and SLS reference software,
FFmpeg
 MPEG-4 Scalable LosslessCoding(MPEG-4SLS):SSC,DST, ALS and SLS reference software
 RealAudioLossless:RealPlayer,FFmpeg
 BFDLAC (BFDLosslessAudioCompression):FXpansion'sBFD3drumsoftware
Oddball
 ATRACAdvancedLossless(AAL):FFmpeg
 DirectStreamTransfer(DST):SSC, DST, ALSand SLS reference software,FFmpeg
 Original SoundQuality(OSQ)
Discontinued
 LosslessAudio(LA)
 Shorten(SHN):libshn, FFmpeg
 LosslessPredictive AudioCompression(LPAC)
 LosslessTransformAudioCompression(LTAC)
 MPEG-1 AudioLayerIIIHD (mp3HD)
 RK Audio(RKAU)
Bluetoothlossless
 aptX Lossless
https://videoconvert.minitool.com/video-converter/vlc-convert-no-audio.html
Lossy compression
 Discrete cosine transform(DCT):Modifieddiscretecosine transform(MDCT)
General/Speechhybrid
UnifiedSpeechandAudio Coding(USAC,MPEG-DPart 3)
IETF standards

 Opus:libopus,FFmpeg
IETF Internet Draft
 IPMR SpeechCodec
General
Adaptive differential pulse-codemodulation(ADPCM,alsocalledadaptive delta pulse-code
modulation)
Adaptive Transform AcousticCoding (ATRAC)
 FFmpeg
ATSC/ETSI standards
 DolbyDigital:FFmpeg,liba52
 DolbyDigital Plus:FFmpeg
 DTS CoherentAcoustics(DTS,Digital Theatre SystemCoherentAcoustics):FFmpeg, libdca
 DolbyAC-4
Impala Blackbird audio codec
ITU standards
 G.719
 G.722: FFmpeg
 G.722.1 andG.722.1 Annex C:libg722_1, libsiren
 G.722.2: 3GPP,opencore-amr, VisualOnAMR-WBencoder,FFmpeg
 EVS
MPEG-1Audio and MPEG-2 Audio
 layerI (MP1) (MPEG-1,MPEG-2 and non-ISOMPEG-2.5):FFmpeg
 layerII(MP2) (MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and non-ISOMPEG-2.5):FFmpeg, tooLame,twoLame
 layerIII(MP3) (MPEG-1, MPEG-2 andnon-ISOMPEG-2.5): FFmpeg,LAME
 AdvancedAudioCoding(AAC) (MPEG-2Part7): FAACand FAAD,FFmpeg,iTunes,NeroAAC
Codec,VisualOnAACEncoder(a.k.a.libvo_aacenc),FraunhoferFDKAAC,libaacplus
https://videoconvert.minitool.com/video-converter/aac-vs-ac3.html
MPEG-4Audio
 AdvancedAudioCoding(AAC,MPEG-4Part 3 subpart4), HE-AACand AAC-LD:FAAC,FAAD2,
FFmpeg, iTunes,NeroAACCodec,MPEG-4AACreference software
 Harmonicand Individual LinesandNoise (HILN,MPEG-4ParametricAudioCoding):MPEG-4
reference software
 TwinVQ:MPEG-4 reference software,FFmpeg
 BSAC(Bit-SlicedArithmeticCoding):MPEG-4reference software
MPEG-H
 MPEG-H 3D Audio

Musepack (a.k.a. MPEGplus)
 MusepackSV8 Tools
 FFmpeg
NICAM
AT&T Perceptual AudioCoder
PrecisionAdaptive Subband Coding(PASC)
QDesign
 QDesignMusicCodec:FFmpeg
PictureTel
 Siren7: libg722_1, libsiren,FFmpeg
 Siren14: libg722_1, vgmstream
 Siren22
NTT TwinVQ
 FFmpeg
 NTT TwinVQEncoder,NTTTwinVQPlayer
Voxware MetaSound
 WindowsMediaPlayer(voxmsdec.ax)
 FFmpeg
Vorbis
 aoTuV
 FFmpeg
 libvorbis
 Tremor
WindowsMediaAudio(WMA)
 WindowsMediaEncoder
 FFmpeg
https://videoconvert.minitool.com/video-converter/itunes-music-format.html
AES3
SMPTE 302M
 FFmpeg
Dolby E
 FFmpeg
Bluetooth audiocodec
BluetoothSpecial InterestGroup

 Low ComplexitySubband Coding(SBC):BlueZ'sSBClibrary(libsbc),FluorideBluetoothstack,
FFmpeg
 CVSD8 kHz
 modifiedSBC(mSBC):BlueZ'sSBClibrary(libsbc),FluorideBluetoothstack, FFmpeg
 LC3 (LowComplexityCommunicationCodec)
ETSI
 LC3plus
Qualcomm Technologies International (formerlyCSR)
 aptX (a.k.a.apt-X):QualcommlibaptX,FFmpeg
 aptX HD: QualcommlibaptXHD,FFmpeg
 aptX LowLatency
 aptX Adaptive
 FastStream
Sony
 LDAC: libldac
HWA Alliance/Savitech
 LHDC: HWA encoder/decoder
 LLAC: HWA encoder/decoder
HiBy
 Ultra AudioTransmission(UAT)
Samsung
 SamsungHD/UHQ-BT codec
 SamsungScalable codec
Digital radio
Hybrid Digital Coding
 NRSC-5receiverforrtl-sdr
Voice
Linear predictive coding(LPC)
 Code-excitedlinearprediction(CELP):Algebraiccode-excitedlinearprediction(ACELP)
Xiph.Org Foundation
 Speex,patentfree:libspeex,FFmpeg
Dialogic ADPCM(VOX)
 FFmpeg
ITU standards

 G.711: SunMicrosystems'publicdomainimplementation, FFmpeg(libavcodec)
 G.711.0 (G.711 LLC)
 G.711.1
 G.711.1D
 G.718 (8/12/16/24/32kbit/s)
 G.718B
 G.719
 G.721: SunMicrosystems'publicdomainimplementation
 G.722 (SB-ADPCM;48/56/64kbit/s):FFmpeg
 G.722B
 G.722.2 (AMR-WB):3GPP, opencore-amr,FFmpeg
 G.723.1: FFmpeg
 G.726 (ADPCM;16/24/32/40kbit/s): SunMicrosystems'publicdomainimplementation,
FFmpeg
 G.728 (LD-CELP;16kbit/s)
 G.729 (CS-ACELP;8kbit/s):FFmpeg
 G.729a
 G.729b
 G.729ab
 G.729d (6.4kbit/s):FFmpeg
 G.729e (11.8kbit/s)
 G.729.1
 G.729.1E
Google
 InternetSpeechAudioCodec(iSAC):WebRTC
 Lyra (codec)
NellymoserAsaoCodec
 FFmpeg(libavcodec)
PictureTel PT716, PT716plus
PictureTel PT724
RTAudio
SVOPC
OpenLPC
 HawkVoice (libHVDI)
ANSI/SCTE
 ANSI/SCTE24-21 2006 (BroadVoice16):BroadVoice SpeechCodecOpenSource CCode
 ANSI/SCTE24-22 2013 (iLBCv2.0)
 ANSI/SCTE24-23 2007 (BroadVoice32):BroadVoice SpeechCodecOpenSource CCode

IETF RFCs
 InternetLowBitRate Codec(iLBC,RFC 3951): WebRTC
IETF Internet Draft
 SILK
 CELT: libcelt
MPEG-4Audio
 MPEG-4 CELP
 MPEG-4 HVXC
Skyphone MPLP
Inmarsat
 INMARSAT-MIMBE
 InmarsatMini-MAMBE
Satin
https://videoconvert.minitool.com/video-converter/available-video-format-on-google-video-
partners.html
MicrosoftDirectPlay
These codecsare usedby manyPC gameswhichuse voice chatsvia MicrosoftDirectPlayAPI.
Voxware MetaVoice
 WindowsMediaPlayer(voxmvdec.ax)
Truespeech
 WindowsMediaPlayer(tssoft32.acm)
 FFmpeg
MS GSM
 WindowsMediaPlayer(msgsm32.acm)
 libgsm
 FFmpeg
MS-ADPCM
 WindowsMediaPlayer(msadp32.acm)
 FFmpeg
Digital Voice Recorder
International Voice Association(IVA) standards
 Digital SpeechStandard/StandardPlay(DSS-SP):FFmpeg
 Digital SpeechStandard/QualityPlay(DSS-QP)
Sony LPEC

TruespeechTriple Rate CODER (TRC)
Mobile phone
Generation2
 EuropeanTelecommunicationsStandardsInstitute (ETSI) GSM:Full Rate (libgsm/FFmpeg),
Half Rate, EnhancedFull Rate
 TelecommunicationsIndustryAssociation(TIA) IS-95(a.k.a.cdmaOne):IS-96A (QCELP
8kbit/s), IS-127(EVRC 8kbit/s), IS-733(QCELP13kbit/s)
 TelecommunicationsIndustryAssociation(TIA) IS-54/IS-136(a.k.a.Digital AMPS):IS-85
(VSELP8kbit/s),IS-641(ACELP7.4kbit/s)
 Associationof RadioIndustriesandBusinesses(ARIB) RCRSTD-27 (PDC):PDC-HR(PSI-CELP
3.45kbit/s),PDC-FR(VSELP11.2kbit/s),PDC-EFRCS-ACELP8kbit/s(a.k.a.G.729),PDC-EFR
ACELP 6.7kbit/s
Generation3/4
1) 3rd GenerationPartnershipProject (3GPP)
Adaptive Multi-Rate(AMR)
 AMR-NB:3GPP, opencore-amr,FFmpeg
 AMR-WB: 3GPP, opencore-amr,vo-amrwbenc,FFmpeg
 AMR-WB+: 3GPP
 Enhanced Voice Services(EVS):3GPP
2) 3rd GenerationPartnershipProject2(3GPP2)
 EnhancedVariable Rate Codec(EVRC,a.k.a.IS-127):FFmpeg
 EnhancedVariable Rate CodecB(EVRC-B)
 QCELP (QualcommCode ExcitedLinearPrediction):QCELP-8(FFmpeg),QCELP-13(FFmpeg)
 Selectable Mode Vocoder(SMV)
 Variable Multi Rate – WideBand(VMR-WB)
Professionalmobile radio
APCO
 Project25 Phase 2 EnhancedFull-Rate (AMBE+24400bit/s with2800bit/s FEC)
 Project25 Phase 2 Half-Rate (AMBE+2 2450bit/s with1150bit/s FEC) – alsoused inNXDN and
DMR: mbelib
 Project25 Phase 1 Full Rate (IMBE 7200bit/s): mbelib
European TelecommunicationsStandardsInstitute (ETSI)
 ETS 300 395-2 (TETRA ACELP 4.6kbit/s)
TETRAPOL
 RPCELP 6kbit/s
D-STAR Digital Voice (AMBE 2400bit/s with 1200bit/s FEC)
 mbelib
Professional Digital Trunking SystemIndustry Association (PDT Alliance) standards

 NVOC
Spirit DSP RALCWI
DSPINI
 SPR Robust
 TWELP Robust
Codec2
 libcodec2
RL-CELP
Tip:What If IDT High DefinitionAudioCODECDriverFailstoInstall?
Military
U.S. Departmentof Defense (DoD) Federal Standard
 FS-1015 (a.k.a.LPC-10):HawkVoice (libHVDI)
 FS-1016 (CELP):HawkVoice (libHVDI)
 FS-1023 (CVSD12kbit/s)
UnitedStates MilitaryStandard (MIL-STD)
 MIL-STD-188 113 (CVSD16kbit/sand32kbit/s):SoX(libsox)
 MIL-STD-3005 (a.k.a.MELP): TexasInstruments'2.4 kbit/sMELP ProposedFederal Standard
speechcoder
NATO
 STANAG4198 (a.k.a.LPC-10e)
 STANAG-4591 (a.k.a.MELPe)
BBN NRV
Videogames
Bink Audio,Smacker Audio
 FFmpeg
Actimagine (NintendoEuropeanResearch & Development) FastAudio
 MobiclipDecoder
 FFmpeg
NintendoGCADPCM(a.k.a. DSP ADPCM or THP ADPCM)
 vgmstream
 VGAudio
 FFmpeg
Sony VAG (a.k.a. Sony PSX ADPCM)
 vgmstream

 FFmpeg
Sony HEVAG
 vgmstream
Sony ATRAC9
 VGAudio
 FFmpeg
MicrosoftXMA
 FFmpeg
Xbox ADPCM
 vgmstream
CRI ADX ADPCM
 vgmstream
 VGAudio
 FFmpeg
CRI HCA/HCA-MX
 vgmstream
 VGAudio
 FFmpeg
 libcgss
 HCADecoder
FMOD FADPCM
 vgmstream
https://videoconvert.minitool.com/video-converter/audio-codec-not-supported.html
Open-Source Audio Codec Formats List
Amongthe above numerousaudioformats’codecs,some of themare open-source.Theyare listed
below.
 FLAC
 LAME
 TooLAME/TwoLAME
 Musepack
 Speex
 CELT
 libopus
 libvorbis
 iLBC
 iSAC
 TTA

 WavPack
 Bonk
 Apple Lossless
 FraunhoferFDKAAC
 FFmpegcodecsinthe libavcodeclibrary
 FAAD2
 libgsm
 opencore-amr
 liba52
 libdca
 Codec2
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