Hey!

 

I've been researching about the best (a.k.a. "most efficient") audio codec avaliable out there.

 

And I got to a conclusion: aoTuV.

 

aoTuV is an abbreviation for Aoyumi's Tuned Vorbis. As the name says, it's an improved version of Vorbis.

 

PS: Geeky stuff below. If you're not geek nor audiophile, just jump to the final conclusion.

 

I've tested this codec with many songs. In this example, I'll be using Radiohead's Planet Telex.

 

1st file: 01 Planet Telex.mp3 (4,33 MB)

The codec used was LAME 3.98r, new VBR encoding, V6 VBR switch.

Dividing the filesize in kilobits (35495,2 kilobits) by its lenght in seconds (259 seconds), we get its average bitrate, which is of about 137,04 kbps.

 

2nd file: 01 Planet Telex.ogg (3,71 MB)

The codec used was aoTuV b5.7, VBR encoding, q3.5 VBR switch.

Dividing the filesize in kilobits (35495,2 kilobits) by its lenght in seconds (259 seconds), we get its average bitrate, which is of about 117,51 kbps.

 

This doesn't mean anything. Yet.

 

I made an ABX test to myself, and the aoTuV audio seamed clearer.

But the only way to confirm the ABX result was with an Spectral Frequency Display of each file. Guess what? (From now on, Spectral Frequency Display is simply "SFD")

 

SFD of the first file

 

 

As you can see, the lossy-compression cutoff is at 16kHz. Argh, my ears!

 

 

SFD of the second file

 

 

The lossy-compression cutoff is at 18kHz. Any sound above 18kHz would never be heard anyway. It rocks, doesn't it?

 

This shows that:

1: MP3 is only popular because it was the first audio container [because, then, the most popular MP3 codec was FhG]. It's compression algorithm sucks!

 

2: aoTuV is a big improve from Vorbis, its "father", which is already a great codec.

 

FINAL CONCLUSION (yes, this is where you, non-geeky person, continues reading): aoTuV is way more efficient than LAME, the most popular audio codec. aoTuV allows better audio quality with smaller bitrates (and smaller filesize) when compared to LAME.

 

 

Now, what's YOUR opinion? :rolleyes:

The best audio codec is the .bob audio files, a shame the only music player to support playback is the BP :P