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Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 12:45 pm Post subject: Ogg Vorbis

I understand partially this " format" but am wondering if anyone uses it with regularity and how easy (or difficult) is it to import ogg audio to Adobe Audition (1.0 or 1.5)? I'm looking at a royalty-free music collection whose offerings are mp3 and ogg (not wav, however) and don't want to get myself into a pickle. (Dill preferred, btw).
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bobsouer · Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 1:54 pm Post subject:

Diane,

Ogg is an open source alternative to MP3. Some Windows applications can read it directly (Sound Forge, for example) and there are free converters available that will allow you to make MP3 or WAV files from Ogg files.

I use the format often on my Linux computer and they work almost identically to MP3 format files.
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Frank F · Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 2:04 pm Post subject:

But don't be fooled by the marketing. Ogg Vorbis is not available for use with ALL programs - yet.

If you have a choice, the standard is still .mp3.

Ogg Vorbis is an entirely unique coding scheme - and is not related to MPEG II, Layer III (.mp3). It uses a different non-lossy codec which is somewhat superior to Farenhoffer's .mp3 codec - which is lossy. The closest Open Source MPEG II, Layer III codec is the LAME codec, which is faster and more robust than that of the Farenhoffer codec.

The next level of coding schemes with be .mp4 (AAC). Not a standard yet, but may be soon, then again it may not. I will take the position of "wait and see".

In a lot fewer words, stay with .mp3.

Toodles

Frank F
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bobsouer · Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 2:46 pm Post subject:

Frank,

Thank you for the additional clarification. While I do use Ogg files on my Linux machine all the time, I'm no expert on the specifics of the compression algorythms, etc.
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Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
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donrandall · Guest

Diane - keep in mind that every time an mp3 file is revised and saved, there is a slight loss in quality. I believe some of us may place too much emphasis on this, but it is the fact of the matter and we should be aware of it.

If you are going to produce everything else first and then lay the music bed in place, it probably will never make much, if any, difference. I would feel a lot more comfortable using bit rates closer to the 320 end of the scale as opposed to something around 128 - - on the theory that any quality loss would be less noticeable.

It's too bad you can't get the collection you want on cd!

Jowillie · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 6:25 pm Post subject:

Frank is right on....
Some of you broadcasters just found out that AAC+ will be considered a standard for files for HD and digital audio in the first quarter of 2007.
If you are interested in finding out more about AAC plus, go to the the Orban site.
AAC+ is higher resolution sound files with smaller band-width than comparaable mp3s.
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Deirdre · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:07 pm Post subject:

It's Apple's default lossless compression codec for iTunes.
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Frank F · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:57 pm Post subject:

Ahhh, DB... not quite so fast. AAC IS part of the alogrithm for iTunes, but Apple's approach is proprietary and does not translate directly to MPEG 4 HE AAC LD.

Without Apple's proprietary 'header information' the tune you download from iTunes will NOT play in standard AAC players.

Sorry - didnt mean to rain on your Apple parade, but truth is truth. Although Apple means well, they do not want to play well with others.

Toodles

Frank F
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Jowillie · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 3:27 am Post subject:

The key is the "Plus" after the AAC.
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Frank F · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:57 am Post subject:

What the "plus" means is: AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) with added features (hence, the +/plus) such as HE (High Efficinecy - Version 1 or 2), LD (Low Delay), SSR (Scalable Sample Rate), AMR, CBR, and so on.

iTunes does not support (as far as I know) AAC+ - yet, so the only players for the Mac OSX are VLC and MplayerOSX. So far, Apple is only allowing straight AAC files to be compatable with iTunes.

For smaller file sizes, CD or better quality, and Surround Sound you will require AAC+, NOT AAC.

On the PC side there are several players which DO support AAC+ including WinAmp and others.

iPod and Zune and others DO support AAC+ files, thus allowing for portability of your rich content, smaller file size, audio and video content. Many .mp3 players do NOT support AAC or AAC+. So you will not be able to simply place an AAC(+) file on your portable player at present.

Apple iTunes writes specialized information into the "header" (information the computer uses to decide how to use the bunches of bits and bytes) of the AAC coding structure to preclude others from using their product without paying a fee to Apple. Nice idea - for Apple. Very profitable.

However, this format can be read and downloaded by other applications in today's world and can be simulated within many non-iTunes/Apple programs, thus negating Apple's profit structure from the proprietary format.

The original concept from Apple was to make it so folks had to pay to listen (or view) content. It was an answer to the music labels moaning about loss of profits from music sharing sites such as the original Napster and others. Without iTunes "header" information, you could not share the files as easily as you could with .mp3's. This has since become a problem for Apple due to the proliferation of AAC and AAC+ players and encoders; especially on the PC side - and Apple's insistance on keeping with their current coding scheme (AAC ONLY).

Ogg Vorbis is capable of creating AAC(+) files and may come out the leader in how this coding is actually distributed in the future.

Toodles

Frank F
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Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com