Lossless - Revision history

Porcuswiki: Indicated ffmpeg decoding support. Links: "Elevated" this wiki's comparison and added a couple more.

2023-06-27T11:30:42Z

Indicated ffmpeg decoding support. Links: "Elevated" this wiki's comparison and added a couple more.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:30, 27 June 2023
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	=== Other (once) notable formats ===		=== Other (once) notable formats ===
	These formats once have at some stage been widely used or otherwise notable, though end-users would hardly encode to them anymore (as of 2022):		These formats once have at some stage been widely used or otherwise notable, though end-users would hardly encode to them anymore (as of 2022). Some of them can be ''de''coded by ffmpeg even if original decoding executables are not available.
	* [[Shorten]] (SHN): The major lossless compressor of the 1990s.		* [[Shorten]] (SHN): The major lossless compressor of the 1990s. ffmpeg can decode.
	* [[Windows Media Audio\|WMA lossless]]: Once aggressively pushed by Microsoft, support for the WMA formats has waned to the point where certain Windows 10 releases could not handle WMA lossless(ly). Not recommended.		* [[Windows Media Audio\|WMA lossless]]: Once aggressively pushed by Microsoft, support for the WMA formats has waned to the point where certain Windows 10 releases could not handle WMA lossless(ly). Not recommended. ffmpeg can decode.
	* [[ATRAC]] Advanced Lossless: a lossless [[hybrid codec\|hybrid]] extension of Sony's ATRAC format (MiniDisc etc.). Like WMA, a once-corporate-backed format now considered legacy.		* [[ATRAC]] Advanced Lossless: a lossless [[hybrid codec\|hybrid]] extension of Sony's ATRAC format (MiniDisc etc.). Like WMA, a once-corporate-backed format now considered legacy. ffmpeg can decode.
	* [[mp3HD]]: A short-lived similar extension of MP3, [[hybrid codec\|hybrid]] with a lossless correction stream.		* [[mp3HD]]: A short-lived similar extension of MP3, [[hybrid codec\|hybrid]] with a lossless correction stream.
	* [[Real Lossless]]. Before the Windows Media suite, Real Networks had theirs, and it was expanded with a lossless audio format and a freeware encoder. Real would later support the development of MPEG-4 ALS.		* [[Real Lossless]]. Before the Windows Media suite, Real Networks had theirs, and it was expanded with a lossless audio format and a freeware encoder. Real would later support the development of MPEG-4 ALS.
	* [[MPEG-4 ALS]]. Despite being an ISO standard, with an ~~open-source~~ encoder/decoder available, the format scarcely caught on. Its predecessors [[MPEG-4 ALS \| LPAC/LTAC]] once enjoyed some popularity in competition with Shorten.		* [[MPEG-4 ALS]]. Despite being an ISO standard, with an encoder/decoder available, the format scarcely caught on. Its predecessors [[MPEG-4 ALS \| LPAC/LTAC]] once enjoyed some popularity in competition with Shorten. ffmpeg can decode ALS' most common compression mode.
	* [[MPEG-4 SLS]]. Also ISO-standardized, but hardly in use, and obviously not intended for end-users, witnessed by the pricing of the only known encoder.		* [[MPEG-4 SLS]]. Also ISO-standardized, but hardly in use, and obviously not intended for end-users, witnessed by the pricing of the only known encoder.
	* [[Lossless Audio]] (La). Notable for its very high compression levels, and would therefore appear in comparison tests. Unmaintained since 2004.		* [[Lossless Audio]] (La). Notable for its very high compression levels, and would therefore appear in comparison tests. Unmaintained since 2004.
	* [[Sac]]. Only semi-notable for its even higher compression levels, not for ever being practically useful other than for benchmarking.		* [[Sac]]. Only semi-notable for its even higher compression levels, not for ever being practically useful other than for benchmarking.
	* [[RK Audio]] (RKAU) and the later general-purpose compressor WinRK. RKAU offered good compression for year 2000 standards.		* [[RK Audio]] (RKAU), also with a lossy compressor, and the later general-purpose compressor WinRK. RKAU offered good compression for year 2000 standards. ffmpeg can decode the lossless codec since version 6.0.
	* [http://www.logarithmic.net/pfh/bonk Bonk]. Also with a lossy compressor, both abandoned around 2002. More notable for the project evolving into the BonkEnc CD ripper, which later changed name to [[fre:ac]]. Bonk itself was redeveloped into a lossy/lossless codec called ''sonic'', which has ffmpeg support.		* [http://www.logarithmic.net/pfh/bonk Bonk]. Also with a lossy compressor, both abandoned around 2002. More notable for the project evolving into the BonkEnc CD ripper, which later changed name to [[fre:ac]]. Bonk itself was redeveloped into a lossy/lossless codec called ''sonic'' which has ffmpeg support. ffmpeg can decode the lossless Bonk codec since version 6.0.
	* aptX Lossless is a codec to be used in Bluetooth streaming. Hardware support [https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2021/09/01/qualcomm-adds-bluetooth-lossless-audio-technology-snapdragon-sound announced September 2021], future popularity unknown at time of writing.		* aptX Lossless is a codec to be used in Bluetooth streaming. Hardware support [https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2021/09/01/qualcomm-adds-bluetooth-lossless-audio-technology-snapdragon-sound announced September 2021], future popularity unknown at time of writing.

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	* WaveZip/MUSICompress		* WaveZip/MUSICompress

	And finally, HA will sometimes see codecs created more for educational purposes than indended to acquire a userbase, like [https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php?topic=117335 SLAC] by the WavPack developer and [https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php?topic=119030 SELA] (HA ~~threads~~).		And finally, HA will sometimes see codecs created more for educational purposes than indended to acquire a userbase, like [https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php?topic=117335 SLAC] by the WavPack developer and [https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php?topic=119030 SELA] (HA thread links).

	== Further reading ==		== Further reading ==
	* [https://www.rarewares.org/rrw/programs.php ReallyRareWares] has preserved older codecs
			This wiki has a [[Lossless_comparison\|Lossless Codec Comparison,]] originally by [[User:Rjamorim\|Rjamorim]]. <br/>
			External links, covering both lossless and lossy codecs/formats:
			* [https://www.rarewares.org/rrw/programs.php ReallyRareWares] has preserved older encoders/decoders
			* [https://wiki.multimedia.cx/index.php/Category:Audio_Codecs\|The Multimedia Wiki] has a section on audio codecs
	* [http://fileformats.archiveteam.org/wiki/Audio_and_Music#Audio_recording_and_sound_waves fileformats.archiveteam.org] has a section describing audio file formats.		* [http://fileformats.archiveteam.org/wiki/Audio_and_Music#Audio_recording_and_sound_waves fileformats.archiveteam.org] has a section describing audio file formats.
	* [~~[Lossless_comparison\| HA Wiki's Lossless Codec Comparison]] originally by [[User~~:~~Rjamorim\|Rjamorim]~~]		* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_coding_format Wikipedia] on audio coding formats, with more links.


	[[Category:Codecs\|*]]		[[Category:Codecs\|*]]

Porcuswiki: Couple of words fixed.

2022-05-15T22:31:51Z

Couple of words fixed.

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:31, 15 May 2022
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	== Lossless audio compression and formats ==		== Lossless audio compression and formats ==

	Compressing audio with generic file compressors to e.g. .7z or .rar ~~will~~ is not efficient for audio: file sizes ~~typically~~ end up fairly close to the uncompressed original. Lossless audio formats might measure closer to half size of the original uncompressed [[PCM\|linear PCM]] (.wav or .aiff) file, utilizing knowledge about real-world ''audio'' data. File sizes will still be larger than audio compressed with any (reasonable) [[lossy]] encoder, as lossy compression aims at saving space by replacing the original signal by an approximation which is ''perceptually'' "close" but easier to compress.		Compressing audio with generic file compressors to e.g. .7z or .rar is not efficient for typical audio signals: file sizes end up fairly close to the uncompressed original. Lossless audio formats might measure closer to half size of the original uncompressed [[PCM\|linear PCM]] (.wav or .aiff) file, utilizing knowledge about real-world ''audio'' data. File sizes will still be larger than audio compressed with any (reasonable) [[lossy]] encoder, as lossy compression aims at saving space by replacing the original signal by an approximation which is ''perceptually'' "close" but easier to compress.

	Lossless audio file formats ''typically'' have features that generic file compressors are lacking (but most lossy audio formats possess): for playback they can be read block by block rather than having to unpack the whole file first, and a decoder might pick up the audio mid-stream and play from there (like when tuning in radio on a channel). Furthermore, they can be tagged with metadata like artist, album, title, track number etc. Because this feature is designed for metadata to be altered by users at their discretion, a lossless ''audio'' format need not transfer metadata bit-by-bit, only the audio - although certain lossless codecs can also store the original's metadata in a separate chunk to be recreated.		Lossless audio file formats ''typically'' have features that generic file compressors are lacking (but most lossy audio formats possess): for playback they can be read block by block rather than having to unpack the whole file first, and a decoder might pick up the audio mid-stream and play from there (like when tuning in radio on a channel). Furthermore, they can be tagged with metadata like artist, album, title, track number etc. Because this feature is designed for metadata to be altered by users at their discretion, a lossless ''audio'' format need not transfer metadata bit-by-bit, only the audio - although certain lossless codecs can also store the original's metadata in a separate chunk to be recreated.

Porcuswiki: Sonarc age.

2022-03-25T09:50:24Z

Sonarc age.

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:50, 25 March 2022
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	Just like e.g. two .zip-compressed copies of the same file might differ due to e.g. effort made to find a smaller file with the same information - try for example 7-zip with different compression options - then the same original audio file might encode to different size depending on both codec format and the settings used upon encoding - possibly the compressor's internal choices could depend on the CPU and process different files with the same command given on two different computers.		Just like e.g. two .zip-compressed copies of the same file might differ due to e.g. effort made to find a smaller file with the same information - try for example 7-zip with different compression options - then the same original audio file might encode to different size depending on both codec format and the settings used upon encoding - possibly the compressor's internal choices could depend on the CPU and process different files with the same command given on two different computers.

	The phrase "lossless" is not restricted to ''files'', it also refers to data streams (like a video file with lossless audio) or not in files (an audio [[CD]] has no files) - or furthermore, to the ''process'' that generates a signal. E.g. reducing a 16-bit signal to 8 bits is not a "lossless" operation, and it does not become lossless even if the output signal is stored in a "lossless" format like FLAC (or even uncompressed .wav or .aiff). [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Quality_Authenticated \| MQA] is lossy processing even if delivered with a codec that ''could'' deliver the lossless signal.		The phrase "lossless" is not restricted to ''files'', it also refers to data streams (like a video file with lossless audio) or not in files (an audio [[CD]] has no files) - or furthermore, to the ''process'' that generates a signal. E.g. reducing a 16-bit signal to 8 bits is not a "lossless" operation, and it does not become lossless even if the output signal is stored in a "lossless" format like FLAC (or even uncompressed .wav or .aiff). [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Quality_Authenticated MQA] is lossy processing even if delivered with a codec that ''could'' deliver the lossless signal.

	=== Notable lossless codecs in current use ===		=== Notable lossless codecs in current use ===
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	* Pegasus SPS		* Pegasus SPS
	* Split2000		* Split2000
	* Sonarc		* Sonarc ([https://codecs.multimedia.cx/2020/09/a-brief-look-at-sonarc/ possibly the first known lossless audio compressor], apparently predating both Shorten and VocPack)
	* VocPack		* VocPack
	* WavArc		* WavArc

Porcuswiki: sonic, SLAC, SELA

2022-03-11T19:44:35Z

sonic, SLAC, SELA

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:44, 11 March 2022
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	* [[Sac]]. Only semi-notable for its even higher compression levels, not for ever being practically useful other than for benchmarking.		* [[Sac]]. Only semi-notable for its even higher compression levels, not for ever being practically useful other than for benchmarking.
	* [[RK Audio]] (RKAU) and the later general-purpose compressor WinRK. RKAU offered good compression for year 2000 standards.		* [[RK Audio]] (RKAU) and the later general-purpose compressor WinRK. RKAU offered good compression for year 2000 standards.
	* [http://www.logarithmic.net/pfh/bonk Bonk]. Also with a lossy compressor, both abandoned around 2002. More notable for the project evolving into the BonkEnc CD ripper, which later changed name to [[fre:ac]].		* [http://www.logarithmic.net/pfh/bonk Bonk]. Also with a lossy compressor, both abandoned around 2002. More notable for the project evolving into the BonkEnc CD ripper, which later changed name to [[fre:ac]]. Bonk itself was redeveloped into a lossy/lossless codec called ''sonic'', which has ffmpeg support.
	* aptX Lossless is a codec to be used in Bluetooth streaming. Hardware support [https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2021/09/01/qualcomm-adds-bluetooth-lossless-audio-technology-snapdragon-sound announced September 2021], future popularity unknown at time of writing.		* aptX Lossless is a codec to be used in Bluetooth streaming. Hardware support [https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2021/09/01/qualcomm-adds-bluetooth-lossless-audio-technology-snapdragon-sound announced September 2021], future popularity unknown at time of writing.

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	* WavArc		* WavArc
	* WaveZip/MUSICompress		* WaveZip/MUSICompress

			And finally, HA will sometimes see codecs created more for educational purposes than indended to acquire a userbase, like [https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php?topic=117335 SLAC] by the WavPack developer and [https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php?topic=119030 SELA] (HA threads).

	== Further reading ==		== Further reading ==

Porcuswiki: So much text here that the lossless comparison was repeated in a link at the bottom. Changed headings. More tweaks.

2022-01-28T09:01:25Z

So much text here that the lossless comparison was repeated in a link at the bottom. Changed headings. More tweaks.

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:01, 28 January 2022
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	Just like e.g. two .zip-compressed copies of the same file might differ due to e.g. effort made to find a smaller file with the same information - try for example 7-zip with different compression options - then the same original audio file might encode to different size depending on both codec format and the settings used upon encoding - possibly the compressor's internal choices could depend on the CPU and process different files with the same command given on two different computers.		Just like e.g. two .zip-compressed copies of the same file might differ due to e.g. effort made to find a smaller file with the same information - try for example 7-zip with different compression options - then the same original audio file might encode to different size depending on both codec format and the settings used upon encoding - possibly the compressor's internal choices could depend on the CPU and process different files with the same command given on two different computers.

	The phrase "lossless" is not restricted to ''files'', it also refers to data streams not in files (an audio [[CD]] has no files) - or the ''process'' that generates a signal. E.g. reducing a 16-bit signal to 8 bits is not a "lossless" operation, and it does not become lossless even if the output signal is stored in a "lossless" format like FLAC (or even uncompressed .wav or .aiff). [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Quality_Authenticated \| MQA] is lossy processing even if delivered with a codec that ''could'' deliver the lossless signal.		The phrase "lossless" is not restricted to ''files'', it also refers to data streams (like a video file with lossless audio) or not in files (an audio [[CD]] has no files) - or furthermore, to the ''process'' that generates a signal. E.g. reducing a 16-bit signal to 8 bits is not a "lossless" operation, and it does not become lossless even if the output signal is stored in a "lossless" format like FLAC (or even uncompressed .wav or .aiff). [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Quality_Authenticated \| MQA] is lossy processing even if delivered with a codec that ''could'' deliver the lossless signal.

	=== Notable lossless codecs in current use ===		=== Notable lossless codecs in current use ===
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	* [[Free Lossless Audio Codec\|Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC)]]. Probably the most common and well-supported lossless codec. Highly optimized for light decoding CPU usage.		* [[Free Lossless Audio Codec\|Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC)]]. Probably the most common and well-supported lossless codec. Highly optimized for light decoding CPU usage.
	* [[Monkey's Audio\|Monkey's Audio (APE)]]. Launched 2000, it was by then ''the'' compressor for users who prioritized size over speed. Still actively maintained.		* [[Monkey's Audio\|Monkey's Audio (APE)]]. Launched 2000, it was by then ''the'' compressor for users who prioritized size over speed. Still actively maintained.
	* [[OptimFROG]]. Even higher compression (and slower speed) than Monkey's. ~~Offers a~~ [[hybrid codec\|lossless/lossy hybrid]] encoding.		* [[OptimFROG]]. Even higher compression (and slower speed) than Monkey's. Optional [[hybrid codec\|lossless/lossy hybrid]] encoding.
	* [[TAK\|Tom's verlustfreier Audiokompressor (TAK)]]. More recently launched (2006), it has attracted attention for accomplishing both high speed and high compression levels.		* [[TAK\|Tom's verlustfreier Audiokompressor (TAK)]]. More recently launched (2006), it has attracted attention for accomplishing both high speed and high compression levels.
	* [[TTA\|The True Audio (TTA)]]. A single-setting compressor performing on the fast side (close to WavPack/FLAC).		* [[TTA\|The True Audio (TTA)]]. A single-setting compressor performing on the fast side (close to WavPack/FLAC).
	* [[WavPack]]. Developed since the 1990s into arguably the most feature-rich lossless codec. ~~Offers a~~ [[hybrid codec\|lossless/lossy hybrid]] encoding.		* [[WavPack]]. Developed since the 1990s into arguably the most feature-rich lossless codec. Optional [[hybrid codec\|lossless/lossy hybrid]] encoding.

			Also Blu-Ray/DVD discs are certainly widespread, carrying a variety of audio formats of which the lossless compressed formats are [[Meridian Lossless Packing]] (MLP), Dolby TrueHD (uses the MLP algorithm) and [[DTS-HD\|DTS-HD MA]] (hybrid). [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FFmpeg FFmpeg] has support for these.

	Also Blu-Ray/DVD discs are certainly widespread, carrying a variety of audio formats of which the lossless compressed formats are [[Meridian Lossless Packing]] (MLP), Dolby TrueHD (uses the MLP algorithm) and [[DTS-HD\|DTS-HD MA]] (hybrid). [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FFmpeg FFmpeg] has support for these.
	=== Other (once) notable formats ===		=== Other (once) notable formats ===
	These formats once have at some stage been widely used or otherwise notable, though end-users would hardly encode to them anymore (as of 2022):		These formats once have at some stage been widely used or otherwise notable, though end-users would hardly encode to them anymore (as of 2022):
	* [[Shorten]] (SHN): The major lossless compressor of the 1990s.		* [[Shorten]] (SHN): The major lossless compressor of the 1990s.
	* [[Windows Media Audio\|WMA lossless]]: Once aggressively pushed by Microsoft, support for the WMA formats ~~have~~ waned to the point where certain Windows 10 releases could not handle WMA lossless. Not recommended.		* [[Windows Media Audio\|WMA lossless]]: Once aggressively pushed by Microsoft, support for the WMA formats has waned to the point where certain Windows 10 releases could not handle WMA lossless(ly). Not recommended.
	* [[ATRAC]] Advanced Lossless: a lossless extension of Sony's ATRAC format (MiniDisc etc.). Like WMA, a once-corporate-backed format now considered legacy.		* [[ATRAC]] Advanced Lossless: a lossless [[hybrid codec\|hybrid]] extension of Sony's ATRAC format (MiniDisc etc.). Like WMA, a once-corporate-backed format now considered legacy.
	* [[mp3HD]]: A short-lived similar extension of MP3 with a lossless correction stream.		* [[mp3HD]]: A short-lived similar extension of MP3, [[hybrid codec\|hybrid]] with a lossless correction stream.
	* [[Real Lossless]]. Before the Windows Media suite, Real Networks had theirs, and it was expanded with a lossless audio format and a freeware encoder. Real would later support the development of MPEG-4 ALS.		* [[Real Lossless]]. Before the Windows Media suite, Real Networks had theirs, and it was expanded with a lossless audio format and a freeware encoder. Real would later support the development of MPEG-4 ALS.
	* [[MPEG-4 ALS]]. Despite being an ISO standard, with an open-source encoder/decoder available, the format scarcely caught on. Its predecessors [[MPEG-4 ALS \| LPAC/LTAC]] once enjoyed some popularity in competition with Shorten.		* [[MPEG-4 ALS]]. Despite being an ISO standard, with an open-source encoder/decoder available, the format scarcely caught on. Its predecessors [[MPEG-4 ALS \| LPAC/LTAC]] once enjoyed some popularity in competition with Shorten.
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	* [[Sac]]. Only semi-notable for its even higher compression levels, not for ever being practically useful other than for benchmarking.		* [[Sac]]. Only semi-notable for its even higher compression levels, not for ever being practically useful other than for benchmarking.
	* [[RK Audio]] (RKAU) and the later general-purpose compressor WinRK. RKAU offered good compression for year 2000 standards.		* [[RK Audio]] (RKAU) and the later general-purpose compressor WinRK. RKAU offered good compression for year 2000 standards.
	* [http://www.logarithmic.net/pfh/bonk Bonk]. Also with a lossy compressor, both abandoned around 2002. More notable for the project evolving into the BonkEnc CD ripper, which later changed name to [[~~Fre~~:ac]].		* [http://www.logarithmic.net/pfh/bonk Bonk]. Also with a lossy compressor, both abandoned around 2002. More notable for the project evolving into the BonkEnc CD ripper, which later changed name to [[fre:ac]].
			* aptX Lossless is a codec to be used in Bluetooth streaming. Hardware support [https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2021/09/01/qualcomm-adds-bluetooth-lossless-audio-technology-snapdragon-sound announced September 2021], future popularity unknown at time of writing.

	~~And finally, as of writing~~ (~~January 2022~~), aptX Lossless (to be used for Bluetooth streaming) got [https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2021/09/01/qualcomm-adds-bluetooth-lossless-audio-technology-snapdragon-sound hardware support] announced less than half a year ago. Future popularity unknown.		Also several audio editing software have (had) their own formats, several of which are still in use.

	=== Oddball ~~Formats~~ ===		=== Oddball legacy formats ===
	There are several old lossless formats that never made it to a significant userbase. Most of those would have disappeared by now, but several are being preserved for posterity at [[User:Rjamorim\|rjamorim]]'s Rarewares/[https://www.rarewares.org/rrw/programs.php ReallyRareWares] website.		There are several old lossless formats that never made it to a significant userbase. Most of those would have disappeared by now, but several are being preserved for posterity at [[User:Rjamorim\|rjamorim]]'s Rarewares/[https://www.rarewares.org/rrw/programs.php ReallyRareWares] website.

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	* LiteWave		* LiteWave
	* mkw		* mkw
	* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogg_Squish OggSquish], ~~an early lossless codec from Xiph. Discontinued~~ in favour of FLAC.		* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogg_Squish OggSquish] (Xiph, discontinued in favour of FLAC).
	* Pegasus SPS		* Pegasus SPS
	* Split2000		* Split2000
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	* WaveZip/MUSICompress		* WaveZip/MUSICompress

	~~Also several audio editing software have (had) their own formats.~~		== Further reading ==

	== ~~External links~~ ==
	* [https://www.rarewares.org/rrw/programs.php ReallyRareWares] has preserved older codecs		* [https://www.rarewares.org/rrw/programs.php ReallyRareWares] has preserved older codecs
	* [http://fileformats.archiveteam.org/wiki/Audio_and_Music#Audio_recording_and_sound_waves ~~Audio codec formats descriptions~~ fileformats.archiveteam.org]		* [http://fileformats.archiveteam.org/wiki/Audio_and_Music#Audio_recording_and_sound_waves fileformats.archiveteam.org] has a section describing audio file formats.
			* [[Lossless_comparison\| HA Wiki's Lossless Codec Comparison]] originally by [[User:Rjamorim\|Rjamorim]]

	[[Category:Codecs\|*]]		[[Category:Codecs\|*]]

Porcuswiki: Bonk, Squish, mp3hd, external links

2022-01-27T22:36:08Z

Bonk, Squish, mp3hd, external links

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:36, 27 January 2022
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	Also Blu-Ray/DVD discs are certainly widespread, carrying a variety of audio formats of which the lossless compressed formats are [[Meridian Lossless Packing]] (MLP), Dolby TrueHD (uses the MLP algorithm) and [[DTS-HD\|DTS-HD MA]] (hybrid). [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FFmpeg FFmpeg] has support for these.		Also Blu-Ray/DVD discs are certainly widespread, carrying a variety of audio formats of which the lossless compressed formats are [[Meridian Lossless Packing]] (MLP), Dolby TrueHD (uses the MLP algorithm) and [[DTS-HD\|DTS-HD MA]] (hybrid). [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FFmpeg FFmpeg] has support for these.
	==== Other (once) notable formats ====		=== Other (once) notable formats ===
	These formats once have at some stage been widely used or otherwise notable, though end-users would hardly encode to them anymore (as of 2022):		These formats once have at some stage been widely used or otherwise notable, though end-users would hardly encode to them anymore (as of 2022):
	* [[Shorten]] (SHN): The major lossless compressor of the 1990s.		* [[Shorten]] (SHN): The major lossless compressor of the 1990s.
	* [[Windows Media Audio\|WMA lossless]]: Once aggressively pushed by Microsoft, support for the WMA formats have waned to the point where certain Windows 10 releases could not handle WMA lossless. Not recommended.		* [[Windows Media Audio\|WMA lossless]]: Once aggressively pushed by Microsoft, support for the WMA formats have waned to the point where certain Windows 10 releases could not handle WMA lossless. Not recommended.
	* [[ATRAC]] Advanced Lossless: a lossless extension of Sony's ATRAC format (MiniDisc etc.). Like WMA, a once-corporate-backed format now considered legacy.		* [[ATRAC]] Advanced Lossless: a lossless extension of Sony's ATRAC format (MiniDisc etc.). Like WMA, a once-corporate-backed format now considered legacy.
			* [[mp3HD]]: A short-lived similar extension of MP3 with a lossless correction stream.
	* [[Real Lossless]]. Before the Windows Media suite, Real Networks had theirs, and it was expanded with a lossless audio format and a freeware encoder. Real would later support the development of MPEG-4 ALS.		* [[Real Lossless]]. Before the Windows Media suite, Real Networks had theirs, and it was expanded with a lossless audio format and a freeware encoder. Real would later support the development of MPEG-4 ALS.
	* [[MPEG-4 ALS]]. Despite being an ISO standard, with an open-source encoder/decoder available, the format scarcely caught on. Its predecessors [[MPEG-4 ALS \| LPAC/LTAC]] once enjoyed some popularity in competition with Shorten.		* [[MPEG-4 ALS]]. Despite being an ISO standard, with an open-source encoder/decoder available, the format scarcely caught on. Its predecessors [[MPEG-4 ALS \| LPAC/LTAC]] once enjoyed some popularity in competition with Shorten.
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	* [[Lossless Audio]] (La). Notable for its very high compression levels, and would therefore appear in comparison tests. Unmaintained since 2004.		* [[Lossless Audio]] (La). Notable for its very high compression levels, and would therefore appear in comparison tests. Unmaintained since 2004.
	* [[Sac]]. Only semi-notable for its even higher compression levels, not for ever being practically useful other than for benchmarking.		* [[Sac]]. Only semi-notable for its even higher compression levels, not for ever being practically useful other than for benchmarking.
	* [[RK Audio]] (RKAU) and the later WinRK. ~~Offered~~ good compression for year 2000 standards.		* [[RK Audio]] (RKAU) and the later general-purpose compressor WinRK. RKAU offered good compression for year 2000 standards.
			* [http://www.logarithmic.net/pfh/bonk Bonk]. Also with a lossy compressor, both abandoned around 2002. More notable for the project evolving into the BonkEnc CD ripper, which later changed name to [[Fre:ac]].

	And finally, as of writing (January 2022), aptX Lossless (to be used for Bluetooth streaming) got [https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2021/09/01/qualcomm-adds-bluetooth-lossless-audio-technology-snapdragon-sound hardware support] announced less than half a year ago. Future popularity unknown.		And finally, as of writing (January 2022), aptX Lossless (to be used for Bluetooth streaming) got [https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2021/09/01/qualcomm-adds-bluetooth-lossless-audio-technology-snapdragon-sound hardware support] announced less than half a year ago. Future popularity unknown.

	=== Oddball Formats ===		=== Oddball Formats ===
	There are several old lossless formats that never made it to a ~~user base that warranted an article for themselves~~. Most of those would have disappeared by now, but several are being preserved for posterity at [[User:Rjamorim\|rjamorim]]'s Rarewares/[https://www.rarewares.org/rrw/programs.php ReallyRareWares] website.		There are several old lossless formats that never made it to a significant userbase. Most of those would have disappeared by now, but several are being preserved for posterity at [[User:Rjamorim\|rjamorim]]'s Rarewares/[https://www.rarewares.org/rrw/programs.php ReallyRareWares] website.

	* a-Pac (by sound card manufacturer MARIAN)		* a-Pac (by sound card manufacturer MARIAN)
Line 52:		Line 54:
	* LiteWave		* LiteWave
	* mkw		* mkw
	* ~~mp3HD~~		* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogg_Squish OggSquish], an early lossless codec from Xiph. Discontinued in favour of FLAC.
	* Pegasus SPS		* Pegasus SPS
	* Split2000		* Split2000
Line 62:		Line 64:
	Also several audio editing software have (had) their own formats.		Also several audio editing software have (had) their own formats.

			== External links ==
			* [https://www.rarewares.org/rrw/programs.php ReallyRareWares] has preserved older codecs
			* [http://fileformats.archiveteam.org/wiki/Audio_and_Music#Audio_recording_and_sound_waves Audio codec formats descriptions fileformats.archiveteam.org]

	[[Category:Codecs\|*]]		[[Category:Codecs\|*]]

Porcuswiki: Major rewrite. In particular, tiered up the codecs so that e.g. RKAU isn't 'popular' anymore (and WMAL shouldn't be).

2022-01-27T19:29:46Z

Major rewrite. In particular, tiered up the codecs so that e.g. RKAU isn't 'popular' anymore (and WMAL shouldn't be).

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Compression is '''lossless''' when decoding the compressed data gives a result which is identical bit-by-bit to the uncompressed original.
+Compression is '''lossless''' when decoding the compressed data gives a result which is identical bit-by-bit to the uncompressed original.  Also, a format that stores data ''uncompressed'' is lossless if it can be reverted back to the original bit-by-bit.
-Generic file compression formats, like ZIP or RAR, are lossless. However, trying to compress raw audio with those generally results in files which are only slightly- if at all- smaller than the originals. Lossless audio formats take advantage of knowledge about real-world audio data to provide compression ratios averaging around 50% on most music.
+Lossless compression has been used for long in various applications, for example ''generic file compressors'' like ZIP or RAR or Windows NTFS file compression feature; this article is about lossless compression of audio signals.
-[[Lossy]] encoders only attempt to approximate the sound of the original waveform rather than preserving all the information present in it. Losslessly compressed audio will therefore unavoidably be larger than audio compressed with any reasonable [[lossy]] encoder. However, this disadvantage is offset by lossless files' ability to be [[transcoding|transcoded]] to other lossless formats without any quality degradation.
+== Lossless audio compression and formats ==
-== Popular lossless formats ==
+Compressing audio with generic file compressors to e.g. .7z or .rar will is not efficient for audio: file sizes typically end up fairly close to the uncompressed original.  Lossless audio formats might measure closer to half size of the original uncompressed [[PCM|linear PCM]] (.wav or .aiff) file, utilizing knowledge about real-world ''audio'' data.  File sizes will still be larger than audio compressed with any (reasonable) [[lossy]] encoder, as lossy compression aims at saving space by replacing the original signal by an approximation which is ''perceptually'' "close" but easier to compress.
-== Oddball Formats ==
+Lossless audio file formats ''typically'' have features that generic file compressors are lacking (but most lossy audio formats possess): for playback they can be read block by block rather than having to unpack the whole file first, and a decoder might pick up the audio mid-stream and play from there (like when tuning in radio on a channel).  Furthermore, they can be tagged with metadata like artist, album, title, track number etc. Because this feature is designed for metadata to be altered by users at their discretion, a lossless ''audio'' format need not transfer metadata bit-by-bit, only the audio - although certain lossless codecs can also store the original's metadata in a separate chunk to be recreated.
-Most of those would have disappeared by now, but several are being preserved for posterity at [[User:Rjamorim|rjamorim]]'s  Rarewares/[https://www.rarewares.org/rrw/programs.php ReallyRareWares] website.
+Just like e.g. two .zip-compressed copies of the same file might differ due to e.g. effort made to find a smaller file with the same information - try for example 7-zip with different compression options - then the same original audio file might encode to different size depending on both codec format and the settings used upon encoding - possibly the compressor's internal choices could depend on the CPU and process different files with the same command given on two different computers.
 * a-Pac (by sound card manufacturer MARIAN)
@@ Line 35: / Line 54: @@
 * mp3HD
 * Pegasus SPS
 * Split2000
 * Sonarc
@@ Line 42: / Line 59: @@
 * WavArc
 * WaveZip/MUSICompress
-; [[Lossless comparison]] : A comparision focusing more on codec features and less on absolute encoding efficiency. Also features a table comparing most popular codecs based on their features.
+Also several audio editing software have (had) their own formats.
 [[Category:Codecs|*]]

Porcuswiki: Rarewares link. Kexis. PCA. mkw. a-pac collated to "a". But this page needs update ...

2022-01-14T08:42:57Z

Rarewares link. Kexis. PCA. mkw. a-pac collated to "a". But this page needs update ...

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:42, 14 January 2022
Line 23:		Line 23:
	There are several old lossless formats that aren't really deserving of having an article all for themselves. Reasons are: lack of widespread support, lack of features, bad efficiency and, most importantly, it seems no one is really interested in them.		There are several old lossless formats that aren't really deserving of having an article all for themselves. Reasons are: lack of widespread support, lack of features, bad efficiency and, most importantly, it seems no one is really interested in them.

	Most of those would have disappeared by now, but ~~they~~ are being preserved for posterity at [[User:Rjamorim\|rjamorim]]'s		Most of those would have disappeared by now, but several are being preserved for posterity at [[User:Rjamorim\|rjamorim]]'s Rarewares/[https://www.rarewares.org/rrw/programs.php ReallyRareWares] website.

			* a-Pac (by sound card manufacturer MARIAN)
	* Advanced Digital Audio (ADA)		* Advanced Digital Audio (ADA)
	* AudioZip		* AudioZip
	* Dakx WAV		* Dakx WAV
	* Entis Lab MIO		* Entis Lab MIO
			* Kexis
	* LiteWave		* LiteWave
	* ~~Marian's a-Pac~~		* mkw
	* mp3HD		* mp3HD
	* Pegasus SPS		* Pegasus SPS
			* Perfect Clarity Audio (might still be supported in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_Forge SoundForge], being developed in the 1990s(?) for its predecessor)
	* RKaudio		* RKaudio
	* Split2000		* Split2000

Nuclearist: /* Oddball Formats */

2017-06-09T14:59:37Z

Oddball Formats

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:59, 9 June 2017
Line 26:		Line 26:

	* Advanced Digital Audio (ADA)		* Advanced Digital Audio (ADA)
	* Marian's a-Pac
	* AudioZip		* AudioZip
	* Dakx WAV		* Dakx WAV
	* Entis Lab MIO		* Entis Lab MIO
	* LiteWave		* LiteWave
			* Marian's a-Pac
			* mp3HD
	* Pegasus SPS		* Pegasus SPS
	* RKaudio		* RKaudio

82.246.177.235: sort at the top of :Category:Codecs

2016-12-15T02:48:14Z

sort at the top of Category:Codecs

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:48, 15 December 2016
Line 48:		Line 48:
	* Lossless audio formats [http://www.bobulous.org.uk/misc/lossless_audio_2006.html here] - A comparison of the rip-and-encode speed and album file size of six different lossless formats: [[WAV\|uncompressed Wave]], [[FLAC]], [[WavPack]], [[SHN\|Shorten]], [[APE\|Monkey's Audio]], and [[OptimFROG]]. First published on 22nd May 2006.		* Lossless audio formats [http://www.bobulous.org.uk/misc/lossless_audio_2006.html here] - A comparison of the rip-and-encode speed and album file size of six different lossless formats: [[WAV\|uncompressed Wave]], [[FLAC]], [[WavPack]], [[SHN\|Shorten]], [[APE\|Monkey's Audio]], and [[OptimFROG]]. First published on 22nd May 2006.

	[[Category:Codecs]]		[[Category:Codecs\|*]]