Editing Opus

{{Software Infobox
| name = Opus
| logo = [[Image:opus-logo.png|250px|Official Opus logo]]
| screenshot =
| caption = Opus Interactive Audio Codec
| maintainer = [http://xiph.org/ Xiph.Org Foundation]
| stable_release = 1.1
| preview_release = 1.1.1-beta
| operating_system = Windows, Mac OS/X, Linux/BSD
| use = Encoder/Decoder
| license = 3-clause BSD license
| website = [http://www.opus-codec.org/ opus-codec.org]
}}

'''Opus''' is a [[lossy]] audio compression format developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) designed to be suitable for interactive real-time applications over the Internet,{{ref|homepage|a}} including music as well as speech, yet it is also very competitive for use as a storage and playback format, being a [http://people.xiph.org/~greg/opus/ha2011/ class leader at around 64 kbps] and [http://listening-test.coresv.net/results.htm also at 96 kbps]. As an open format standardised through [http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6716 Request for Comments (RFC) 6716],{{ref|RFC|c}} a high quality reference implementation is provided under the 3-clause BSD license{{ref|homepage|a}} which compiles and runs on the vast majority of general purpose and embedded (fixed point) processors. Many Software patents which cover Opus are licensed under royalty-free terms.{{ref|FAQ|b}}  Opus is also a Mandatory To Implement (MTI) codec for the upcoming WebRTC (Web Real Time Communication) specification of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

Opus incorporates technology from two codecs, the speech-oriented SILK codec developed by Skype and the multi-purpose low-latency CELT codec developed by Xiph.org with significant changes to each to ensure they can work together.{{ref|RFC|c}} Opus can seamlessly transition among high and low bitrates, using a linear prediction codec (the SILK layer) at lower bitrates and a lapped transform codec (the CELT layer) at higher bitrates, as well as a hybrid of the two for a short overlap in which SILK encodes the 0-8kHz spectrum and the CELT layer encodes only the frequencies above 8kHz.{{ref|RFC|c}} Opus has very low algorithmic delay (typ 22.5 ms) compared to popular music formats such as [[MP3]], [[Vorbis |Ogg Vorbis]], [[AAC | LC-AAC and HE-AAC]] (all over 100 ms), yet performs very competitively with them in terms of quality per bitrate, making it comparably viable as a storage & playback format. Also unlike Vorbis, Opus does not require the definition of large codebooks for each individual file, making it also preferable for short clips of audio, such as those often used by game developers, a field where patent-free Vorbis is commonly used.{{ref|RFC|c}}

Considerably more details of the history and potential applications for Opus are included in the ''Wikipedia'' page for '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_%28audio_format%29 Opus (audio format)]'''

==Characteristics==
Opus supports bitrates from 6kbps to 510kbps for typical stereo audio sources (and a maximum of around 255 kbps per channel for multichannel audio), with the 'sweet spot' for music and general audio around 30kbps (mono) and 40-100 kbps (stereo). It is intrinsically [[VBR | variable bitrate]], though constrained VBR and [[CBR | constant bitrate]] modes are possible where required. In the case of the reference release, libopus, the target bitrate is calibrated against the internal constant quality targets so that over a typical music collection, something very close to the target bitrate will be achieved. This bitrate-calibrated approach differs from most VBR encoders (e.g. LAME, helix mp3, qaac, Nero aacenc, Ogg Vorbis, Musepack) where a setting on some 'constant quality' scale (which differs between encoders) is used and the bitrate will fall where it may. Improved future versions can be expected to offer improved quality at the same setting. Independent implementations may adopt a different approach.

Opus is able to seamlessly adapt its mode of operation without glitches or sound interruption (an illustrative demonstration of [http://opus-codec.org/examples/#gauge bitrate scalability] is on the Opus Examples page), which can be particularly useful for mixed-content audio or varying network conditions, making the unified Opus codec superior to a suite of different codecs that might otherwise cover the same range of bitrate and quality settings and would require out-of-band signalling to instigate codec switching. The switching includes the choice of mono, stereo and other channel mappings, the use of the speech-oriented SILK layer, the general-purpose CELT layer or the hybrid of both, and the use of different audio bandwidths (4kHz, 6kHz, 8kHz, 12kHz, 20kHz) as well as the quality adjustments within the same operating mode that are available in most VBR-capable codecs.

Of importance mainly to interactive uses, but potentially useful in time-delayed audio streaming also, Opus includes packet loss concealment (PLC) in all modes and, in the speech-oriented modes where the SILK layer is active it also supports Forward Error Correction (FEC) where the expected rate of packet loss can be indicated to the encoder by the user or by application software and critical frames (e.g. consonant sounds) can be retransmitted at low bitrate to preserve intelligibility.

For music and general audio, the CELT layer of Opus builds on knowledge gained during xiph.org's Vorbis development and ensures as a primary goal that the total energy in each spectral band is preserved while requiring only a modest bitrate overhead to achieve this, thereby eliminating a lot of bitrate-starvation artifacts such as 'birdies' that are common in low-bitrate MP3, especially during transients, applause and cymbal sounds. This technique likewise increases coding efficiency at bitrates targetting transparent music reproduction. Short blocks (2.5 ms) are also possible for efficient transient handling. Short blocks can also be used exclusively, if very low algorithmic delay (5.0ms) is required to enable very low-latency interative audio (e.g. live networked music performances such as remote jam sessions), though greater bitrate is then required to maintain the same quality (illustrated in [http://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/celt/demo.html#demo Monty's CELT demo page] under Constant PEAQ value, varying latency). CELT uses a number of additional techniques and provides additional advanced tools to enable encoder tuning.

Opus natively supports [[gapless playback]] (though [[Gapless_playback#Poorly_designed_playback_systems | poor player design]] might itself induce interruptions during playback). Playback gain is also required, making some form of [[ReplayGain]] or [[ReplayGain_2.0_specification | similar]] volume control possible in any compliant player.

==Bitrate performance==
For mono speech, Opus ranges from intelligible narrowband speech reproduction starting at 6 kbps to medium-band, wideband and superwideband speech, reaching full-band speech by around 32 kbps. Above about 32 kbps, the SILK layer is no longer used at all, as CELT alone gives superior quality.

For music, the SILK modes are quite tolerable and better than CELT at very low bitrates. The hybrid mode is adopted as bitrate increases, extending bandwidth first to 12kHz (comparable with compact cassette) then to the full 20kHz and CELT then takes over. Assuming the source is stereo, the transition from mono to stereo typically happens between the transition from 12kHz to 20kHz.

==Indicative bitrate and quality==
The table below gives illustrative, indicative quality guidance based on typical modes used internally by Opus and a range of listening tests.

In the experimental libopus version 1.1-alpha, automatic detection of speech/music and bandwidth detection have been introduced to improve mode decisions, and VBR is less constrained, all with the aim of maximizing the quality/bitrate tradeoff. Thus changes are likely, and this table is likely to require small updates as the encoder is improved.

===Speech encoding quality===
This table assumes a '''monophonic''' source sampled at CD quality or above (typ 48 kHz sampling rate) but mentions stereo compatibility for 40kbps+. The default 20ms frame size (22.5ms latency) is assumed.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Bitrate Target
!Bandwidth
!typ SILK/CELT use
!Speech quality notes
!Use cases/notes/competitive codecs
|-
!Less than 5 kbps
| -
| -
| Bitrates lower than 6 kbps not supported by Opus
| Try [http://codec2.org/ codec2] for 1.2-2.4 kbps speech
|-
!6 kbps
|4 kHz
|SILK
|Fair, intelligible
|AMR-NB may be a little better, but higher latency & proprietary, [[Speex]] also competitive
|-
!8 kbps
|4 kHz narrowband
|SILK
|Close to telephone quality
|AMR-NB & AMR-WB similar quality, but higher latency & proprietary. [[Speex]] competitive.
|-
!12 kbps
|6 kHz medium-band
|SILK
|Medium bandwidth, better than telephone quality
|Similar quality to AMR-WB
|-
!16 kbps
|8 kHz wideband
|SILK
|Wideband speech quality
|Similar to/better than AMR-WB
|-
!24 kbps
|12 kHz super-wideband
|hybrid
|Near transparent speech
|Better than AMR-WB. Podcasts/audiobooks/talk-radio.
|-
!32 kbps
|20 kHz
|hybrid / possibly CELT
|Essentially transparent speech plus moderately good mono music
|Much better than AMR-WB. Podcasts/audiobooks/talk-radio.
|-
!40 kbps
|20 kHz
|CELT
|Essentially transparent mono or stereo speech, fairly good stereo music
|Stereo podcasts/audiobooks/talk radio with some music
|-
!48 kbps or more
|20 kHz
|CELT
|Essentially transparent mono or stereo speech, reasonable music
|Flexible general purpose modes to suit mixed music and speech
|-
|}

===Music encoding quality===
This table assumes a '''stereophonic''' source sampled at CD quality or above (typ 48 kHz sampling rate). Opus will automatically use mono at very low bitrates, though a certain amount of stereo encoding can still be used - content dependent even when mono is specified as the typical stereo mode in the table below.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Bitrate target
!Stereo mode
!Bandwidth
!typ SILK/CELT use
!Music quality notes
!Use cases/notes/competitive codecs
|-
!6 kbps
|mono
|4 kHz
|SILK
|Poor, muffled sound but intelligible lyrics.
| -
|-
!8 kbps
|mono
|4 kHz
|SILK
|Poor, muffled but OK for bitrate
| -
|-
!14 to 16 kbps
|mono
|6 kHz
|SILK
|Fairly Poor but OK for bitrate
|Perhaps acceptable for incidental music
|-
!22 to 24 kbps
|mono
|8 kHz
|SILK
|Fair but OK for bitrate
|OK for incidental music
|-
!32 kbps
|mono
|12 kHz
|hybrid
|Moderately good mono, reasonably bright treble (c.f. mono cassette)
|Good for podcasts, audiobooks, CELT-only poss for music. Competitor HE-AAC@32kbps is stereo full-band but with annoying artifacts.
|-
!36 to 40 kbps
|stereo
|12 kHz
|hybrid/CELT
|Moderately good stereo, reasonably bright treble (c.f. stereo cassette)
|Stereo podcasts, audiobooks, very low bitrate music
|-
!48 kbps
|stereo
|20 kHz
|CELT
|Full bandwidth stereo music, some artifacts, rarely nasty
|Stereo podcasts, audiobooks, low bitrate music
|-
!64 kbps
|stereo
|20 kHz
|CELT
|Full bandwidth stereo music, nice sound, detectable differences to original (mostly 'not annoying')
|Music storage & streaming. Beat HE-AAC, Vorbis, MP3 in [http://people.xiph.org/~greg/opus/ha2011/ listening test]
|-
!96 kbps
|stereo
|20 kHz
|CELT
|Full bandwidth stereo music, good quality approaching transparency
|Music storage & high quality streaming. Beat LC-AAC, Vorbis, MP3 in [http://listening-test.coresv.net/results.htm listening test]
|-
!112 kbps
|stereo
|20 kHz
|CELT
|Fairly close to transparency (needs more testing)
|Music storage & high quality streaming. Very low-latency stereo networked music performance/jam sessions at OK quality (see below table)
|-
!128 kbps
|stereo
|20 kHz
|CELT
|Very close to transparency (needs more testing). Most modern codecs competitive (AAC-LC, Vorbis, MP3)
|Music storage & streaming. Future download music sales.
|-
!256 kbps
|stereo
|20 kHz
|CELT
|Transparent with very low chance of artifacts (a few killer samples still detectable). Most old & new lossy codecs competitive.
|Music storage & streaming, dedicated limited-bandwidth audio links (e.g. wireless, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth_profile#Advanced_Audio_Distribution_Profile_.28A2DP.29 A2DP-bluetooth] type links). 
|-
!510 kbps
|stereo
|20 kHz
|CELT
|Maximum possible stereo bitrate target (actual rate often less than 510 for default frame size). Most old and new lossy codecs competitive, plus near-lossless [[lossyWAV]] and [[WavPack | WavPack lossy]]
|Music storage, dedicated limited-bitrate audio links (e.g. wireless, minimum latency high quality audio. LossyWAV and WavPack lossy are very competitive for storage, and WavPack lossy --blocksize=256 may be competitive with minimum latency mode also.
|-
!>510 kbps
| -
| -
| -
|Above Opus bitrate range allowed for stereo sources
|Settle for 510kbps or use [[lossless]], [[lossyWAV]], [[WavPack | WavPack lossy]] or lossy transform/subband codecs like [[Vorbis]], [[Musepack]] at very high settings.
|-
|}

===Lower latency versus quality/bitrate trade-off===
====Packet overhead in interactive applications====
For interactive use on the Internet or other packet-based networks, total bandwidth used will be subject to packet overhead. The more packet headers that are transmitted every second, the greater will be the overhead that is required. For this reason, Opus, while defaulting to 20.0ms frames, supports 60.0ms frames to reduce overhead when transporting low-bitrate SILK frames at the expense of greater latency, which may still be acceptable for speech, and also supports 10.0ms SILK frames to reduce latency somewhat at the expense of packet overhead.

In the CELT layer, which tends to operate at higher bitrates than SILK, 20.0ms frames are the default, but frames of 10.0ms, 5.0ms and 2.5ms are also possible, which directly increases the frame overhead by transmitting more packets per second to achieve lower latency. In addition, as we'll see below it also reduces the quality/bitrate tradeoff of the CELT layer itself.

None of the bitrates mentioned in this article account for the packet overhead.

====CELT layer latency versus quality/bitrate trade-off====
Unlike the SILK layer, which works on fixed 10.0ms blocks, 1, 2 or 6 of which can be combined into an Opus frame, the CELT layer is able to modify the encoding block lengths available to enable its use with shorter frames.

When the CELT layer uses 10.0ms, 5.0ms and 2.5ms frames instead of the default 20.0ms, it must use smaller transform block sizes to achieve this, thereby reducing frequency resolution in the MDCT compared to the default transform window, thus reducing encoding efficiency for tonal signals. To obtain the same frequency precision for a sound divided into shorter transform windows, improved amplitude precision is necessary, resulting in increased bitrate to obtain the same perceptual quality (or conversely lower quality at the same bitrate).

These reduced-latency modes remain efficient for transient signals, which use short blocks anyway.

In all modes, the algorithmic delay consists of the frame size plus an additional 2.5ms delay. The CELT layer requires 2.5ms for MDCT window overlap.

Xiph.org used matched PEAQ scores (approximate perceptual quality assessment made in software) for the CELT0.10 codec that was used as the basis of the CELT layer in the Opus reference release, which indicate the following [http://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/celt/demo.html#demo approximate equivalent settings] for stereo music.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Frame size
!Algorithmic delay
!Bitrate to match 64kbps@22.5ms delay
!fractional bitrate increase
|-
!20.0 ms
|22.5 ms
|64.0 kbps
|0.0 %
|-
!10.0 ms
|12.5 ms
|70.4 kbps
|10.0 %
|-
!5.0 ms
|7.5 ms
|84.8 kbps
|32.5 %
|-
!2.5 ms
|5.0 ms
|112.0 kbps
|75.0 %
|-
|}

N.B. This table is useful for interactive streaming only. For music storage & delayed playback or non-interactive streaming, latency reduction is not important and the default 20.0ms frame size is preferable.

== Hardware & Software Support ==

Much of this section is based heavily on the Jan 12th 2013 version of the '''Support''' section of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_%28audio_format%29 Wikipedia article], which is more likely to be kept updated and to provide links to further information about the supporting platforms.

The format and algorithms are openly documented and the reference implementation is published as free software. The reference implementation (Opus Audio Tools, opus-tools), consisting of separate encoders and decoders, is published under the terms of a BSD-like license. It is written in C programming language and can be compiled for hardware architectures with or without floating point unit. The accompanying diagnostic tool opusinfo reports detailed technical information about Opus files, including information on the standard compliance of the bitstream format. It is based on ogginfo from the vorbis-tools and therefore, unlike the encoder and decoder, available under the terms of version 2 of the GPL.

=== Commandline binaries & libopus versions ===
The commandline tools of the reference version are available pre-compiled for the most popular operating systems at [http://opus-codec.org/downloads opus-codec.org] and [https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/opus/ Mozilla's ftp server], plus in the foobar2000 free encoders pack and some alternative compiles through the hydrogenaud.io opus forum. No other implementations of opus are currently known. The libopus commandline tools include encoder ''opusenc'', decoder ''opusdec'', and with a different license, the ''opusinfo'' opus stream & metadata analyzer.

The '''latest stable release''' is recommended for general use and as of mid 2014 is considered competitive with or superior to the best alternative speech or general music encoders at most supported bitrates.

==== libopus v1.0 ====
Released 11 Sep 2012 when RFC6716 was standardized but mostly fully developed by late 2011.

'''Stable''', '''well-tuned''' ''opusenc'' reference encoder as included in RFC documentation.

CELT layer closely related to CELT 0.10 implements Constrained VBR mode by default (bitrate boost used mainly for transients), plus true CBR.

==== libopus v1.1 (recommended latest stable release) ==== 

The alpha source code released 21 Dec 2012 for testing & user feedback and following a beta release and testing, the stable 1.1 version was released on 5 December 2013, considered well tested enough for general release.

CELT layer [http://jmspeex.livejournal.com/11737.html quality improvements] introduced to provide '''unconstrained VBR''' include a rate boost not just for transients but now for highly tonal signals too and rate reduction when stereo image is narrow. There's also a rewrite of its '''transient detection''' code and '''time-frequency analysis''' code, and rewritten '''dynamic allocation''' code (HF/LF tilt and Band Boost) to allow more aggressive changes from the typical static allocation when warranted.

There are many minor improvements to '''speech quality''' in both SILK and CELT layers.

'''DC-rejection''' below 3 Hz also aids quality if inaudible DC offset is present with no effect on deep bass notes.

'''Automatic speech/music detection''' is introduced to optimize encoding mode choices, especially near the bitrate target range (presumably around 24~40kbps) where the encoder may perform best with SILK, hybrid or CELT depending on content type. Below that range SILK performs best for both music & speech, and above it CELT performs best for speech & music. The detection, without look-ahead is not perfect but usually is undecided in audio where either mode will work well.

'''Automatic bandwidth detection''' is also introduced to save wasted bits allocated to absent frequencies.

'''Surround sound improvements''' were introduced since the beta release with considerable advances in coding efficiency, bitrate allocation and quality.

=== VoIP software ===
* The open source virtual PBX Freeswitch supports Opus transcoding.
* The voice-chat software Mumble supports Opus as its main codec.
* SIP softphones Phoner and PhonerLite support Opus
* The SIP and IAX2 client SFLphone is being fitted with Opus support.
* Integration of Opus into the Skype client is finished, although no version with Opus support has yet been published.
* TrueConf video conferencing solutions support Opus.
* Opus support is planned for Jitsi 2.0, together with VP8 video
* Empathy may use any format supported in GStreamer, including Opus.
* Line2 has replaced their current codec with Opus. Their iOS app will be the first to be released with the Opus. The Android app will follow later.
* CSipSimple supports Opus, Codec2, G.726 and G.722.1 with an additional plug-in.
* The voice-chat software TeamSpeak 3 supports Opus for voice and music in pre-release server 3.0.7-pre2 and beta client version 3.0.10

=== Web frameworks and browsers ===
* Opus support is mandatory for WebRTC implementations.
* Mozilla supports Opus beginning with version 15 of Firefox and Thunderbird, plus Seamonkey, which is uses shared codebase.
* Depending on the backend in use, Opera supports inline playback of embedded Opus files. Official support for Opus and WebRTC are on the development roadmap.
* Chromium and Google Chrome have audio support as of version 33.
* Maxthon Cloud Browser

=== Streaming audio ===
* Icecast. (examples: [http://dir.xiph.org/by_format/Opus Stream directory by format Opus], [http://smj.delfa.net/opus_64.m3u 64k]/[http://smj.delfa.net/opus_256.m3u 256k] [http://smj.delfa.net/ Smooth Jazz Opus Stream], [http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/listen/labs.html Absolute Radio Opus Trial] 7 stations at 24,64,96 kbps, [http://icecast.ofdoom.com:8000/burst-opus.ogg Icecast Of Doom 96k]
* Krad Radio
* Liquidsoap

=== Operating systems and desktop multimedia frameworks ===
* In Debian GNU/Linux the Opus development tools and supporting libraries can be installed from the preconfigured repositories in the next stable version ("wheezy") that is expected to be released in early 2013.
* For Microsoft Windows, there are DirectShow filters supporting Opus, including DC-Bass Source Mod and the LAV Filters.
* In GStreamer the integration of Opus support is complete.
* FFmpeg supports decoding and encoding Opus via the external library libopus.

=== Hardware support ===
* Support in [[Rockbox]] is available. This means hardware support for a series of portable media players (including some products from the iPod series by Apple and Sansa, iriver and Archos devices) and with "Rockbox as an Application" (RaaA) also on Android devices.

=== Player software ===

* Windows/Mac/Linux (Cross-Platform)
*# [[VLC]] (media player supports Opus as of version 2.0.4 
*#[[Amarok]] 2.8 has transcoding support for Opus codec if ffmpeg is compiled with support for the libopus library & support for playback of Opus encoded files if Amarok is compiled against TagLib (newer than V1.8)
*# Clementine has Opus support


* Windows Exclusive
*# AIMP supports Opus natively as of version 3.20 build 1125 beta 1
*# [[foobar2000]] supports Opus natively as of v1.1.14 beta 1
*# Mpxplay supports Opus (using a decoder DLL) as of v1.60 alpha 2
*# [[Winamp]] supports Opus using a [http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?p=2925154#post2925154 3rd party plug-in]
*# MPC-HC


* iOS/Android (Cross-Platform)
*#Capriccio [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/capriccio-free-ultimate-music/id434829018?mt=8 iOS]/[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.ideariboso.capriccio Android]


* Android Exclusive
*# [http://gonemadmusicplayer.blogspot.com/ GoneMAD Music Player]
*# [http://neutronmp.com/ Neutron Music Player]
*# [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-android.html VLC Media Player for Android]
*# [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.recoilme.freeamp FreeMP]
*# [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.mderezynski.youki3 Youki]
*# [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aimp.player AIMP for Android]
*# [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.acmeandroid.listen Listen Audiobook Player]

=== Other software ===
* CDBurnerXP
* MediaCoder
* Report-IT
* [[MP3tag|MP3tag]]
* [http://www.xdlab.ru/en/ TagScanner]

== References & Notes ==

*{{note|homepage|a}}[http://opus-codec.org/ opus-codec.org homepage]
*{{note|FAQ|b}}[http://wiki.xiph.org/OpusFAQ Opus FAQ]
*{{note|RFC|c}}[http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6716 IETF RFC 6716]

[[Category:Codecs]]
[[Category:Lossy]]
[[Category:Encoder/Decoder]]