{"id":15265,"date":"2025-07-17T13:17:05","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T11:17:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.2wcom.com\/?p=15265"},"modified":"2025-07-17T14:25:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T12:25:54","slug":"audio-codec-guide-broadcast-streaming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.2wcom.com\/de\/audio-codec-guide-broadcast-streaming\/","title":{"rendered":"Codec Considerations: Choosing the Right Audio Format for Broadcast & Streaming"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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This year marks the 30th birthday of the MP3 format<\/strong>. Back in 1995, scientists at Fraunhofer IIS in Erlangen chose the file ending .mp3<\/em> for MPEG-1 Layer 3 \u2014 and unknowingly changed audio consumption forever.<\/p>\n

What many don\u2019t realize: broadcasting was one of MP3’s first real-world applications<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Today, codecs like AAC<\/strong>, Opus<\/strong>, and xHE-AAC<\/strong> have evolved far beyond what MP3 offered \u2014 but its legacy lives on. So the question remains:<\/p>\n

Which audio codec should I use in my workflow today?<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Many choices available - but which format is the best for my application? <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Audio codecs are essential in modern media workflows \u2013 from digital broadcasting and livestreaming to remote contribution and archiving. But audio codecs differ significantly in performance, latency and efficiency. Selecting the right one depends on your needs: quality, latency, bandwidth, or compatibility.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What is Audio Coding?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before choosing a codec, it helps to understand how raw audio (like PCM) becomes manageable for transmission and storage. A stereo 48\u202fkHz\/16-bit signal generates 1.5 Mbit\/s \u2013 about 691 MB per hour. Multiply that by a thousand listeners, and the need for compression becomes obvious.<\/p>\n

There are two types: lossless<\/strong> and lossy<\/strong>. Which one fits best depends on your use case:<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Lossless (e.g. FLAC)<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Lossy (e.g. MP3, AAC)<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t<\/thead>\n\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNo audio information is lost \u2013 great for archiving and mastering\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUses perceptual models to discard inaudible details for better compression\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tbody>\n\t\t<\/table>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Typical audio data rates for 1 hour of stereo audio:<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Uncompressed PCM<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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FLAC (Lossless)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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MP3 \/ AAC \/ Opus<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\u22481.5 Mbit\/s<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t~700\u20131100 kbit\/s<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t~96\u2013256 kbit\/s<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Audio Coding Technologies<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Different codecs are optimized for different tasks \u2014 from speech to music, from low latency to maximum efficiency. Here’s a quick overview of common codec families.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSpeech Codecs\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tExamples: G.711, G.722, SILK
\nLow bitrate, low latency \u2013 optimized for efficient transmission of human speech.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPerceptual Codecs\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tExamples: MP3, AAC, Vorbis
\nUse psychoacoustic models to discard sounds that are less likely to be perceived, achieving compression without hurting audio quality.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPredictive Codecs\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tExamples: ADPCM, SILK, aptX
\nWork by encoding only the difference between audio samples. This results in lower CPU usage and stable quality\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAdaptive Codecs\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tExamples: Opus, xHE-AAC
\nCan dynamically adjust bitrate and behavior depending on content and network conditions.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Perceptual Audio Coding<\/h2>\n

Not all sounds are heard equally, and perceptual audio coding takes full advantage of that fact.<\/p>\n

Perceptual coding relies on how we hear: louder sounds mask nearby quiet ones<\/strong> \u2014 both in time and in frequency. These masking effects allow encoders to discard audio information that would be inaudible to human ears, saving bits without significantly harming perceived quality<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The most famous codec based on this principle is MPEG-1 Layer 3<\/strong> \u2014 better known as MP3<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It revolutionized the way we consume audio and remains one of the most widespread formats to this day. However, MP3 is now outperformed by newer codecs like Opus<\/strong> and the AAC family<\/strong>.
At the same bitrate, these formats offer better audio quality \u2014 or to put it another way: modern codecs achieve comparable quality at lower bitrates<\/strong> than MP3. See PDF<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Codec Delay \u2013 Why Latency Matters<\/h2>\n

When choosing a codec, bitrate and audio quality often take center stage \u2014 but latency<\/strong> can be just as critical.<\/p>\n

In live broadcasts<\/strong>, remote contribution<\/strong>, or intercom systems<\/strong>, even a small delay can disrupt timing, interaction, and listener experience. Some codecs, like Opus<\/strong> or AAC-LD \/ AAC-ELD<\/strong>, are optimized for low-latency streaming<\/strong>. Others, such as HE-AAC v2<\/strong>, prioritize compression efficiency<\/strong> \u2014 but introduce more delay as a trade-off.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Codec<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Delay<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Efficiency<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t<\/thead>\n\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAAC-ELD\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLow (~20\u201332 ms)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHigh\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOpus\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVery Low (~5\u201330 ms)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHigh\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEnhanced aptX\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVery Low (<5 ms)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVery High\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFLAC\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLow (~5\u201310 ms)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLossless (heavy)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tbody>\n\t\t<\/table>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Which Codec for Which Application?<\/h2>\n

The best codec depends on what you\u2019re trying to achieve<\/strong> \u2014 low delay, high quality, mobile efficiency, or infrastructure compatibility.<\/p>\n

Here’s a practical overview based on common broadcast and streaming scenarios.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Use Case<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Recommended Codecs<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Why<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t<\/thead>\n\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRemote contribution, intercom, live-link\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAAC-ELD, Opus, Enhanced aptX\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLow latency\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMobile streaming, backup transmitter feeds\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHE-AAC v2, xHE-AAC, Opus\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGood quality at low bitrates\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStudio-to-transmitter link (STL), DVB-Backbone\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMPEG-1 Layer 2, AAC-LC, Enhanced aptX\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tInfrastructure compatibility\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMusic streaming, archiving\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAAC-LC, FLAC, Opus (fullband)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHigh audio quality\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStandard-compliant broadcasting (DAB+, DVB, DRM)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMPEG-1 Layer 2, HE-AAC v2, xHE-AAC\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRequired by standards\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAdaptive streaming (HLS, DASH, mobile)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\txHE-AAC, Opus\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDynamic bitrate switching\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tbody>\n\t\t<\/table>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Built-In Quality: No Codec Compromises<\/h2>\n

MPEG specifies the bitstream format and decoder \u2014 but encoder quality<\/strong> can vary.<\/p>\n

Our products use the Fraunhofer professional codec libraries<\/strong> for MPEG codecs, including MPEG Layer 2 and 3, as well as the complete AAC family.<\/p>\n

This ensures high performance and superior audio quality<\/strong> across all supported workflows.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Isn\u2019t DAB+ just HE-AAC?<\/h2>\n

DAB+ uses the HE-AAC v2 profile<\/strong>, but it\u2019s not identical to what\u2019s used in typical streaming workflows.<\/p>\n

Specific adaptations have been made to meet the transmission and error protection requirements<\/strong> of digital radio systems.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll explore the technical differences in an upcoming article.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Want to Dive Deeper?<\/h2>\n

Here’s a downloadable summary of the core codecs used in today\u2019s broadcast and streaming environments<\/strong> \u2014 all of which are supported across the 2wcom portfolio:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload PDF<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MP3 turns 30 \u2013 but is it still the best codec for your application? Discover what matters when choosing audio formats for streaming, broadcasting, and remote contribution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":15287,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[382],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2wcom.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2wcom.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2wcom.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2wcom.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2wcom.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15265"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/www.2wcom.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15265\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15311,"href":"https:\/\/www.2wcom.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15265\/revisions\/15311"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2wcom.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2wcom.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2wcom.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2wcom.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}