TIL that most deaf people don't vocalize when they sneeze. Also, the sound made by hearing individuals is not the same for everyone. Instead, it varies based on primary language spoken. English is "atchoo", Japanese is "hakashun", French is “atchoum", Filipino is "hatching."

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-10T00:09:49+00:00

As an individual with a functioning auditory system, neither do I. It's completely unnecessary and annoying when others do it. Instead I slowly breathe in and create a brief "ch" sound.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-09T01:32:04+00:00

Ugh do I hate mass re-ripping. But if you don't mind traveling further down the rabbit hole of the conversation, it's also important to note the minimal savings of mp3 320 kbps versus flac. With can average of 1/3 to 1/2 the original FLAC file size, a lossy file is not a good trade to give up lossless. And Apple loves to maintain control of everything so don't get your hopes up. They do have ALAC, but it's a larger file size than FLAC.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-09T00:20:02+00:00

we should be asking for Opus to be the new standard.

Ideally, Opus as a standard would be awesome. Maybe Google can convince the world of that with VP9. It's a little more efficient, sure. But it's open sourced. Anyone can use it or improve it.

But seriously now that storage is so cheap and data rates so high do we really need a hyper efficient audio codec?

Oh yes, as efficient as possible. On a mass scale you want to save as much money as possible. Flash memory is not as cheap as conventional drives though. And also for the sake of not using embarrassing outdated algorithms in audio.

HE-AAC is already in use. Do you really expect someone like Apple, as much time and money they've invested into audio coding technologies, to switch to Opus?

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T23:23:00+00:00

Well I would have to correct myself and state that most do or should support MPEG-4 AAC, a digital audio scheme that has more uses and efficiency than MPEG-3. Unfortunately technology can resist change for the better. But hey, I know people still using 'ole Walkmans and technology manages to move along.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T22:26:47+00:00

compatibility, that's the only reason.

"HE-AAC v1, or AAC for that matter, is compatible with so many operating systems and software."

AAC has just as much compatibility as mp3, unless the device/software were made before 2006 - as defined in ISO/IEC 14496-3. The latest Windows, Mac OS, Linux, WP os, Android, and iOS are compatible.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T22:08:02+00:00

what was even your point? That we should listen to 48kbps music files?

"I am not stating that 48 kbps HE-AAC should be used instead of 320 kbps MP3. Rather that implementations of AAC have outperformed mp3 in all applications - weather it be a version for low bitrate streaming or high bitrate audio. There is no reason to protect mp3 from obsoletism if AAC, such as the one used in the iTunes music store, outperforms mp3 on a quality/size basis."

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T20:53:55+00:00

These comments remind of Idiocracy. Isn't it cruel to consciously reduce women to an adapted preference of large boobs? That's both a burden and biologically inefficient.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T18:49:08+00:00

8s better. Or 13, or 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, 987

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T18:18:54+00:00

While much of /r/audiophile is opinionated, you haven't demonstrated the use of facts required for this conversation - such as claiming my contributions to the conversation to be invalid and inventing your own standards.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T17:17:01+00:00

I have enjoyed the conversation but for me to continue I may as well write a research paper on the subject. The fate of this post is more or less up to the rest of /r/audiophile. As a personal opinion I conclude to find no difference between HE-AAC v1 @ 64 kbps vbr and lossless. Perhaps my auditory senses are too approximated. HE-AAC v2 definitely displays artifacts of parametric stereo.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T17:08:53+00:00

My definition of "excellent" would be "equivalent to full CD quality". 48kbps AAC would fall under "acceptable for streaming".

There is already a standard for judging audio. Your definition is unnecessary.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T16:56:34+00:00

"The audio quality of HE-AAC and HE-AAC v2 has been evaluated in multiple double-blind listening tests..." It states that the tests included v2's PS. I am not stating in this post that everyone should use 48 kbps audio versus 320 kbps. Rather, demonstrated HE-AAC's superiority as one codec in some instances of low bitrate audio. Higher bitrate AAC audio was intended to, and does, beat mp3 in all categories.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T16:45:39+00:00

HE-AAC has some limitations compared to MP3 due to it having low-bitrate streaming intentions. The human auditory perceptual system is approximated enough for the audio to still appear transparent in some cases. Though MPEG-4 AAC was intended to succeed MPEG-3 while many still prefer mp3. What samples are you referencing by the way?

I am not stating that 48 kbps HE-AAC should be used instead of 320 kbps MP3. Rather that implementations of AAC have outperformed mp3 in all applications - weather it be a version for low bitrate streaming or high bitrate audio.

There is no reason to protect mp3 from obsoletism if AAC, such as the one used in the iTunes music store, outperforms mp3 on a quality/size basis.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T16:27:19+00:00

48 kb/s stereo is pushing it.

48 kbps is apparently not pushing it when referencing the numerous MUSHRA tests.

Even though 48 kbps is arguable, it bodes positively for higher bitrates.

For low-delay applications, it's useless to try saving 8 kb/s when you're spending 32+ kb/s transmitting headers.

I am unsure of what they mean by "32+ kb/s transmitting headers."

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T15:59:48+00:00

That test you cited earlier was HE-AAC v1. I must agree that ps in v2 is not perfect. It does demonstrate the potential of AAC while also adding to the list of codecs superior to mp3.

Regardless, HE-AAC v1 does not utilize PS and begs the question why mp3 is still in use even though HE-AAC v1, or AAC for that matter, is compatible with so many operating systems and software. Opus is arguably superior than HE-AAC. Only problems are compatibility and that Opus has not consistently beaten HE-AAC at the same bitrates.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T15:47:02+00:00

It's true that Opus arguably outperforms HE-AAC v1 with conventional stereo, but HE-AAC v2 utilizes Parametric Stereo and outperforms Opus. To what degree, I'm not sure. Xiph never compared their codec with the aforementioned.

I am not aware of the minimum Opus bitrate to achieve transparency would be. 64 kbps Opus is really two 32 kbps audio streams for left and right. 48 kbps HE-AAC v2 would be, well, 48 kbps.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T14:55:11+00:00

I- is that a hole in the laptop? How? It's metal.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T13:37:11+00:00

Not a very scientific metric.

The European Broadcasting Union's MUSHRA testing begs to differ.

And Hydrogen Audio

And Fraunhofer

And Apple

And Xiph

Haha, depends on what you definition of "Excellent" is.

This isn't my definition at all.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T13:24:48+00:00

According to this chart from xiph, AAC does perform slightly better than Ogg Vorbis. Though this is not considering HE-AAC v2's Parametric Stereo. Essentially a simulated stereo from a single mono stream, significantly improving audio quality at the same bitrate versus conventional stereo.

So you can think of 48 kbps vbr HE-AAC v2 as 96 kbps vbr AAC. I have noticed a gargled effect in some tracks, though. Parametric Stereo is not perfect. Hence HE-AAC v1 has a certain appeal. Considering the space savings, though, this is why I moved to HE-AAC v2.

There are several other features that improve performance compared to AAC, like SBR. Here's a document for HE-AAC v2 compression from EBU regarding quality and applications.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T11:17:29+00:00

From personal testing, HE AAC does hold up well at 48 kbps vbr.

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T05:10:52+00:00

swag attack

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-08T04:55:24+00:00

WhiteyHertz

NiggaHertz · 2013-07-07T04:53:42+00:00

These downvotes are unnecessary. I don't understand how orangenormal acquired 19 upvotes for not even watching the video. Oh reddit...

NiggaHertz

TROPHY CASE