The most common audio format for audio streaming or storage is MP3, which uses a lossy data compression to prevent the audio file from taking up too much space. Kilobits per second Kbps is the term used to rate serial data transmission devices.
Most audio encoding software will allow the user to choose the bit rate when converting audio files into a specialized format. The lower the Kbps, the more data the encoder will eliminate when compressing an audio file; the range for bit rates is from 96 to Kbps. The music on iTunes is kilobits per second. The higher the Kbps of an audio file, the more space it will consume on your computer. For example, a Kbps of takes up very little space, but the sound quality is also lowered.
The end result is near CD quality sounding audio without the bulky file size. Like image compression, audio compression aims to retain as much data as possible in a smaller file size.
The first one applies to the minimum audition threshold of the human ear. Our ears are most sensitive to frequencies in the kHz range. The further you stray beyond this range the less sensitive we are to the sound. While most people can hear up to about 20 kHz it is only remotely perceptible. The rough cut off is about 16 kHz.
Audio compression uses this information to eliminate any content deemed outside of the human hearing range. The second step involves Temporal Masking. This takes advantage of another trait of human hearing to remove even more data from the source material. There can be many sounds playing at the same time, or very close to each other.
In this situation, we will naturally hear the louder sound and often disregard the softer sound. The greater the difference between volume levels the more this takes place. Audio compression uses this to find sections of softer sound data located near louder sounds. It then removes the softer sounds as it is likely the human ear will not perceive them. The next step is another form of masking known as Simultaneous Masking.
How we hear sound is split into distinct critical bands. Each band is made up of a certain frequency range. If there happens to be a loud sound within one of those ranges it can spill over into other frequencies.
This will make soft sounds in those frequencies far less distinct. Once again audio compression algorithms aim to identify these sections and eliminate that data. These steps allow the file size to be reduced by up to 10 times but there are drawbacks.
The lower the bitrate of the file the more aggressive the algorithm is in trying to find components to remove. This can result in loss of audio quality, especially among lower bitrates like kbps and below. Unfortunately, many streaming services deliver audio at these levels which is equal to what you would hear on the radio. The end result can lead to some common issues and changes that were not intended by the artists creating the music. Most notable is the lack of definition and oomph in the lower frequencies where bass tends to live.
Clarity and definition can also be lost at other frequencies. For example, a hi-hat that is meant to play a prominent role may sound flat and fall behind other components of the song like vocals. There is no denying that audio compression is a testament to human ingenuity.
It helped pave the way for the internet to handle audio in a reliable and efficient way. But likewise, there is no denying that there are issues with the end result, especially at lower bitrate levels. While there are benefits for all audio formats FLAC is one of the best audio formats currently available.
It offers high-quality audio without the burden of large file sizes. Coupled with its popularity as an open source format cements it as the current best choice. In an environment where data transfer rates are important, they do outshine lossless audio formats. As you can see it all boils down to application and feel. Want the purest closest representation of the original material…..
But, if you want that nice in-between marriage of quality and size go with FLAC. With so many file formats available it can be difficult to compare. Below is a quick summary of the most popular audio file formats and the features they offer. There is plenty of variation and choice between audio file formats. MP3s have gone hand in hand with our perception of audio file formats.
But that future is closer than you may think. Internet speeds continue to increase by leaps and bounds. Additionally, consumers are becoming more conscious of quality improvements with the adoption of HD video and now 4 and 8K video. That desire for quality is transferring to audio quality as well. Lossy formats still have a role to play in developing countries with slower internet. These formats are also very effective at delivering audio where quality is not the greatest concern.
As a result, they are still a popular choice for streaming services looking to deliver content quickly. They are also a popular choice for speech-based podcasts where the frequency demands are not as pronounced. But it is only a matter of time before the MP3 audio format will become a relic of a time gone by. CD quality audio is the most widely accepted standard for high-quality audio. While kbps MP3s provide good quality audio it will always be outdone by CD quality audio.
Where MP3s shine is in file size. MP3s can reduce file sizes of CD audio files by up to 10 times if using kbps compression. Leaving the original audio intact leaves MP3 as a poor option if hard drive space or streaming speed is not a concern. As a result, not as many media devices support AAC. If compatibility is a primary concern MP3 may still be a better choice. So much has changed over the last two decades when it comes to audio formats. While the rate of change has slowed manufacturers are continuing to push the boundaries to convince us that we need the next best thing.
There is a natural barrier to human hearing so future developments will have to lean on other angles to entice consumers. As the way we consume media evolves so will audio formats. Got Questions or Comments?
Commissions may be earned from links on this page. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn More Got It! Last Update: August 3, What Is Audio Bitrate Audio bitrate defines the amount of data that is stored in the sound file you are listening to.
Share This Post. Share on facebook. Share on twitter. Share on linkedin. Share on reddit. Share on pinterest. Share on whatsapp. Share on tumblr. Share on email. Robert Calabrese I've loved electronic music since the age of From listening to tapes on my walkman, buying CD's and now in digital format. As the music evolved so has my experience and I'm passionate about sharing my journey with you.
Table of Contents. Facebook Instagram Twitter Linkedin Mixcloud. Follow Us! Facebook-f Instagram Twitter Linkedin Mixcloud. All Rights Reserved. That is, you've taken a CD, ripped it to your hard drive, and compressed the tracks down so they don't take up as much space.
That same album in lossless format, though—such as FLAC or ALAC also known as Apple Lossless would take up closer to MB, so it's become common practice to use lossy formats for faster downloading and more hard drive savings. The problem is that when you compress a file to save space, you're deleting chunks of data. Just like when you take a PNG screenshot of your computer screen, and compress it to a JPEG, your computer is taking the original data and "cheating" on certain parts of the image, making it mostly the same but with some loss of clarity and quality.
Take the two images below as an example: the one on the right has clearly been compressed, and it's quality has diminished as a result. You'll probably want to expand the image for a closer look to see the differences—look at the fox's ears and nose. Remember, of course, that you're still reaping the benefits of hard drive space with lossy music which can make a big difference on a 32 GB iPhone , it's just the tradeoff you make. There are different levels of lossiness, as well: kbps, for example, takes up very little space, but will also be lower quality than a larger kbps file, which is lower quality than an even larger 1, kbps file which is considered lossless.
However, there's a lot of argument as to whether most people can even hear the difference between different bitrates. Since storage has become so cheap, listening to higher-bitrate audio is starting to become a more popular and practical practice. But is it worth the time, effort, and space? I always hate answering questions this way, but unfortunately the answer is: it depends.
Part of the equation is the gear you use. If you're using a quality pair of headphones or speakers, you're privy to a large range of sound. As such, you're more likely to notice certain imperfections that come with compressing music into lower bitrate files.
You may notice that a certain level of detail is missing in low-quality MP3s; subtle background tracks might be more difficult to hear, the highs and lows won't be as dynamic, or you might just plain hear a bit of distortion. In these cases, you might want to get a higher bitrate track.
If you're listening to your music with a pair of crappy earbuds on your iPod, however, you probably aren't going to notice a difference between a kbps file and a kbps file, let alone a kbps file and a lossless 1, kbps file. Remember when I showed you the image a few paragraphs up, and noted that you probably had to enlarge it to see the imperfections? Your earbuds are like the shrunken-down version of the image: they're going to make those imperfections harder to notice, since they won't put out as big a range of sound.
The other part of the equation, of course, is your own ears. Some people may just not care enough, or may just not have the more attuned listening skills to tell the difference between two different bitrates. This is something you can develop over time, of course, but if you haven't yet, then it doesn't particularly matter what bitrate you use, does it?
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