Hello everyone,
-As we know, Vorbis and MP3 encoders (libvorbis/aoTuV and LAME respectively) are continuously being improved over time to make them better, more efficient and produce higher quality output files. Even AAC (FAAC) has somewhat being improved (courtesy of Nero; there's nothing much from the community on SF.net).
-The question: how about WMA? Is there any improvement to WMA3/WMA9 since WMP9/WME9? Do the encoders bundled with WMP10, WMP11, WMP12 up until Expression Encoder 4 (now) gradually increase the quality/improve their encoding efficiency? Any test (listening or ABX) has been done?
-Also, is there any (better) third-party encoder aside those from Microsoft that I'm unaware of?
Thanks & regards.
-Also, is there any (better) third-party encoder aside those from Microsoft that I'm unaware of?
There are 3rd party WMA std encoders, but none are as good as the normal MS one.
Could you direct me to any 3rd party decoders for Windows?
Do you mean encoders?
Could you direct me to any 3rd party decoders for Windows?
ffmpeg is one such decoder (also, encoder).
Could you direct me to any 3rd party decoders for Windows?
ffmpeg is one such decoder (also, encoder).
http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/ (http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/)
Any test (listening or ABX) has been done?
The last Windows Media EULA that I read explicitly stated that comparison test publishing was by Microsoft approval only.
I think MP3, iTunes, and Blu-Ray pretty much ended any chance of widespread adoption of a Windows Media codec.
Probably only a handful of us still use WMA. I do because it works out-of-the-box on my 4 Windows PCs and my car stereo.