VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Dave Waters · Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 9:22 am Post subject: Face Time Audio and AAC ELD

So, Apple will be including FaceTime Audio to it's next Mavericks OSX update:
http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/12/20/facetime-audio-calls-finally-arrive-on-os-x-in-latest-mavericks-beta

And, the face-off with Skype is escalated. But, now comes the phrase, "Full-HD Voice" and the claim of full 20Khz quality audio...at amazingly low bit rates.
http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/iis/de/dokumente/amm/AAC-ELD-family_TechnicalPaper_final.pdf

Thoughts? Go.
_________________
Dave Waters
www.davewatersvo.com

georgethetech · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:32 am Post subject:

Not sure how we all missed this discussion... I was just researching this topic. I guess IPDTL has eclipsed interest in AAC-ELD for the time being, using it's possibly superior OPUS codec. Check out this chart showing how these codecs compare. I do look forward to testing alternatives to Skype for Audio/Video chat that are more reliable, if such a thing exists. Facetime is a possibility, but last I tested it the audio didn't meet Skype's SILK codec quality.
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Very interesting, thanks for sharing this. Things are definitely progressing in the right direction.
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

Frank F · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 10:11 am Post subject:

20 to 20kHz with AAC-ELD? I think not. AAC is a lossy codec, meaning it removes certain facets of the audio to compress the data into a manageable stream. Similar to .mp3. The codec also difficult, meaning it takes more time to encode and decode thus causing latency. AAC in HD mode sounds thin and boxy with a pronounced loss of lows and mids.

Opus does not have these characteristics.

Good luck Apple.

Frank F
_________________
Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

ha okay after Frank's post my brain is hurting Laugh

georgethetech · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:02 am Post subject:

OPUS is the FUTURE...sorry Fraunhofer and Apple. The low latency is remarkable while maintaining high resolution audio, 64kbps mono is amazingly good.
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Dave Waters · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:47 am Post subject:

Thanks all for weighing in on this. I have used FaceTime and the audio is often not good at all. It would require a quantum leap to reassemble anything like IPDTL, which is indeed amazing.

But, I'm always intrigued when the big A makes a new proclamation. I guess I'm just not sure why they would want to build up to such possible "antici-pointment".

We'll find out soon...
_________________
Dave Waters
www.davewatersvo.com

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

If the Big A (I like that) tells the world that they have high quality audio FaceTime, then 99.9% of their users will nod compliantly and sing the glories of it.

While the rest of us know better - we happy, happy few.
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

Bruce · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:05 pm Post subject:

When I tested IPDTL we did it in both 64kbps and 128kbps and both sounded fine according to my engineer friend.

B
_________________
VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Gregory Best · Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:29 pm Post subject:

As I know little about these codecs, does IPDTL use OPUS?
_________________
Gregory Best

greg@gregorybest.com

georgethetech · Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 2:49 am Post subject:

Yes it does, Gregory
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder