Beta: mp4 Codec pack (Release 4)

[Spoon]

Gone has the old faac encoder, replaced with the new shiney Nero Digital Audio encoder. Also included in this codec are: Apple Lossless encoder / decoder (without the need for iTunes), .aac decoder.

All in, all a very slick package:

https://www.dbpoweramp.com/beta/dBpowerAMP-codec-mp4.exe

689 KB

Lets get this one released in the next 2-3 weeks, for this I need people to test the Nero encoder (different settings) and report here please.

[Deano]

Re: Beta: mp4 Codec pack (Release 4)

I shall download the codec tonight and give it some thorough testing. Thanking you in advance Spoon, I have had a hankering to fiddle with the new Nero encoder, this is giving me a good excuse. :D

[jtbse]

Re: Beta: mp4 Codec pack (Release 4)

Hi Spoon ....

I tested encoding at various settings. Great stuff!! Just a couple off issues:

1) The options.txt file that I downloaded was missing the -q switch for the "Quality .95" setting. Easy fix.

2) I couldn't get the CBR 8KB and ABR 8KB to work. Nero encoder generated an error message (depending on LC or HE options).

3) Speed of encoding ranged from 9x realtime for CBR 400 to 25X realtime for CBR 16. (Pentium 4 with HT).

3) The encoder doesn't generate AAC metadata that's optimized for fast-start streaming (no different than the old FAAC encoder in this regard). So if you want to create .m4a files that can be shared via iTunes DAAP, you still need to run a step to optimize the metadata via mp4creator or some other utility.

Encoding results below (sorry for the messy formatting...can send a pdf if you like):

Nero AAC dbPowerAmp Beta Codec - Encoding Data							

Notes:							
	Quality .95 setting is missing the -q switch in options.txt combo list						
							
	-cbr 8 and -abr 8 generate "ERROR: no valid SBR configuration found" from the codec						
							
	-cbr 8 -lc and -abr 8 -lc generate "ERROR: could not open AAC encoder: from the codec						
							
	AAC files created aren't optimized for "fast-start streaming" for sharing via iTunes DAAP						
							
	Encoding speeds vary from 25X realtime for lowest bitrates to 9X realtime for highest bitrates (Pentium 4 with HT)						

Encoding Results							
							
		Test file - .wav/PCM,  Frequency 44.1K,  Channels 2,  Sampling Rate 16 Bits,  Size 31,548KB					
						
		DMC Setting	CLI Setting	AAC Type	Reported Bitrate	Resulting Filesize
		Quality .5	-q.5	Low Complexity	163 Kbs	3696 KB
		Quality .95	-q.95	Low Complexity	371 Kbs	8342 KB
		Quality .85	-q .85	Low Complexity	332 Kbps	7464 KB
		Quality .75	-q .75	Low Complexity	290 Kbps	6542 KB
		Quality .65	-q .65	Low Complexity	229 Kbps	5164 KB
		Quality .55	-q .55	Low Complexity	190 Kbps	4303 KB
		Quality .45	-q .45	Low Complexity	141 Kbps	3192 KB
		Quality .35	-q .35	Low Complexity	92 Kbps	2091 KB
		Quality .25	-q .25	High Effeciency (SBR)	57 Kbps	1300 KB
		Quality .15	-q .15	High Effeciency (SBR)	32 Kbps	746 KB
		Quality .05	-q .05	High Effeciency (SBR)	14 Kbps	345 KB
		CBR 400	-cbr 400000	Low Complexity	406 Kbps	9128 KB
		CBR 320	-cbr 320000	Low Complexity	326 Kbps	7337 KB
		CBR 256	-cbr 256000	Low Complexity	261 Kbps	5873 KB
		CBR 224	-cbr 224000	Low Complexity	228 Kbps	5149 KB
		CBR 192	-cbr 192000	Low Complexity	196 Kbps	4422 KB
		CBR 160	-cbr 160000	Low Complexity	163 Kbps	3687 KB
		CBR 144	-cbr 144000	Low Complexity	147 Kbps	3324 KB
		CBR 128	-cbr 128000	Low Complexity	130 Kbps	2959 KB
		CBR 96	-cbr 96000	Low Complexity	98 Kbps	2229 KB
		CBR 80	-cbr 80000	High Effeciency (SBR)	81 Kbps	1845 KB
		CBR 80 LC	-cbr 80000 -lc	Low Complexity	81 Kbps	1863 KB
		CBR 64	-cbr 64000	High Effeciency (SBR)	67 Kbps	1519 KB
		CBR 64 LC	-cbr 64000 -lc	Low Complexity	65 Kbps	1497 KB
		CBR 56	-cbr 56000	High Effeciency (SBR)	58 Kbps	1328 KB
		CBR 56 LC	-cbr 56000 -lc	Low Complexity	57 Kbps	1311 KB
		CBR 48	-cbr 48000	High Effeciency (SBR)	50 Kbps	1141 KB
		CBR 48 LC	-cbr 48000 -lc	Low Complexity	49 Kbps	1129 KB
		CBR 32	-cbr 32000	High Effeciency (SBR)	32 Kbps	748 KB
		CBR 32 LC	-cbr 32000 -lc	Low Complexity	32 Kbps	763 KB
		CBR 24	-cbr 24000	High Effeciency (SBR)	24 Kbps	565 KB
		CBR 24 LC	-cbr 24000 -lc	Low Complexity	24 Kbps	580 KB
		CBR 16	-cbr 16000	High Effeciency (SBR)	16 Kbps	383 KB
		CBR 16 LC	-cbr 16000 -lc	Low Complexity	16 Kbps	398 KB
		CBR 8	-cbr 8000	na	na	na
		CBR 8 LC	-cbr 8000 -lc	na	na	na
		ABR 400	-abr 400000	Low Complexity	396 Kbps	8902 KB
		ABR 320	-abr 320000	Low Complexity	318 Kbps	7157 KB
		ABR 256	-abr 256000	Low Complexity	255 Kbps	5744 KB
		ABR 224	-abr 224000	Low Complexity	224 Kbps	5053 KB
		ABR 192	-abr 192000	Low Complexity	193 Kbps	4353 KB
		ABR 160	-abr 160000	Low Complexity	160 Kbps	3612 KB
		ABR 144	-abr 144000	Low Complexity	144 Kbps	3255 KB
		ABR 128	-abr 128000	Low Complexity	128 Kbps	2897 KB
		ABR 96	-abr 96000	Low Complexity	96 Kbps	2183 KB
		ABR 80	-abr 80000	High Effeciency (SBR)	80 Kbps	1810 KB
		ABR 80 LC	-abr 80000 -lc	Low Complexity	80 Kbps	1822 KB
		ABR 64	-abr 64000	High Effeciency (SBR)	64 Kbps	1467 KB
		ABR 64 LC	-abr 64000 -lc	Low Complexity	64 Kbps	1469 KB
		ABR 56	-abr 56000	High Effeciency (SBR)	56 Kbps	1277 KB
		ABR 56 LC	-abr 56000 -lc	Low Complexity	55 Kbps	1285 KB
		ABR 48	-abr 48000	High Effeciency (SBR)	48 Kbps	1097 KB
		ABR 48 LC	-abr 48000 -lc	Low Complexity	48 Kbps	1109 KB
		ABR 32	-abr 32000	High Effeciency (SBR)	32 Kbps	738 KB
		ABR 32 LC	-abr 32000 -lc	Low Complexity	32 Kbps	755 KB
		ABR 24	-abr 24000	High Effeciency (SBR)	24 Kbps	557 KB
		ABR 24 LC	-abr 24000 -lc	Low Complexity	24 Kbps	580 KB
		ABR 16	-abr 16000	High Effeciency (SBR)	16 Kbps	383 KB
		ABR 16 LC	-abr 16000 -lc	Low Complexity	16 Kbps	396 KB
		ABR 8	-abr 8000	High Effeciency (SBR)	na	na
		ABR 8 LC	-abr 8000 -lc	Low Complexity	na	na

[LtData]

Re: Beta: mp4 Codec pack (Release 4)

Correct. The line in the options.txt file reads like this:

Quality .95   (~ 400 Kbps)
.95

when it should be

Quality .95   (~ 400 Kbps)
-q .95

[Deano]

Re: Beta: mp4 Codec pack (Release 4)

Well, I have only had time to test the VBR quality settings. I don't see much use in bothering with the CBR and ABR stuff anyway, seems as this is not what the Nero Encoder is really good at.

If this is rather unintelligable I apologise.

The only anomaly is the q0.95 setting (which is probably explained in the post above). But I got no errors whatsoever, seems to work flawlessly other than that. If you need anymore let me know.

Basic System Info

Processor: Athlon 64 FX-53 2.4Ghz
RAM: 1gb
Hard Disk: 120gb Western Digital SATA
Operating System: Windows XP Service Pack 2

Source File
Channels: 2
Sample Rate: 44100
Bit Depth: 16 bit
Flac Version: reference libFLAC 1.1.2 20050205

File Size: 29945 kb
Length: 3:57

Title: Bring Me To Life
Artist: Evanescence
Album: Fallen
Year: 2003

Quality 0.5
Bitrate: 179kbps
AAC Type: Low Complexity
Filesize: 5525 kb
Average Encode Speed : 14x Realtime Encoding

Quality 0.95
Bitrate: 179kbps
AAC Type: Low Complexity
Filesize: 5525 kb
Average Encode Speed : 14x Realtime Encoding

Quality 0.85
Bitrate: 340kbps
AAC Type: Low Complexity
Filesize: 9891 kb
Average Encode Speed : 13x Realtime Encoding

Quality 0.75
Bitrate: 296kbps
AAC Type: Low Complexity
Filesize: 8625 kb
Average Encode Speed : 13x Realtime Encoding

Quality 0.65
Bitrate: 246kbps
AAC Type: Low Complexity
Filesize: 7177 kb
Average Encode Speed : 13x Realtime Encoding

Quality 0.55
Bitrate: 203kbps
AAC Type: Low Complexity
Filesize: 5947 kb
Average Encode Speed : 14x Realtime Encoding

Quality 0.45
Bitrate: 157kbps
AAC Type: Low Complexity
Filesize: 4613 kb
Average Encode Speed : 14x Realtime Encoding

Quality 0.35
Bitrate: 109kbps
AAC Type: Low Complexity
Filesize: 3201 kb
Average Encode Speed : 14x Realtime Encoding

Quality 0.25
Bitrate: 67kbps
AAC Type: High Effeciency [SBR]
Filesize: 1990 kb
Average Encode Speed : 17x Realtime Encoding

Quality 0.15
Bitrate: 36kbps
AAC Type: High Effeciency [SBR]
Filesize: 1071 kb
Average Encode Speed : 31x Realtime Encoding

Quality 0.05
Bitrate: 15kbps
AAC Type: High Effeciency [SBR]
Filesize: 466 kb
Average Encode Speed : 35x Realtime Encoding

[Spoon]

Re: Beta: mp4 Codec pack (Release 4)

Excellent testing , I have uploaded a new codec (same link above) with the -q fix and 8kbps removed.

[gameplaya15143]

Re: Beta: mp4 Codec pack (Release 4)

I found the config to be a bit disappointing.. I think I'll stick with my config..

http://www.geocities.com/gameplaya_15143/howto/neroaacenc4dmc/

Spoon, couldn't you manage a slider or something?
range 0 to 1 with .xxx precision. I know it would actually take some real coding. But I think it would be a LOT nicer if it was more like the mp3 encoder (fancy slider and such).


the bat file overwrites neroaacenc.exe with neroaacenc_sse2.exe
I don't put enough faith in 'normal' users to know if they really have a cpu that supports sse2. maybe adding this could help avoid such problems?
ren neroaacenc.exe neroaacenc_notsse2.exe

[Spoon]

Re: Beta: mp4 Codec pack (Release 4)

They just have to reinstall if they get the sse2 bit wrong.

It is a consideration making a slider, but not for the older r11.5 codecs.

[JeFFJuH]

Re: Beta: mp4 Codec pack (Release 4)

How come 128 Kbit CBR makes a 131 Kbit file instead of a 128 Kbit file?
Also, what is better, ABR or CBR?

[LtData]

Re: Beta: mp4 Codec pack (Release 4)

See from here: http://www.dbpoweramp.com/spoons-aud...de-formats.htm

* Constant Bit Rate (CBR) the same bit rate is used to encode the entire file.
* Variable Bit Rate (VBR), Mp3 files are made up from 100's of small audio chunks, called frames. Whilst encoding a VBR file, the encoder decides which bit rate to use for each frame. The bit rate can drop down to lower value when it is permissible (if there is not much audio going on), and switches up to a higher value when required. VBR files are not all good news though, because the bit rate is constantly changing many players have difficulty displaying correct track lengths. A standard exists where the track length is encoded into the first frame after writing, though not all encoders do this and the ID3v2 tag can mess this up,
* Average Bit Rate (ABR) a little like VBR except with VBR the end file size is not known (could be small, could be big), ABR is VBR with known end file size, it works by regulating how variable the compression is, so at the end of the compressing the average is exactly the value specified.

[Spoon]

Re: Beta: mp4 Codec pack (Release 4)

Certain formats emulate cbr (ogg does), could be the same with aac.

[parcival]

Re: Beta: mp4 Codec pack (Release 4)

The reason i tried the new beta was to decode the following file. But it still stops after two third of it (like the old decoder did).

[Spoon]

Re: Beta: mp4 Codec pack (Release 4)

Can anything else decode that file?

[parcival]

Re: Beta: mp4 Codec pack (Release 4)

Well, it can be played within iTunes. So their decoder probably works.
Didn't try other decoders.

[trott]

Re: Beta: mp4 Codec pack (Release 4)

Any chance of implementing ahead's new mp4 tagging program to write the tags?
Also, since the bitrate/q-value ratio changes when forcing LC, it might be worth putting both scales in the GUI. (q .5 is not the same as q .5 with lc forced)