Difference between revisions of "Lossless comparison"

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m (Comparison Table: BOLD FEATURES!)
(Linkage!!!)
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* Very fast decoding
 
* Very fast decoding
 
* [[Open source]] ([http://craz.net/programs/itunes/alac.html decoding only])
 
* [[Open source]] ([http://craz.net/programs/itunes/alac.html decoding only])
* Hardware support (iPod, AirPort Express)
+
* Hardware support ([[Apple iPod|iPod]], AirPort Express)
 
* Streaming support
 
* Streaming support
 
* Tagging support (QT tags)
 
* Tagging support (QT tags)
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* Closed source (encoding)
 
* Closed source (encoding)
 
* Few software support (iTunes)
 
* Few software support (iTunes)
* Doesn't support multichannel audio and high resolutions
+
* Doesn't support [[multichannel]] audio and [[high resolution]]s
 
* Compression efficiency not on par with other lossless codecs
 
* Compression efficiency not on par with other lossless codecs
 
* No hybrid/lossy mode
 
* No hybrid/lossy mode
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* Error robustness
 
* Error robustness
 
* Streaming support
 
* Streaming support
* Supports multichannel audio and high resolutions
+
* Supports [[multichannel]] audio and [[high resolution]]s
 
* Tagging support (FLAC tags)
 
* Tagging support (FLAC tags)
 
* Pipe support
 
* Pipe support
 +
* [[ReplayGain]] compatible
  
 
===FLAC CONS===
 
===FLAC CONS===
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* Includes MD5 hashes for quick integrity checking
 
* Includes MD5 hashes for quick integrity checking
 
* Fits the [[Ogg]] and [[Matroska]] containers
 
* Fits the [[Ogg]] and [[Matroska]] containers
* ReplayGain compatible
+
 
  
 
==LosslessAudio - LA== http://www.lossless-audio.com/
 
==LosslessAudio - LA== http://www.lossless-audio.com/
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* Closed source
 
* Closed source
 
* Very slow encoding and decoding
 
* Very slow encoding and decoding
 +
* Doesn't support [[multichannel]] audio and [[high resolution]]s
 
* No hardware support
 
* No hardware support
 
* No hybrid/lossy mode
 
* No hybrid/lossy mode
 
* Bad software support
 
* Bad software support
 +
* Doesn't support [[ReplayGain]]
  
 
'''''It's important to mention that the LA foobar plugin is buggy and doesn't produce lossless streams!'''''
 
'''''It's important to mention that the LA foobar plugin is buggy and doesn't produce lossless streams!'''''
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===LPAC PROS===
 
===LPAC PROS===
 
* Reasonable compression ratios
 
* Reasonable compression ratios
* High resolution audio support
+
* [[High resolution]] audio support
 
* Supports [[RIFF]] chunks
 
* Supports [[RIFF]] chunks
  
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* Slow seeking
 
* Slow seeking
 
* No tagging
 
* No tagging
* No multichannel support
+
* No [[multichannel]] support
 
* No hybrid/lossy mode
 
* No hybrid/lossy mode
 
* No hardware support
 
* No hardware support
 +
* Doesn't support [[ReplayGain]]
  
 
==Monkey's Audio== http://www.monkeysaudio.com/
 
==Monkey's Audio== http://www.monkeysaudio.com/
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* Java version (multiplatform)
 
* Java version (multiplatform)
 
* Tagging support ([[ID3v1]], [[APE tags]])
 
* Tagging support ([[ID3v1]], [[APE tags]])
* High resolution audio support
+
* [[High resolution]] audio support
 
* Supports [[RIFF]] chunks (only in the GUI encoder)
 
* Supports [[RIFF]] chunks (only in the GUI encoder)
 
* Pipe support (only in a [http://www.etree.org/shnutils/shntool/ special] version)
 
* Pipe support (only in a [http://www.etree.org/shnutils/shntool/ special] version)
  
 
===APE CONS===
 
===APE CONS===
* No multichannel support
+
* No [[multichannel]] support
 
* No hybrid/lossy mode
 
* No hybrid/lossy mode
 
* No hardware support
 
* No hardware support
 +
* Doesn't support [[ReplayGain]]
  
 
===APE Other features===
 
===APE Other features===
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* Error robustness
 
* Error robustness
 
* Streaming support
 
* Streaming support
* Supports high resolutions
+
* Supports [[high resolution]]s
 
* Hybrid/lossy mode
 
* Hybrid/lossy mode
 
* Tagging support ([[ID3]], [[APE tags]])
 
* Tagging support ([[ID3]], [[APE tags]])
 
* Supports [[RIFF]] chunks
 
* Supports [[RIFF]] chunks
 +
* [[ReplayGain]] compatible
  
 
===OFR CONS===
 
===OFR CONS===
 
* Closed source
 
* Closed source
* No multichannel audio support
+
* No [[multichannel]] audio support
 
* No hardware support
 
* No hardware support
 
* Quite slow decoding
 
* Quite slow decoding
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* Supports 32bit float streams
 
* Supports 32bit float streams
 
* Includes MD5 hashes for quick integrity checking
 
* Includes MD5 hashes for quick integrity checking
* ReplayGain compatible
 
  
  
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===RAL CONS===
 
===RAL CONS===
 
* Closed source
 
* Closed source
* No multichannel and high resolution audio support
+
* No [[multichannel]] and [[high resolution]] audio support
* Few software support (Real Player)
+
* Little software support (Real Player)
 
* No hardware support
 
* No hardware support
 
* Compression efficiency not on par with other lossless codecs
 
* Compression efficiency not on par with other lossless codecs
 
* No hybrid/lossy mode
 
* No hybrid/lossy mode
 
* No pipe support
 
* No pipe support
 +
* Doesn't support [[ReplayGain]]
  
  
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===SHN CONS===
 
===SHN CONS===
 
* Quite inefficient
 
* Quite inefficient
* No multichannel or high resolution audio support
+
* No [[multichannel]] or [[high resolution]] audio support
 
* No hybrid/lossy mode
 
* No hybrid/lossy mode
 
* No error robustness
 
* No error robustness
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* No hardware support
 
* No hardware support
 
* No native tagging
 
* No native tagging
 +
* Doesn't support [[ReplayGain]]
  
  
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* Good efficiency
 
* Good efficiency
 
* Hardware support (obscure DVD player)
 
* Hardware support (obscure DVD player)
* Supports multichannel audio and high resolutions
+
* Supports [[multichannel]] audio and [[high resolution]]s
 
* Tagging support ([[ID3v2]])
 
* Tagging support ([[ID3v2]])
 +
* [[ReplayGain]] compatible
  
 
===TTA CONS===
 
===TTA CONS===
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===TTA Other features===
 
===TTA Other features===
 
* Fits the [[Matroska]] container
 
* Fits the [[Matroska]] container
* [[ReplayGain]] compatible
+
 
  
 
==WavPack== http://www.wavpack.com/
 
==WavPack== http://www.wavpack.com/
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* Error robustness
 
* Error robustness
 
* Streaming support
 
* Streaming support
* Supports multichannel audio and high resolutions
+
* Supports [[multichannel]] audio and [[high resolution]]s
 
* Hybrid/lossy mode
 
* Hybrid/lossy mode
 
* Tagging support ([[ID3v1]], [[APE tags]])
 
* Tagging support ([[ID3v1]], [[APE tags]])
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* Pipe support
 
* Pipe support
 
* Good software support
 
* Good software support
 +
* [[ReplayGain]] compatible
  
 
===WV CONS===
 
===WV CONS===
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* Includes MD5 hashes for quick integrity checking
 
* Includes MD5 hashes for quick integrity checking
 
* Can encode in both symmetrical and assymmetrical modes.
 
* Can encode in both symmetrical and assymmetrical modes.
* [[ReplayGain]] compatible
 
  
  
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* Streaming support
 
* Streaming support
 
* Very good software support
 
* Very good software support
* Supports multichannel audio and high resolutions.
+
* Supports [[multichannel]] audio and [[high resolution]]s.
 
* Tagging support (proprietary)
 
* Tagging support (proprietary)
 
* Pipe support
 
* Pipe support
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* No hardware support (but it's likely to appear sooner or later)
 
* No hardware support (but it's likely to appear sooner or later)
 
* Doesn't support [[RIFF]] chunks
 
* Doesn't support [[RIFF]] chunks
 +
* Doesn't support [[ReplayGain]]
  
 
===WMAL Other features===
 
===WMAL Other features===

Revision as of 03:46, 16 April 2005

Given the enormous amount of lossless audio compressor choices available, it is a very difficult task to choose the one most suited for each person's needs.

Several people only take into consideration compression performance when choosing a codec. But as the following table and post shows, there are several other features worth taking into consideration when making that choice.

For example, users wanting good multiplatform compatibility and robustness (E.G, people sharing live recordings) would favour WavPack or FLAC. Another user, looking for the very highest compression available, would go with OptimFROG. Someone wanting portable support would use FLAC or ALAC, and so on.

En fin, this is not a matter worth getting too worked up about. If you later find out the codec you chose isn't the best for your needs, you can just transcompress to another format, without risk of losing quality.


Comparison Table

Features Template:Turquoise ALAC Template:Turquoise FLAC Template:Turquoise Monkey's Template:Turquoise OptimFROG Template:Turquoise RealLossless Template:Turquoise Shorten
Encoding speed average fast fast slow average very fast
Decoding speed very fast very fast fast slow fast very fast
Compression* 58,50% 58,70% 55,50% 54,70%   63,50%
Flexibility** bad very good very good very good bad bad
 
Error handling   yes yes yes   no
Seeking yes yes yes yes yes yes
Tagging QT tags FLAC tags ID3/APE ID3/APE Proprietary no
Hardware support yes yes no no no no
Software support bad very good good average bad very good
Hybrid/lossy no no no yes no no
ReplayGain sort of yes no no no no
RIFF chunks   no yes yes   yes
Streaming yes yes   yes yes no
Pipe support no yes yes yes no yes
Open source Yes (decoding) yes yes no no yes
Multichannel no yes no no no no
High resolution no yes yes yes no no
OS support Win/Mac All All Win/Linux Win/Mac/Linux All
             
Features Template:Turquoise WavPack Template:Turquoise WMA Template:Turquoise LA Template:Turquoise TTA Template:Turquoise LPAC
Encoding speed very fast average slow very fast average
Decoding speed very fast average slow very fast very fast
Compression* 58% 56,30% 53,50% 57,10% 57,20%
Flexibility** very good bad average bad bad
 
Error handling yes yes   no no
Seeking yes yes yes yes slow
Tagging ID3/APE Proprietary ID3v1 ID3 no
Hardware support no no no yes no
Software support good good bad average average
Hybrid/lossy yes no no no no
ReplayGain yes no no yes no
RIFF chunks yes no yes no yes
Streaming yes yes   no no
Pipe support yes yes yes no  
Open source yes no no yes no
Multichannel yes yes no yes no
High resolution yes yes no yes yes
OS support All Win/Mac Win/Linux All Win/Linux/Sol

* Encoding speed, Decoding speed and Compression ratio are based on each encoder's default settings.

** Flexibility refers to the amount of encoding choices offered to the users (Fast/low compression, Slow/high compression and everything inbetween)


These are the most popular lossless codecs, in alphabetical order:

==ALAC - Apple Lossless Audio Codec== http://www.apple.com/itunes/import.html

ALAC is a codec developed by Apple for usage in iPod and AirPort Express.

ALAC PROS

  • Very fast decoding
  • Open source (decoding only)
  • Hardware support (iPod, AirPort Express)
  • Streaming support
  • Tagging support (QT tags)
  • Excellent hardware-software-lossy format integration with iTunes/iPod.

ALAC CONS

  • Closed source (encoding)
  • Few software support (iTunes)
  • Doesn't support multichannel audio and high resolutions
  • Compression efficiency not on par with other lossless codecs
  • No hybrid/lossy mode

ALAC Other features

  • Fits in the MP4 container
  • Can be used with the AirPort Express gadget

==FLAC - Free Lossless Audio Codec== http://flac.sourceforge.net/

FLAC is a lossless codec developed by Josh Coalson. It's part of the Xiph multimedia portfolio, along with Ogg Vorbis and Theora.

FLAC PROS

FLAC CONS

  • Relatively slow encoding
  • No hybrid/lossy mode
  • Doesn't support RIFF chunks

FLAC Other features

  • Supports embedded CUE sheets (with limitations)
  • Includes MD5 hashes for quick integrity checking
  • Fits the Ogg and Matroska containers


==LosslessAudio - LA== http://www.lossless-audio.com/

LA is a lossless codec developed by Michael Bevin.

LA PROS

  • Very high compression
  • Tagging support (ID3v1)
  • Supports RIFF chunks
  • Pipe support

LA CONS

  • Closed source
  • Very slow encoding and decoding
  • Doesn't support multichannel audio and high resolutions
  • No hardware support
  • No hybrid/lossy mode
  • Bad software support
  • Doesn't support ReplayGain

It's important to mention that the LA foobar plugin is buggy and doesn't produce lossless streams!

==LPAC== http://www.nue.tu-berlin.de/wer/liebchen/lpac.html

Lossless Predictive Audio Coder (LPAC) is a lossless codec developed by Tilman Liebchen. Development of it has been halted in favour of development of MPEG4 ALS.

LPAC PROS

LPAC CONS

  • Closed source
  • No error robustness
  • Slow seeking
  • No tagging
  • No multichannel support
  • No hybrid/lossy mode
  • No hardware support
  • Doesn't support ReplayGain

==Monkey's Audio== http://www.monkeysaudio.com/

Monkey's Audio is a very efficient lossless compressor developed my Matt Ashland.

APE PROS

APE CONS

APE Other features

  • Supports embedded APL sheets (similar to CUE sheets)


==OptimFROG== http://losslessaudiocompression.com/

OptimFROG is a lossless format developed by Florin Ghido to become the champion in audio compression.

OFR PROS

OFR CONS

  • Closed source
  • No multichannel audio support
  • No hardware support
  • Quite slow decoding

OFR Other features

  • Supports 32bit float streams
  • Includes MD5 hashes for quick integrity checking


==RealAudio Lossless== http://www.realnetworks.com/products/codecs/realaudio.html

RealAudio lossless is the lossless codec developed by Real Networks for their multimedia portfolio

RAL PROS

  • Very fast decoding
  • Streaming support

RAL CONS

  • Closed source
  • No multichannel and high resolution audio support
  • Little software support (Real Player)
  • No hardware support
  • Compression efficiency not on par with other lossless codecs
  • No hybrid/lossy mode
  • No pipe support
  • Doesn't support ReplayGain


==Shorten== http://www.etree.org/shnutils/shorten/

Shorten is a very old and featureless lossless codec developed by Tony Robinson at SoftSound.

SHN PROS

  • Open source
  • Fast decoding
  • Very good software support
  • Supports RIFF chunks
  • Pipe support

SHN CONS

  • Quite inefficient
  • No multichannel or high resolution audio support
  • No hybrid/lossy mode
  • No error robustness
  • Not streamable
  • No hardware support
  • No native tagging
  • Doesn't support ReplayGain


==True Audio (TTA)== http://tta.corecodec.org/

TTA is a new lossless codec developed by a team of russian programmers.

TTA PROS

TTA CONS

  • No streaming support
  • No hybrid/lossy mode
  • Doesn't support RIFF chunks
  • No pipe support

TTA Other features


==WavPack== http://www.wavpack.com/

WavPack is a fast and featureful lossless codec developed by David Bryant.

WV PROS

WV CONS

  • No hardware support

WV Other features

  • Supports embedded CUE sheets
  • Includes MD5 hashes for quick integrity checking
  • Can encode in both symmetrical and assymmetrical modes.


==Windows Media Audio Lossless== http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/codecs/audio.aspx

WMA Lossless is the lossless codec developed by Microsoft to be featured in their Windows Media codec portfolio.

WMAL PROS

WMAL CONS

  • Closed source
  • No hybrid/lossy mode
  • No hardware support (but it's likely to appear sooner or later)
  • Doesn't support RIFF chunks
  • Doesn't support ReplayGain

WMAL Other features

  • Fits the ASF container


Links

Some links to lossless format compression comparisions:

Hans Heijden's (used as reference to build the table)

Speek's

Guruboolez's - comparing only classical music.


Go to the Hydrogenaudio thread to discuss this article.