HydrogenAudio

Hydrogenaudio Forum => Validated News => Topic started by: menno on 2008-09-23 15:26:14

Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: menno on 2008-09-23 15:26:14
We just released a new version of our command line AAC encoder, decoder and MPEG-4 tagger applications on our website.
The download can be found here: http://www.nero.com/eng/downloads-nerodigi...o-aac-codec.php (http://www.nero.com/eng/downloads-nerodigital-nero-aac-codec.php)

EDIT: New link: http://www.nero.com/eng/downloads-nerodigi...o-aac-codec.php (http://www.nero.com/eng/downloads-nerodigital-nero-aac-codec.php)
EDIT2: Now the download can also be found directly from here: http://www.nero.com/eng/support-downloads.html (http://www.nero.com/eng/support-downloads.html)

Release notes for version 1.3.3.0:

neroAacEnc:neroAacDec:neroAacTag:
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: (Sly) on 2008-09-23 15:54:59
Nice changes, but why not SSE?? Not faster than standard build?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: PHOYO on 2008-09-23 16:01:54
Nice changes, but why not SSE?? Not faster than standard build?


Maybe because all optimizations have been merged with the normal compile?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Selindos on 2008-09-23 16:02:44
WOW! Super!
Thank you Nero AG!!!
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: muaddib on 2008-09-23 16:04:49
Maybe because all optimizations have been merged with the normal compile?

Correct. Special SSE version wouldn't produce any advantage.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: ozmosis82 on 2008-09-23 17:05:49
Does this release resolve the previous version's issue (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=57352&st=0&p=514971&#entry514971)? Has any tweaking been done to the q's/bitrates?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Alexxander on 2008-09-23 17:20:23
Thanks for making available a free downloadable version.

¿There's no audio quality enhancement included in this version?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: muaddib on 2008-09-23 17:31:32
Does this release resolve the previous version's issue (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=57352&st=0&p=514971&#entry514971)? Has any tweaking been done to the q's/bitrates?

We also tried to address issues with this file and hope that there is enough improvement.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: menno on 2008-09-23 17:39:10
¿There's no audio quality enhancement included in this version?


Multichannel encoding quality was improved. There were a bunch of quality related bugfixes that were made. We did some tuning on low bitrate LC AAC ( <= 128kbps).
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: halb27 on 2008-09-23 17:45:34
Thank you, Nero devs.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: ozmosis82 on 2008-09-23 18:14:55
We also tried to address issues with this file and hope that there is enough improvement.

Multichannel encoding quality was improved. There were a bunch of quality related bugfixes that were made. We did some tuning on low bitrate LC AAC ( <= 128kbps).

Excellent news! Thanks gang! Keep up the great work!
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: houyhnhnm on 2008-09-23 18:21:02
[a href='index.php?act=findpost&pid=586614']aoTuV[/a], [a href='index.php?act=findpost&pid=589635']LAME[/a] and Nero!

Their improvements are different, but we have 3 new versions this month.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: /mnt on 2008-09-23 19:17:51
Wow, I had a feeling that a new version of Nero AAC might be released today.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: weaker on 2008-09-23 22:27:18
A big "Thank you!" to the Nero devs! 
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: wortels on 2008-09-23 23:20:16
is there any switch to stop adding the CDEC comment to tags?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Enig123 on 2008-09-24 01:44:01
Really thanks for this great free aac codec.

You guys are awesome.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: bt_escm.9 on 2008-09-24 03:34:06
thanks Nero devs, been waiting for this
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: dbAmp on 2008-09-24 03:43:07
Thanks! Keep up the good work (fight)!

I'll hopefully be able to do some ABX testing this weekend.

EDIT: Works great with my 2nd gen iPod Shuffle and iTunes 8.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: jmcguckin on 2008-09-24 03:47:02
ya, this might be the best audio-related news I've heard all year... especially since just earlier today I decided to install XP on my iMac just so I could toy around with foobar2000/Nero AAC again.  thanks for all the hard work guys, much appreciated!
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: menno on 2008-09-24 04:13:22
is there any switch to stop adding the CDEC comment to tags?


No there isn't, is there a specific reason why you want this?
You can use neroAacTag to remove it.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: wortels on 2008-09-24 04:18:31

is there any switch to stop adding the CDEC comment to tags?


No there isn't, is there a specific reason why you want this?
You can use neroAacTag to remove it.

The only problem is it adds one extra step to encoding/copying...besides the information it adds can still be found out i.e. without tags
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Squeller on 2008-09-24 08:21:43
Ah, an old problem which was affecting me pretty often, where the encoder chose too low bitrate at silent parts, seems to have been fixed
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: disgustipated on 2008-09-24 11:10:44
Thanks guys once again for a new release of this fantastic encoder !!
It's a great contribution to our community.
Cheers !!
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Livy on 2008-09-24 14:07:14
Downloaded last night.  Thanks, guys!
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: drbeachboy on 2008-09-24 16:28:20


is there any switch to stop adding the CDEC comment to tags?


No there isn't, is there a specific reason why you want this?
You can use neroAacTag to remove it.

The only problem is it adds one extra step to encoding/copying...besides the information it adds can still be found out i.e. without tags
I think that adding the CDEC tag is a great thing. I like the idea of being able to see my encoder settings.While I know that %__tool% will show the codec and version and %codec% to show LC, but where else in the tags can you see the settings (i.e. -q 0.45)?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: frozenspeed on 2008-09-24 21:39:23
Thanks!!! This is awesome!!

Anyone notice the new codec is slower than the last release? I'm not complaining at all, I'll sacrifice some speed for some quality
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: IgorC on 2008-09-25 00:40:05
Great news.
I will try to do some blind tests around Nero vs Apple AAC encoders.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: macman4hire on 2008-09-25 01:01:59
IgorC what bitrates and methods of encoding do you plan to test?  I would like to hear about your results!
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: IgorC on 2008-09-25 01:05:35
ABC/HR at VBR approx. 96 kbit/s
I will post results. At the same time I'm more interesting in public test.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: MetalMessiah78 on 2008-09-25 03:08:58
Awesome. Thanks for the release, Nero. Anyone done any ABX tests of old Nero encoder against new Nero encoder and a lossless file?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: smok3 on 2008-09-25 14:05:18
thanks!
q: is there any speciall difference in command line? (do i need to rebuilt my scripts)
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: InspectorGadget on 2008-09-25 14:14:18
Thank you for this great encoder.  I've been using it to encode for my iPod and using it in MeGUI to transcode DVD audio tracks and it has been great so far.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: menno on 2008-09-25 15:29:35
thanks!
q: is there any speciall difference in command line? (do i need to rebuilt my scripts)


Nothing changed there
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: audioadam on 2008-09-25 23:54:47
Thanks for the new release - Nero AAC has actually become my main lossy codec since March of 08!

I'll have to give the new version a whirl and see how it sounds.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: randal1013 on 2008-09-26 03:45:52
i'm confused about the command line options and bitrates. i just tried "-br 128" which resulted in 12kbps, i then tried "-br128" which resulted in ~190kbps. what's going on?


i'm using foobar 0.9.5.5, and the latest nero codec.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: MuncherOfSpleens on 2008-09-26 03:54:43
i'm confused about the command line options and bitrates. i just tried "-br 128" which resulted in 12kbps, i then tried "-br128" which resulted in ~190kbps. what's going on?

The encoder is expecting bits per second, not kilobits per second.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: randal1013 on 2008-09-26 04:13:58
ok, i figured out what i need to enter, thanks.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Enig123 on 2008-09-26 04:18:22
so what am i supposed to put to get my target bitrate?


-br 128000 of course.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: MuncherOfSpleens on 2008-09-26 04:18:59
“-br 128000” should work.

Edit: Enig123 beat me to it.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: kornchild2002 on 2008-09-26 05:32:52
Thanks for this release, I have been waiting for it ever since I found out that Creative Zen and Xbox 360 compatibility issues would be fixed.  My only problem now is that I have a 2008 Honda Civic LX coupe whose built-in 6 disc CD deck supports standard audio CDs, user burned audio CDs (on either CD-R or CD-RW), WMA discs (on either CD-R or CD-RW), and mp3 discs (on either CD-R or CD-RW).  My new car does not support AAC CDs/drives like my older car did.

So now I am sticking with Lame.  I might have to purchase the iPod control unit from my dealership in order to use AAC though.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: muaddib on 2008-09-26 08:57:32
Thanks for this release, I have been waiting for it ever since I found out that Creative Zen and Xbox 360 compatibility issues would be fixed.  My only problem now is that I have a 2008 Honda Civic LX coupe whose built-in 6 disc CD deck supports standard audio CDs, user burned audio CDs (on either CD-R or CD-RW), WMA discs (on either CD-R or CD-RW), and mp3 discs (on either CD-R or CD-RW).  My new car does not support AAC CDs/drives like my older car did.
So now I am sticking with Lame.  I might have to purchase the iPod control unit from my dealership in order to use AAC though.

We hope that you'll give new encoder a try even if you don't get iPod control unit
Your findings were very helpful.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: weaker on 2008-09-26 16:26:15
@frozenspeed:
I didn't measure it but to me the new version didn't feel slower. Even on the contrary I had the impression that it got even faster.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: frozenspeed on 2008-09-26 17:18:22
@frozenspeed:
I didn't measure it but to me the new version didn't feel slower. Even on the contrary I had the impression that it got even faster.



Yea, it was me being an idiot actually- I'd post results bt there's really no point. I was distracted and overlooked that I was doing some intensive stuff in the background. When the codec gets all the resources it wants I can get 2 threads going around 41x
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: micmac on 2008-09-26 18:09:10
For now I'll keep using the Windows binary with Wine instead of the native Linux binary

Code: [Select]
sk@jigsaw:~$ time neroAacEnc -q 0.39 -lc -if 09.\ Suicide\ \&\ Redemption\ -\ Metallica.wav -of 09.\ Suicide\ \&\ Redemption\ -\ Metallica.m4a
*************************************************************
*                                                           *
*  Nero AAC Encoder                                         *
*  Copyright 2008 Nero AG                                   *
*  All Rights Reserved Worldwide                            *
*                                                           *
*  Package build date: Sep 17 2008                          *
*  Package version:    1.3.3.0                              *
*                                                           *
*  See -help for a complete list of available parameters.   *
*                                                           *
*************************************************************

Processed 597 seconds...

real    1m37.398s
user    1m20.873s
sys    0m0.708s
sk@jigsaw:~$ time wine neroAacEnc -q 0.39 -lc -if 09.\ Suicide\ \&\ Redemption\ -\ Metallica.wav -of 09.\ Suicide\ \&\ Redemption\ -\ Metallica.m4a
*************************************************************
*                                                           *
*  Nero AAC Encoder                                         *
*  Copyright 2008 Nero AG                                   *
*  All Rights Reserved Worldwide                            *
*                                                           *
*  Package build date: Sep 17 2008                          *
*  Package version:    1.3.3.0                              *
*                                                           *
*  See -help for a complete list of available parameters.   *
*                                                           *
*************************************************************

Processed 597 seconds...

real    1m1.443s
user    0m52.747s
sys    0m0.800s
sk@jigsaw:~$
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: skamp on 2008-09-26 19:42:44
Same observation on my Atom N270 running Arch Linux (the win32 binary with wine runs faster than the linux binary). Maybe you could try making static binaries with Intel's compiler?

Edit: same with my Phenom 9600.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: sketchy_c on 2008-09-29 09:53:27
Just a note that the download link in the initial post didn't work for me.  I found the codec here: http://www.nero.com/eng/downloads-nerodigi...o-aac-codec.php (http://www.nero.com/eng/downloads-nerodigital-nero-aac-codec.php)

Thanks again for all the work you put into this.  Definitely my AAC of choice.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: menno on 2008-09-29 15:05:05
Thanks for posting that link sketchy_c, I updated the first post.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Sylph on 2008-09-29 18:38:24
How come that Nero 9 has less customizations for output formats for ripping CDs?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: lifers5555 on 2008-09-30 08:01:11
Hmm, I'm experiencing a problem playing back 6 (5.1) channel sound with libfaad2 (in the latest ffdshow) and the built in AAC decoder in Media Player Classic encoded with the new 1.3.3.0 codec. Everything has an odd underwater echo.

The problem doesn't occur with the latest version of Winamp and in_mp4.dll

The problem doesn't occur with any of the above programs with 2 channel.

See http://pcdom.com.au/neroaac/ (http://pcdom.com.au/neroaac/) for examples.

Thanks,

Dom.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: hiten on 2008-09-30 08:24:57
Thank you very much for this new version.

I'd like to inform you that the release notes page hasn't been updated
http://www.nero.com/eng/nda-release-notes.html (http://www.nero.com/eng/nda-release-notes.html)
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Brent on 2008-09-30 14:30:28
Thanks for posting that link sketchy_c, I updated the first post.

Any comment on why the Linux build is slower than the Windows build in Wine?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: lvqcl on 2008-09-30 15:28:21
Any comment on why the Linux build is slower than the Windows build in Wine?

Just a guess: Windows version was built with Intel compiler (and it uses IPP - intel performance primitives), and Linux version was built with GCC?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: menno on 2008-09-30 16:22:10
Hmm, I'm experiencing a problem playing back 6 (5.1) channel sound with libfaad2 (in the latest ffdshow) and the built in AAC decoder in Media Player Classic encoded with the new 1.3.3.0 codec. Everything has an odd underwater echo.

The problem doesn't occur with the latest version of Winamp and in_mp4.dll

The problem doesn't occur with any of the above programs with 2 channel.

See http://pcdom.com.au/neroaac/ (http://pcdom.com.au/neroaac/) for examples.

Thanks,

Dom.


This seems to be a problem with those players specifically, probably downmixing incorrectly or wrong channel ordering. I tried latest FAAD2 libraries and it sounds fine. It could be an old bug in FAAD2 too, but only if those players still use very old versions of it (which is very possible).
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Sylph on 2008-10-01 10:32:36
So no one knows why the customizations were dropped and why there's no LAME plugin for Nero (used to be there for version 8)?

(http://img32.picoodle.com/img/img32/3/10/1/f_Capture2m_9a01d43.jpg)
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: muaddib on 2008-10-01 12:58:08
So no one knows why the customizations were dropped and why there's no LAME plugin for Nero (used to be there for version 8)?

New improved Lame and MP4 plugins are there in Nero9. You will have to use "Encode Files" dialog to access them.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Sylph on 2008-10-01 13:08:29

So no one knows why the customizations were dropped and why there's no LAME plugin for Nero (used to be there for version 8)?

New improved Lame and MP4 plugins are there in Nero9. You will have to use "Encode Files" dialog to access them.


OK, but with that dialogue I can't rip a CD, or can I? Would I first have to use Save Tracks as WAVs and then encode them or...?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: muaddib on 2008-10-01 13:23:55
New improved Lame and MP4 plugins are there in Nero9. You will have to use "Encode Files" dialog to access them.
OK, but with that dialogue I can't rip a CD, or can I? Would I first have to use Save Tracks as WAVs and then encode them or...?

Yes, you are right. You first have to save tracks to WAVs. But I believe that this is topic for a separate thread where it could be further discussed.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: singaiya on 2008-10-05 05:58:46
I encoded a few albums with the new codec using my old settings of -q 0.25 lc, which forces LC and usually averages about 100 kbps. It's always been transparent like that but right away I suspected something was wrong because now there was swishy cymbals. Maybe it's just when forcing LC -- I haven't tried not using that switch yet. But the reason I use it is because I've noticed that when I try to average 100 kbps many times it picks HE profile to use and I don't want that (ipod).

As you can see in the log, I was sure of my choice in each trial within seconds -- it wasn't even hard and it's basic rock and roll not a known killer sample. It's the absolute first thing I happened to encode and listen to with this encoder. And the rest of the album sounds that bad too with this setting.

This song averages 103 kbps. Edit: It is 65 kbps. The -q values have been remapped since the Feb 2007 encoder two versions ago, which is what I have been using all this time. See my next post for tests that produce 103 kbps.

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.3 report
foobar2000 v0.9.5.2
2008/10/04 21:36:14

File A: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Young Fresh Fellows\[] When We Were Good\16. Searchin' U.S.A..lossy.tak
File B: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Young Fresh Fellows\Topsy Turvy\01. Searchin' U.S.A..m4a

21:36:14 : Test started.
21:36:59 : 01/01  50.0%
21:37:10 : 02/02  25.0%
21:37:20 : 03/03  12.5%
21:37:25 : 04/04  6.3%
21:37:31 : 05/05  3.1%
21:37:38 : 06/06  1.6%
21:37:47 : 07/07  0.8%
21:37:51 : 08/08  0.4%
21:37:57 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 8/8 (0.4%)
.
edit: just to verify, I also did an abx with my older version (feb nero) and had no hope abx'ing it (1/3 and I gave up because the 1 was a lucky guess anyway). Could someone else please try any random song at that setting on the new encoder to get another statistic?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: melomaniac on 2008-10-05 10:24:53
Could you try q 0.35 please? I also have an iPod and I've never had a HE file with that preset (bitrate ~100-105 kbps).
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: zombiewerewolf on 2008-10-05 10:59:12
Here is my ABX result of Nero -q 0.25 -lc, a quick test, only one song.

Difference between Original and encoded files is pretty obvious.
Difference between 1.1.34.2 and 1.3.3.0 is more subtle but still noticeable.

Personally I prefer sound produced by version 1.3.3.0.
I feel that 1.1.34.2 produces a little bit like under-water kind of sound.

Simple Plan - 06 Generation (NERO 1.1.34.2).mp4 = 102 Kbps, 2,360,294 bytes
Simple Plan - 06 Generation (NERO 1.3.3.0).mp4 = 84.6 Kbps 1,967,167 bytes

Code: [Select]
ABC/HR Version 1.1 beta 2, 18 June 2004
Testname: Nero -q 0.25 LC

1R = C:\!TEMP\Listening Test\Simple Plan - 06 Generation (NERO 1.3.3.0).wav
2R = C:\!TEMP\Listening Test\Simple Plan - 06 Generation (NERO 1.1.34.2).wav

---------------------------------------
General Comments:

---------------------------------------
1R File: C:\!TEMP\Listening Test\Simple Plan - 06 Generation (NERO 1.3.3.0).wav
1R Rating: 4.5
1R Comment:
---------------------------------------
2R File: C:\!TEMP\Listening Test\Simple Plan - 06 Generation (NERO 1.1.34.2).wav
2R Rating: 4.0
2R Comment:
---------------------------------------
ABX Results:
Original vs C:\!TEMP\Listening Test\Simple Plan - 06 Generation (NERO 1.3.3.0).wav
    10 out of 10, pval < 0.001
Original vs C:\!TEMP\Listening Test\Simple Plan - 06 Generation (NERO 1.1.34.2).wav
    10 out of 10, pval < 0.001
C:\!TEMP\Listening Test\Simple Plan - 06 Generation (NERO 1.3.3.0).wav vs C:\!TEMP\Listening Test\Simple Plan - 06 Generation (NERO 1.1.34.2).wav
    19 out of 21, pval < 0.001
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: singaiya on 2008-10-05 19:18:45
More news: one thing to clear up about the awful sound of my last test - apparently the bitrate of the song I tested at 0.25 LC was 65 kbps. When I wrote 103, that is what the older Feb version produces with this setting, which I failed to ABX. So at 65 kbps of course it will sound awful.

Then I tried 1.3.3.0 at both 0.35 LC and 0.35 without LC, from your suggestion, melomaniac. This time both came out at 103 kbps but still easily ABX-able. I will continue to use the older Feb encoder.

Nero 1.3.3.0 -q 0.35 -LC (103 kbps):
Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.3 report
foobar2000 v0.9.5.2
2008/10/05 10:53:49

File A: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Young Fresh Fellows\[] When We Were Good\16. Searchin' U.S.A..lossy.tak
File B: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Young Fresh Fellows\[] When We Were Good\Young Fresh Fellows\Topsy Turvy\01. Searchin' U.S.A..m4a

10:53:49 : Test started.
10:54:51 : 01/01  50.0%
10:55:05 : 02/02  25.0%
10:55:15 : 03/03  12.5%
10:55:31 : 04/04  6.3%
10:55:42 : 05/05  3.1%
10:55:57 : 06/06  1.6%
10:56:09 : 07/07  0.8%
10:56:27 : 08/08  0.4%
10:56:31 : Test finished.

----------
Total: 8/8 (0.4%)


Nero 1.3.3.0 -q 0.35 (no forcing -LC, still 103 kbps):
Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.3 report
foobar2000 v0.9.5.2
2008/10/05 10:58:57

File A: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Young Fresh Fellows\[] When We Were Good\16. Searchin' U.S.A..lossy.tak
File B: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Young Fresh Fellows\[] When We Were Good\16. Searchin' U.S.A..lossy.m4a

10:58:57 : Test started.
10:59:30 : 01/01  50.0%
10:59:49 : 02/02  25.0%
11:00:09 : 03/03  12.5%
11:00:28 : 04/04  6.3%
11:00:49 : 05/05  3.1%
11:00:59 : 06/06  1.6%
11:01:08 : 07/07  0.8%
11:01:22 : 08/08  0.4%
11:01:24 : Test finished.

----------
Total: 8/8 (0.4%)
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: melomaniac on 2008-10-05 19:56:00
Maybe you should post your sample. See if anyone else could detect this problem at upper bitrates.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: lvqcl on 2008-10-05 19:57:18
Nero 1.3.3.0 -q 0.35 (no forcing -LC, still 103 kbps):


NeroAacEnc 1.3.3.0 uses AAC SBR for -q 0.3 and below. For -q 0.31 and above it uses AAC LC by default.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: singaiya on 2008-10-05 20:34:24
A killer sample then !    Hope that the developers will take it in consideration. Of course, q 0.35 is not always transparent but to me, for portable use, it's more than enough. Thank you singaiya for posting your tests.

P.S. Maybe you should post your sample. See if /mnt's golden ears or anyone else could detect this problem at upper bitrates.


I still don't consider it a killer sample in the sense that other killer samples usually have sparse instrumentation to minimize masking effects and let artifacts stand out more. Here I'm not hearing specific artifacts except a general sound quality issue and perhaps less air and a more smeary dull sound. I kind of think that if I chose to spend enough time I could ABX every song on this album. This one just happens to be the first track on it and I gave it a go. But there's also the fact that I failed to ABX with the older encoder at this same bitrate.

I'll upload the first 30 seconds in the uploads forum.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: IgorC on 2008-10-05 20:50:11
Also take in count that for same -q value 1.3.3 produces higher bitrate (approx. 5% here for complete discographies of bands).  So if somebody compare old and new versions first step will be find equivalent -q values for each one.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: singaiya on 2008-10-05 21:00:48
Yes, that is what melomaniac pointed out. Although in my case, I was coming from two versions ago (February 2007 encoder) and for the same -q value the bitrate went way down. That's why I retested using his -q value.

To summarize my results on this song:

Feb 2007 -q 0.25 -LC -> 103 kbps -> failed ABX
1.3.3.0 -q 0.25 -LC -> 65 kbps -> passed ABX (of course)
1.3.3.0 -q 0.35 -> 103 kbps -> passed ABX
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Lear on 2008-10-21 19:48:59
I made a quick test using 1.3.3.0 on a couple of killer samples, and for one, applaud, it was easy to hear a difference. There's some noise added, that can be heard pretty much all the time. I used the following options for neroAacEnc in Foobar: "-q 0.4 -ignorelength -if - -of %d". The bitrate was 152 kbps.

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.3 report
foobar2000 v0.9.5.5
2008/10/21 20:01:53

File A: E:\Test\Test cases\applaud.wav
File B: E:\Temp\Foobar\Nero Q 0.40\applaud.mp4

20:01:53 : Test started.
20:02:37 : 01/01  50.0%
20:03:07 : 02/02  25.0%
20:03:22 : 03/03  12.5%
20:03:41 : 04/04  6.3%
20:03:59 : 05/05  3.1%
20:04:12 : 06/06  1.6%
20:04:26 : 07/07  0.8%
20:04:42 : 08/08  0.4%
20:04:49 : Test finished.

----------
Total: 8/8 (0.4%)

None of the other killer samples tested (castanets, fatboy, goldc, velvet) had the extra noise. Also made a very quick test with version 1.1.34.2 of the encoder, and it seemed to have the same problem (only tested applaud, and didn't ABX).
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: /mnt on 2008-10-21 20:54:07
I have seem to have a few possible ringing issues at 0.50 and even 0.55 with some tracks i tested out. Which seems to appear on cymbals.

Here is a few ABX test i did with the latest version of Nero AAC at q 0.50. Also these problems still appear on the older Feb 07 version aswell.

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.3 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6 beta 1
2008/10/21 20:17:57

File A: C:\Rips\Marilyn Manson - Lest We Forget (The Best Of)\01. The Love Song.flac
File B: C:\Temp\The Love Song q 0.50.mp4

20:17:57 : Test started.
20:18:14 : 01/01  50.0%
20:18:18 : 02/02  25.0%
20:18:22 : 03/03  12.5%
20:18:32 : 04/04  6.3%
20:18:41 : 05/05  3.1%
20:18:49 : 06/06  1.6%
20:18:56 : 07/07  0.8%
20:19:02 : 08/08  0.4%
20:19:11 : 09/09  0.2%
20:19:21 : 10/10  0.1%
20:19:25 : 11/11  0.0%
20:19:31 : 12/12  0.0%
20:19:32 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 12/12 (0.0%)

At the start of the track, the drum cymbals sound really annoying and very easy to notice; it could be ringing. Am not sure though, if its a ringing artifact since am not sensitive to ringing.

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.3 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6 beta 1
2008/10/21 20:21:07

File A: C:\Rips\Metallica - Ride The Lightning\07. Creeping Death.flac
File B: C:\Temp\Creeping Death q 0.50.mp4

20:21:07 : Test started.
20:21:41 : 01/01  50.0%
20:21:48 : 02/02  25.0%
20:21:52 : 03/03  12.5%
20:21:58 : 04/04  6.3%
20:22:03 : 05/05  3.1%
20:22:09 : 06/06  1.6%
20:22:15 : 07/07  0.8%
20:22:20 : 08/08  0.4%
20:22:28 : 09/09  0.2%
20:22:33 : 10/10  0.1%
20:22:41 : 11/11  0.0%
20:22:47 : 12/12  0.0%
20:22:48 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 12/12 (0.0%)

Same issue as above at around 0:10.

Anyway i will upload the samples ASAP, if anyone else wants to see if they can spot the problem aswell.

I have uploaded the samples (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=4708)
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: muaddib on 2008-10-22 09:10:37
Thank you very much for reporting issues. We'll try to address these and other quality issues in our next release.

I made a quick test using 1.3.3.0 on a couple of killer samples, and for one, applaud, it was easy to hear a difference.

Can you please give the link to the place where you obtained this sample?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Lear on 2008-10-22 14:39:10
Can you please give the link to the place where you obtained this sample?


Hm, that was years ago, but I'm pretty sure it is the same as applaud.wv here:

http://lame.sourceforge.net/download/samples/ (http://lame.sourceforge.net/download/samples/)
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Supacon on 2008-10-30 02:58:51
Quote
Solved compatibility issues with some hardware devices


Ironically, my new AAC files no longer will play in my car stereo or in iPods.  I didn't have this problem before with nero's encoder.  What's up with that?  Am I alone in discovering this?

I'm using foobar2000 v9.5.2 with the builtin Nero AAC Encoder presets, quality of 0.31 and 0.4 and I've even tried forcing LC mode.  No difference.  Previously anything over 0.31 would playback fine in such hardware devices (anything over 0.31 tends to be encoded as AAC-LC).
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Sartre on 2008-10-30 03:38:20
The latest version appears to apply a 18k (or lower) lowpass on everything, regardless of bitrate. I convert to 400kbps VBR with Foobar and never had the top end chopped off at this bit rate with previous versions.

Here's a spectral graph of the Pixies "Distance equals rate times time" converted from a FLAC file.

Original FLAC

(http://img106.imagevenue.com/loc495/th_37041_Pixies_original_flac-1_122_495lo.jpg) (http://img106.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=37041_Pixies_original_flac-1_122_495lo.jpg)

Feb 2007 Neroaacenc 400kbps VBR

(http://img103.imagevenue.com/loc1099/th_36303_400vbr-feb2007_122_1099lo.jpg) (http://img103.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=36303_400vbr-feb2007_122_1099lo.jpg)

Sept 2008 Neroaacenc 400kbps VBR

(http://img218.imagevenue.com/loc532/th_36304_400vbr-sept2008_122_532lo.jpg) (http://img218.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=36304_400vbr-sept2008_122_532lo.jpg)
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: menno on 2008-10-30 14:35:57
Can you post the exact command line you used?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Sartre on 2008-10-30 15:13:14
Can you post the exact command line you used?


I use Foobar which has a graphical interface to the program but selecting custom shows command line options for the previous setting which are (for Q1.00/~400kbps):

-q 1.00 -ignorelength -if - -of %d

The only file that didn't show a 18k lowpass was a 24bit/96khz wav file I also converted at Q 1.00 but the final bit rate was ~850kbps.

Edit: I just did a conversion of Pink Floyd - Money (from WAV) using the following command line in Foobar: 

-br 400000 -ignorelength -if - -of %d

with the same result - a clear 18k lowpass.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: matt_t on 2008-10-30 15:46:33
Thanks for this release, I have been waiting for it ever since I found out that Creative Zen and Xbox 360 compatibility issues would be fixed.


Can someone confirm that the Zen compatibility thing has indeed been fixed. I'm thinking about buying a new player, probably a Zen or a Sony Walkman, and this would be a useful piece of info.

Thanks!
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: menno on 2008-10-30 15:50:07

Can you post the exact command line you used?


I use Foobar which has a graphical interface to the program but selecting custom shows command line options for the previous setting which are (for Q1.00/~400kbps):

-q 1.00 -ignorelength -if - -of %d

The only file that didn't show a 18k lowpass was a 24bit/96khz wav file I also converted at Q 1.00 but the final bit rate was ~850kbps.

Edit: I just did a conversion of Pink Floyd - Money (from WAV) using the following command line in Foobar: 

-br 400000 -ignorelength -if - -of %d

with the same result - a clear 18k lowpass.


I just checked. There is no hardcoded cutoff, what you see is the result of psychoacoustics. The question of course is if this behavior is desirable at such bitrates, but our changes have solved some other high bitrate problems (that were audible). We will investigate this for next version.

BTW: Can you ABX the problem?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Sartre on 2008-10-31 04:51:57
I just checked. There is no hardcoded cutoff, what you see is the result of psychoacoustics. The question of course is if this behavior is desirable at such bitrates, but our changes have solved some other high bitrate problems (that were audible). We will investigate this for next version.

BTW: Can you ABX the problem?


With the headphones  I have right now, highly unlikely. It's quite possible, given some of the musical content and my ears, that I wouldn't notice a difference using Senn HD650s, but anyone who chooses to use a bitrate of 400kbps+ should be give the benefit of the doubt. 
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: muaddib on 2008-10-31 09:22:26
There is no hardcoded cutoff, what you see is the result of psychoacoustics. The question of course is if this behavior is desirable at such bitrates, but our changes have solved some other high bitrate problems (that were audible). We will investigate this for next version.
With the headphones  I have right now, highly unlikely. It's quite possible, given some of the musical content and my ears, that I wouldn't notice a difference using Senn HD650s, but anyone who chooses to use a bitrate of 400kbps+ should be give the benefit of the doubt. 

As Menno wrote, psychoacoustics choses here to use available bits on other parts of spectrum. There is no cutoff. Using those bits on content above 18kHz that is not expected to be heard, doesn't mean that quality will be better. It is only about what you hear and not what spectrum looks like.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: llama peter on 2008-11-10 06:40:00
For now I'll keep using the Windows binary with Wine instead of the native Linux binary


Yeah, similar results here.  The win32 binary takes about 3/4 as long as the native linux binary on a 6 channel S24LE input wav file. (c2d e6600).  They're both 32bit binaries , and the Linux one looks like it might well have been compiled with gcc.  Yeah, strings -a on the linux binary shows a few instances of
GCC: (GNU) 4.2.1 (Ubuntu 4.2.1-5ubuntu4)
and many of
GCC: (GNU) 4.1.3 20070929 (prerelease) (Ubuntu 4.1.2-16ubuntu2)
and some code assembled with
Microsoft ® Macro Assembler
Dc:\temp\ipptmp_20688\ipptmp_5224\psdp32fv8as\psdp32fv8as_nosplit.obj4
...

The important difference is that the win32 binary makes significant use of SSE2 instructions that operate on packed double-precision floats (e.g. mulpd), while the Linux binary doesn't.  It does have some sse2 code kicking around (e.g. cvtps2pd), but no usage of mulpd.  It uses mulsd in a few places, probably gcc-generated.  If the vector double code was generated by the compiler they used on Windows, then yeah, maybe using the Intel compiler for Linux could help.  If it's hand-written asm, then they're just not finished porting their asm optimizations to Linux yet.

BTW, I just used objdump -d linux/neroAacEnc |less  and  i586-mingw32msvc-objdump -d win32/neroAacEnc.exe | less
and searched for "pd %" to find instructions with names ending in pd.  (pd = packed double [precision float].  sd = scalar double, ps = packed single.)
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: 7@gg on 2008-12-08 20:37:01
Hi,guys
I'v found the same question as "Sartre" said there is a cutoff at the frequency most probably between 16KHz to 18Khz with neroAacEnc.exe 1.3.3.0 whatever the -q setting even at q=1.

And I'v found more that this new release 1.3.3.0 can't set -lc mode.When you set command e.g.
-q 1 -lc -ignorelength -if - -of %d
The result that adobe audition(1.5 with faac&id3lib) shows always AAC HE.

First time,I realize maybe id3lib was too old,but checked it was newest.I also read about faac that only LC mode maybe it can't decode HE AAC that lose the high frequency.

Then I install nero 6.0 and nero aac for audition(Nero MPEG-4 filter 0.0.3).That include aac.dll(2.5.9.991) aacenc32.dll(3.2.0.20).
And use this plugin to translate the same .flac sample to nero aac HE and/or LC mode that show no longer cutoff frequency and keep it perfect spectrum from highest solution(250~300kbps) to even low HE_aac at 30~40kbps.
Indeed,using faac&id3lib filter or nero aac plugin filter separately can both recognize HE and LC mode made by nero aac plugin for audition but not neroAacEnc.exe 1.3.3.0 made.

So,whatever you set command -lc or leave it as default -he ,neroAacEnc.exe 1.3.3.0  always produces only HE_AAC,and also its lowpass cutoff problem,is that so?

ps: I  certainly agree "muaddib" said "It is only about what you hear and not what spectrum looks like",but as the equipments go better that lowpass cutoff too low will affect the quality.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: menno on 2008-12-08 21:23:59
HE AAC is definately not used at -q 1.0, your decoding software simply shows it incorrectly. Old versions of FAAD2 reports HE explicitly turned off incorrectly (as turned on).
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: 7@gg on 2008-12-09 02:00:58
HE AAC is definately not used at -q 1.0, your decoding software simply shows it incorrectly. Old versions of FAAD2 reports HE explicitly turned off incorrectly (as turned on).


I'v tried -q 0.3 to 1.0 too.

Is there a way to detect whether HE_AAC or LC_AAC ?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: menno on 2008-12-09 02:43:13
FAAD2 has been bugfixed, but you will need to find a recent compile. Foobar2000 also shows the information correctly AFAIK
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: 7@gg on 2008-12-09 07:11:19
FAAD2 has been bugfixed, but you will need to find a recent compile. Foobar2000 also shows the information correctly AFAIK


foobar2000 shows out its codec profile just right as encoder set.
FAAD2 ,see whether I can compile one and then try it again.

But,the lowpass cutoff now should be confirmed for now I have tested with nero 9.2.5.0 nero_WaveEditor.
It shows the same result as AA gives.
Maybe I guess that the new release keeps the bitrates a priority at energy focus place or quantification?
that's weird every convert results the same cutoff frequency 18KHz and some 16KHz if there is low energy between 16KHz and 18KHz.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: muaddib on 2008-12-09 09:55:01
ps: I  certainly agree "muaddib" said "It is only about what you hear and not what spectrum looks like",but as the equipments go better that lowpass cutoff too low will affect the quality.

"The equipments" is already good enough. It is your (and mine) ears that can not detect the whole spectrum and for sure this will not improve as we grow older. And it is not only because somebody can not hear some high frequencies but also because higher frequencies are masked by signal from lower frequencies. As I already wrote, it is important what you hear and not what music looks like in a spectrum analyzer. Please do ABX test and if you prove that you hear difference then please report the sample for which it is the case.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: kornchild2002 on 2009-01-12 08:47:24
We hope that you'll give new encoder a try even if you don't get iPod control unit
Your findings were very helpful.


I know this is an old post but I didn't see it when it was posted and I always try to reply when a developer takes the time to directly reply to one of my posts.

I purchased the iPod integration kit today and it is great.  My main concern was using my Civic's auxiliary port which produces inferior results when compared to an mp3 CD, WMA CD, and standard audio CD.  The bass would increase and the highs would be muddled.  I tried changing the EQ on the deck and on my iPod with no luck.  I guess an analog connection, in my car, just can't compare to a digital connection.

I was able to find Honda's iPod connectivity kit and get it installed by the dealership for $150 in all, not too bad.  I have an old 4G 40GB iPod that I now keep permanently in my car.  The iPod kit uses a digital connection for the audio.  It uses the same connection as the 6 disc changer that goes in the trunk.  I cannot hear any noticeable differences between playing a mp3 file on a data disc and through the iPod connection kit (it is really hard to do it blindly but I am still satisfied).

So I am now switching to the new Nero AAC encoder at the -q0.40 setting.  foobar2000 will be encoding my lossless library overnight (for three total days of encoding).  I just wish that my PS3 supported the iTunes/Apple tagging standard.  Oh well, at least the files (and track tags) will be displayed on my Xbox 360 and Apple TV.  I prefer to use my Apple TV for media streaming but there are times when I want to use my PS3 due to my PS3 being hooked up to a different system.

I conducted blind ABX tests and think that the -q0.40 setting is too much for my ears but the files produced come out to around the same file size at 128kbps VBR iTunes AAC files (sometimes the files are 0.1 MB higher and sometimes they are 0.1MB lower).  All-in-all I am really pleased with the new encoder.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: seVen on 2009-01-12 13:51:36
I just wish that my PS3 supported the iTunes/Apple tagging standard


...and this is really ridiculous from Sony and his "flagship" since their Walkman portable players and even the PSP read the AAC tags fine. I hope to not wait PS4...
Anyway, even the X360 is in the same situation so i can't understand for both why support a format at half... 
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: kornchild2002 on 2009-01-12 20:56:20
Xbox 360 can read AAC tags when an iPod or Zune are plugged into it and when I use media streaming software such as the Zune software.  They are on the right path.  AAC tags still have issues when reading from other USB devices and data CDs/DVDs.  This is still better than the PS3 as I either have to go through the painful process of converting my tags and putting my AAC files in a 3GP container or I can use a media streaming application that will transcode the files on-the-fly.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: seVen on 2009-01-13 00:45:28
This is still better than the PS3...


I don't think because the worse thing of X360 is that doesn't has only tags issues but also doesn't play all the files... I tried 2 iTunes+ (so no DRM) albums that totally refuse to play. PS3 play them fine...
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: sidewalking on 2009-01-13 04:32:19
Tagging standards are a pain.   

kornchild2002: Are you having any gapless playback issues on these devices?  I keep running into snags with gapless playback on Nero files (the last three releases) unless I transcode using Foobar.  If I use Dbpoweramp's converter or even ripping straight from EAC, I find gapless issues in Winamp and Rockbox.  iTunes-encoded AAC is still gapless.  It is frustrating, because Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, The Fragile, etc. are painful when you get kicked in that stomach unexpectedly for that nanosecond of a song transition!  I think gapless playback moves up to my top priority in choosing a codec.  Nero, from what I understand, is fully gapless-compliant, but that only is as good as the encoding process used and then the decoder/player support.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: kornchild2002 on 2009-01-13 05:40:29
I don't have any gapless issues with Nero AAC.  Then again, I use iTunes to sync my AAC files to my iPod.  iTunes has to scan the files for gapless playback first but I don't have any issues after that.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: /mnt on 2009-03-16 23:58:41
I found another killer sample (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=67882&view=findpost&p=619832) that Nero AAC really struggles on. Which IMO sounds like a Blade encoding at q 0.40 - 0.55:

Nero AAC 1.3.3.0 q 0.50

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.3 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.3
2009/03/16 21:17:58

File A: C:\Temp\Linchpin [Edit].flac
File B: C:\Temp\Linchpin.mp4

21:17:58 : Test started.
21:18:22 : 01/01  50.0%
21:18:34 : 02/02  25.0%
21:18:47 : 03/03  12.5%
21:19:04 : 04/04  6.3%
21:19:18 : 05/05  3.1%
21:19:31 : 06/06  1.6%
21:19:43 : 07/07  0.8%
21:19:49 : 08/08  0.4%
21:19:57 : 09/09  0.2%
21:20:07 : 10/10  0.1%
21:20:23 : 11/11  0.0%
21:20:38 : 12/12  0.0%
21:20:39 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 12/12 (0.0%)

Warbling and smear. Very easy to ABX

q 0.55

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.3 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.3
2009/03/16 21:21:37

File A: C:\Temp\Linchpin [Edit].flac
File B: C:\Temp\Linchpin q 0.55.m4a

21:21:37 : Test started.
21:21:53 : 01/01  50.0%
21:22:06 : 02/02  25.0%
21:22:19 : 02/03  50.0%
21:22:25 : 03/04  31.3%
21:22:35 : 04/05  18.8%
21:22:39 : 05/06  10.9%
21:22:51 : 06/07  6.3%
21:23:09 : 06/08  14.5%
21:23:14 : 07/09  9.0%
21:23:24 : 07/10  17.2%
21:23:28 : 08/11  11.3%
21:23:32 : 09/12  7.3%
21:23:40 : 10/13  4.6%
21:23:45 : 11/14  2.9%
21:23:54 : 12/15  1.8%
21:24:06 : 13/16  1.1%
21:24:14 : 14/17  0.6%
21:24:18 : 15/18  0.4%
21:24:23 : 16/19  0.2%
21:24:30 : 17/20  0.1%
21:24:45 : 18/21  0.1%
21:24:53 : 19/22  0.0%
21:24:55 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 19/22 (0.0%)

Smearing gone; but some warbling on the guitar. Hard to ABX.

The sample is transparent with Quicktime VBR AAC; I posted the logs on this topic (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=67882&view=findpost&p=621780), also rpp3po can ABX this sample aswell.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: muaddib on 2009-03-17 10:12:15
Thanks for reporting it. Taken into account for the next release.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: DAKnn on 2009-03-18 14:24:01
I too confirm version 1.3.3.0 problem appears to apply a 18k (or lower) lowpass on everything, regardless of bitrate.
In version 1.1.34.2 of such problems was not.

Whether it is planned to use technology NVidia CUDA for speed increase in tens times? 
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: muaddib on 2009-03-19 10:47:36
I too confirm version 1.3.3.0 problem appears to apply a 18k (or lower) lowpass on everything, regardless of bitrate.
In version 1.1.34.2 of such problems was not.

Whether it is planned to use technology NVidia CUDA for speed increase in tens times? 


"Low-pass" that you noticed was already discussed and is not fixed low-pass but product of psychoacoustic analysis on specific samples during encoding.
Do you hear on any file this reduction of frequencies above 18kHz? Can you prove it with ABX? If you find any sample that you can ABX because of >18kHz reduction, can you try that sample with 1.1.34.2 and try to ABX it with that version? If you don't hear differences with 1.1.34.2 for that sample. can you then apply 18kHz low-pass to decoded output and try to ABX it then?

NVidia CUDA wouldn't improve speed much. Too complicated to implement for small speed improvements for small number of people with powerful enough PCs.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: /mnt on 2009-05-05 22:06:12
I have a few more samples that produce noticable artifacts at low bitrates.

I know that -q 30 is far from transparent, but that setting seems to really struggle with vocals on this sample:

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.5
2009/05/05 21:41:14

File A: C:\Temp\Birthday Dethday [Edit] -q 30.mp4
File B: C:\Temp\Birthday Dethday [Edit].flac

21:41:14 : Test started.
21:41:27 : 01/01  50.0%
21:41:34 : 02/02  25.0%
21:41:44 : 03/03  12.5%
21:41:50 : 04/04  6.3%
21:41:56 : 05/05  3.1%
21:42:01 : 06/06  1.6%
21:42:07 : 07/07  0.8%
21:42:13 : 08/08  0.4%
21:42:19 : 09/09  0.2%
21:42:24 : 10/10  0.1%
21:42:30 : 11/11  0.0%
21:42:35 : 12/12  0.0%
21:42:39 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 12/12 (0.0%)

Underwater volcals.

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.5
2009/05/05 21:43:20

File A: C:\Temp\Birthday Dethday [Edit] -q 30.mp4
File B: C:\Temp\Birthday Dethday [Edit] V8.mp3

21:43:20 : Test started.
21:43:32 : 01/01  50.0%
21:43:38 : 02/02  25.0%
21:43:48 : 03/03  12.5%
21:43:54 : 04/04  6.3%
21:43:59 : 05/05  3.1%
21:44:07 : 06/06  1.6%
21:44:15 : 07/07  0.8%
21:44:19 : 08/08  0.4%
21:44:25 : 09/09  0.2%
21:44:31 : 10/10  0.1%
21:44:32 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 10/10 (0.1%)

Vocals are lot more clearer on the LAME V8 encode. IMO the LAME V8 encode sounds better, even if the drums sound worse.

Also I found a noticable artifact on start of a track at -q 0.50:

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.5
2009/05/05 21:13:40

File A: F:\Music\Albums\Skinny Puppy - Too Dark Park\01. Convulsion.flac
File B: C:\Temp\Convulsion (Nero AAC 1.3.3.0 -q 0.50).m4a

21:13:40 : Test started.
21:14:06 : 01/01  50.0%
21:14:11 : 02/02  25.0%
21:14:18 : 03/03  12.5%
21:14:29 : 04/04  6.3%
21:14:35 : 05/05  3.1%
21:14:44 : 06/06  1.6%
21:14:52 : 07/07  0.8%
21:15:04 : 08/08  0.4%
21:15:16 : 09/09  0.2%
21:15:26 : 10/10  0.1%
21:15:33 : 11/11  0.0%
21:15:40 : 11/12  0.3%
21:15:43 : 12/13  0.2%
21:15:49 : 13/14  0.1%
21:15:54 : 14/15  0.0%
21:16:06 : 15/16  0.0%
21:16:14 : 16/17  0.0%
21:16:20 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 16/17 (0.0%)

Artifact appears around at 0:04.

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.5
2009/05/05 21:17:20

File A: F:\Music\Albums\Skinny Puppy - Too Dark Park\01. Convulsion.flac
File B: C:\Temp\Convulsion (Nero AAC 1.3.3.0 -q 0.55).m4a

21:17:20 : Test started.
21:17:51 : 00/01  100.0%
21:17:55 : 01/02  75.0%
21:18:03 : 02/03  50.0%
21:18:10 : 03/04  31.3%
21:18:22 : 04/05  18.8%
21:18:36 : 04/06  34.4%
21:18:45 : 04/07  50.0%
21:18:48 : 05/08  36.3%
21:18:53 : 05/09  50.0%
21:19:00 : 06/10  37.7%
21:19:06 : 07/11  27.4%
21:19:12 : 08/12  19.4%
21:19:31 : 08/13  29.1%
21:19:38 : 08/14  39.5%
21:19:42 : 08/15  50.0%
21:19:47 : 09/16  40.2%
21:19:50 : 10/17  31.5%
21:19:58 : 11/18  24.0%
21:20:03 : 12/19  18.0%
21:20:12 : 13/20  13.2%
21:20:21 : 14/21  9.5%
21:20:27 : 15/22  6.7%
21:20:33 : 16/23  4.7%
21:20:39 : 17/24  3.2%
21:20:43 : 17/25  5.4%
21:20:49 : 18/26  3.8%
21:20:55 : 19/27  2.6%
21:21:01 : 19/28  4.4%
21:21:03 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 19/28 (4.4%)

I think its still almost there, but i gave up.

Samples:

Birthday Dethday (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=5080)
Convulsion (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=5079)
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: /mnt on 2009-05-06 01:21:50
The Convulsion sample is also ABXable with LAME 3.98.2 at V0:

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.5
2009/05/06 01:12:37

File A: C:\Temp\Convulsion [Edit] V0.mp3
File B: C:\Temp\Convulsion [Edit].flac

01:12:37 : Test started.
01:12:55 : 01/01  50.0%
01:13:05 : 02/02  25.0%
01:13:11 : 02/03  50.0%
01:13:15 : 03/04  31.3%
01:13:20 : 04/05  18.8%
01:13:26 : 05/06  10.9%
01:13:34 : 06/07  6.3%
01:13:41 : 07/08  3.5%
01:13:49 : 08/09  2.0%
01:13:56 : 09/10  1.1%
01:14:19 : 10/11  0.6%
01:14:24 : 11/12  0.3%
01:14:30 : 11/13  1.1%
01:14:34 : 12/14  0.6%
01:14:40 : 13/15  0.4%
01:14:48 : 14/16  0.2%
01:15:01 : 15/17  0.1%
01:15:09 : 16/18  0.1%
01:15:16 : 17/19  0.0%
01:15:21 : 18/20  0.0%
01:15:29 : 19/21  0.0%
01:15:38 : 19/22  0.0%
01:15:52 : 20/23  0.0%
01:16:02 : 21/24  0.0%
01:16:08 : 22/25  0.0%
01:16:12 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 22/25 (0.0%)

Precho hits at over 0:04.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: menno on 2009-05-06 01:38:47
Thanks for the report, we will look into it.
At -q 0.3 the encoder uses SBR, I guess this is a sample that sounds worse with SBR than without (around that bitrate at least).
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: /mnt on 2009-05-06 02:07:25
Thanks for the report, we will look into it.
At -q 0.3 the encoder uses SBR, I guess this is a sample that sounds worse with SBR than without (around that bitrate at least).

I've tested it with -q 0.3 -lc switch, which uses the LC profile, and it does seem to be a SBR issue.

-q 0.30 -lc

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.5
2009/05/06 01:56:01

File A: C:\Temp\Birthday Dethday [Edit].flac
File B: C:\Temp\Birthday Dethday [Edit].m4a

01:56:01 : Test started.
01:56:12 : 01/01  50.0%
01:56:21 : 02/02  25.0%
01:56:26 : 03/03  12.5%
01:56:33 : 04/04  6.3%
01:56:45 : 05/05  3.1%
01:56:55 : 06/06  1.6%
01:57:02 : 07/07  0.8%
01:57:10 : 08/08  0.4%
01:57:17 : 09/09  0.2%
01:57:22 : 10/10  0.1%
01:57:24 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 10/10 (0.1%)

Drums sound bad, just like the LAME V8 encode; but the vocals are clear.

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.5
2009/05/06 01:57:55

File A: C:\Temp\Birthday Dethday [Edit] -q 30.mp4
File B: C:\Temp\Birthday Dethday [Edit].m4a

01:57:55 : Test started.
01:58:10 : 01/01  50.0%
01:58:13 : 02/02  25.0%
01:58:16 : 03/03  12.5%
01:58:24 : 04/04  6.3%
01:58:28 : 05/05  3.1%
01:58:30 : 06/06  1.6%
01:58:37 : 07/07  0.8%
01:58:40 : 08/08  0.4%
01:58:44 : 09/09  0.2%
01:58:48 : 10/10  0.1%
01:58:59 : 11/11  0.0%
01:59:02 : 12/12  0.0%
01:59:04 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 12/12 (0.0%)

Drums on the SBR version sound better, but the vocals sound awful. I prefer the LC version.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: IgorC on 2009-05-06 08:42:02
Maybe it would be usefull to see this sample too.
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....ost&id=5081 (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=5081)

q 0.41 is ABXable. There is some background warm noise and as effect snare drum sounds sandy. 

Code: [Select]
ABC/HR Version 1.1 beta 2, 18 June 2004
Testname:

1R = C:\samples\Grip Inc Drums\nero_130 .wav

---------------------------------------
General Comments:

---------------------------------------
ABX Results:
Original vs C:\samples\Grip Inc Drums\nero_130 .wav
    5 out of 5, pval = 0.031
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: /mnt on 2009-05-06 12:23:42
q 0.41 is ABXable. There is some background warm noise and as effect snare drum sounds sandy.

I notice there was drum snare on this sample to at -q 0.41.

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.5
2009/05/06 11:52:57

File A: C:\Downloads\Descending_Darkness.flac
File B: C:\Temp\Descending Darkness.mp4

11:52:57 : Test started.
11:53:22 : 01/01  50.0%
11:53:51 : 02/02  25.0%
11:54:20 : 03/03  12.5%
11:54:39 : 03/04  31.3%
11:54:48 : 04/05  18.8%
11:54:54 : 05/06  10.9%
11:55:01 : 06/07  6.3%
11:55:09 : 07/08  3.5%
11:55:17 : 08/09  2.0%
11:55:34 : 09/10  1.1%
11:56:03 : 10/11  0.6%
11:56:16 : 11/12  0.3%
11:56:28 : 12/13  0.2%
11:56:56 : 13/14  0.1%
11:56:58 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 13/14 (0.1%)
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Sylph on 2009-06-02 21:27:31
New Nero is out, any news for the codec?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: menno on 2009-06-02 21:56:27
New Nero is out, any news for the codec?

No, still 1.3.3.x
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: /mnt on 2009-07-25 23:08:18
I've sometimes come across a track that is not transparent at 0.55, but sounds fine at 0.50.

For example Rage Against The Machine's Bulls On Parade:

Nero AAC 1.3.3.0 -q 0.55

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.8
2009/07/25 22:29:15

File A: C:\Temp\Samples\Bulls On Parade (Edit).flac
File B: C:\Temp\Samples\Bulls On Parade (Edit) q 0.55.m4a

22:29:15 : Test started.
22:29:27 : 01/01  50.0%
22:29:32 : 02/02  25.0%
22:29:43 : 03/03  12.5%
22:29:49 : 03/04  31.3%
22:29:55 : 04/05  18.8%
22:30:05 : 05/06  10.9%
22:30:19 : 06/07  6.3%
22:30:27 : 07/08  3.5%
22:30:34 : 08/09  2.0%
22:30:39 : 09/10  1.1%
22:30:43 : 10/11  0.6%
22:30:46 : 11/12  0.3%
22:30:51 : 12/13  0.2%
22:30:55 : 13/14  0.1%
22:31:00 : 14/15  0.0%
22:31:05 : 15/16  0.0%
22:31:11 : 16/17  0.0%
22:31:13 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 16/17 (0.0%)

Stratch noise like artifact at 0:08.

Nero AAC 1.3.3.0 -q 0.50


Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.8
2009/07/25 22:31:40

File A: C:\Temp\Samples\Bulls On Parade (Edit).flac
File B: C:\Temp\Samples\Bulls On Parade (Edit) q 0.50.m4a

22:31:40 : Test started.
22:32:02 : 01/01  50.0%
22:32:09 : 02/02  25.0%
22:32:17 : 02/03  50.0%
22:32:26 : 02/04  68.8%
22:32:34 : 03/05  50.0%
22:32:40 : 03/06  65.6%
22:32:44 : 03/07  77.3%
22:32:53 : 03/08  85.5%
22:33:11 : 04/09  74.6%
22:33:20 : 05/10  62.3%
22:33:30 : 05/11  72.6%
22:33:35 : 05/12  80.6%
22:33:36 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 5/12 (80.6%)

Seems to sound ok to me.

q 0.50 vs q 0.55

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.8
2009/07/25 22:34:01

File A: C:\Temp\Samples\Bulls On Parade (Edit) q 0.50.m4a
File B: C:\Temp\Samples\Bulls On Parade (Edit) q 0.55.m4a

22:34:01 : Test started.
22:34:17 : 01/01  50.0%
22:34:20 : 02/02  25.0%
22:34:24 : 03/03  12.5%
22:34:28 : 04/04  6.3%
22:34:33 : 05/05  3.1%
22:34:37 : 06/06  1.6%
22:34:43 : 07/07  0.8%
22:34:47 : 08/08  0.4%
22:34:51 : 09/09  0.2%
22:34:56 : 10/10  0.1%
22:35:00 : 11/11  0.0%
22:35:06 : 12/12  0.0%
22:35:11 : 13/13  0.0%
22:35:20 : 14/14  0.0%
22:35:24 : 15/15  0.0%
22:35:25 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 15/15 (0.0%)

The q 0.55 encode sounds worse then the 0.50 encode at 0:08.

Also anyone testing out Nero AAC might be interested in this major precho killer sample:

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.8
2009/07/25 22:46:46

File A: C:\Temp\Samples\Show Me Your Spine (Edit).flac
File B: C:\Temp\Samples\Show Me Your Spine (Edit) q 0.50.m4a

22:46:46 : Test started.
22:46:51 : 01/01  50.0%
22:46:58 : 02/02  25.0%
22:47:06 : 03/03  12.5%
22:47:09 : 04/04  6.3%
22:47:17 : 05/05  3.1%
22:47:26 : 06/06  1.6%
22:47:40 : 07/07  0.8%
22:47:56 : 08/08  0.4%
22:48:09 : 09/09  0.2%
22:48:16 : 09/10  1.1%
22:48:23 : 10/11  0.6%
22:48:32 : 11/12  0.3%
22:48:37 : 12/13  0.2%
22:48:55 : 13/14  0.1%
22:49:03 : 14/15  0.0%
22:49:05 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 14/15 (0.0%)

Major precho artifacts from the start, sorta like eig. Sounds miles better then any 320 CBR Mp3 encodes though.

Samples:
Bulls On Parade (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=5246)
Show Me Your Spine (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=4982)
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: 2E7AH on 2009-07-26 07:51:15
I converted WAV file (6.041.498 samples; 2:16.995 length) to AAC using neroaacenc 1.3.3.0
foobar reports correctly encoded file: 2:16.995 (6.041.498 samples)
Audition reports: 2:17.020 (6.042.624 samples)

Then editing AAC file in Audition shows approx. 40 milliseconds shift

Is it something wrong with Audition AAC filter (http://www.rarewares.org/aac-encoders.php#audition-aac) or?

[edit] parameters: -q 0.50 -ignorelength
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: Alexxander on 2009-07-26 14:49:08
I've ABXed "Show Me Your Spine" flac against Nero AAC 1.3.3.0 q0.50 (166kbps) and when listening to the sample with headphone I noticed inmediately some problem with stereo balance at around 4.5 sec:
Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.8
2009/07/26 15:35:40

File A: F:\Temp\Show_Me_Your_Spine__Sample_.flac
File B: F:\Temp\Show_Me_Your_Spine__Sample_.mp4

15:35:40 : Test started.
15:37:17 : 01/01  50.0%
15:37:34 : 02/02  25.0%
15:37:45 : 03/03  12.5%
15:37:53 : 04/04  6.3%
15:37:58 : 05/05  3.1%
15:38:03 : 06/06  1.6%
15:38:13 : 07/07  0.8%
15:38:20 : 08/08  0.4%
15:38:24 : 09/09  0.2%
15:38:29 : 10/10  0.1%
15:38:41 : 11/11  0.0%
15:38:47 : 12/12  0.0%
15:38:55 : 13/13  0.0%
15:39:04 : 14/14  0.0%
15:39:13 : 15/15  0.0%
15:39:18 : 16/16  0.0%
15:39:26 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 16/16 (0.0%)

Edit: Added results for q0.55, q0.60 and q0.65.

  bitrate q0.55=183kbps, ABXed 13/13
  bitrate q0.60=208kbps, ABXed 10/10
  bitrate q0.65=231kbps, ABXed 19/20

Increasing q value makes the problem harder to detect/less pronounced, at q0.65 good concentration was necessary. It doesn't sound as distortion and it isn't anoying at all, it just sounds different from the flac file.

For sake of breveness I only include complete ABX log for q0.65:
Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.8
2009/07/26 15:57:24

File A: F:\Temp\Show_Me_Your_Spine__Sample_.flac
File B: F:\Temp\Show_Me_Your_Spine__Sample_Nero1330q065.mp4

15:57:24 : Test started.
15:58:09 : 01/01  50.0%
15:58:17 : 02/02  25.0%
15:58:26 : 02/03  50.0%
15:58:43 : 03/04  31.3%
15:58:47 : 04/05  18.8%
15:58:52 : 05/06  10.9%
15:58:58 : 06/07  6.3%
15:59:11 : 07/08  3.5%
15:59:17 : 08/09  2.0%
15:59:22 : 09/10  1.1%
15:59:36 : 10/11  0.6%
15:59:46 : 11/12  0.3%
15:59:56 : 12/13  0.2%
16:00:07 : 13/14  0.1%
16:00:35 : 14/15  0.0%
16:00:42 : 15/16  0.0%
16:00:49 : 16/17  0.0%
16:00:56 : 17/18  0.0%
16:01:03 : 18/19  0.0%
16:01:12 : 19/20  0.0%
16:01:14 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 19/20 (0.0%)
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: /mnt on 2009-07-26 16:26:00
I've tried the Show Me Your Spine sample with the iTunes encoder. I thought it might be interesting since i remember seeing this track on the iTunes store at 128 DRM AAC a few years ago.

iTunes 8.2.16 AAC 160kbps VBR


Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.8
2009/07/26 16:06:26

File A: C:\Temp\Samples\Show Me Your Spine (Edit).flac
File B: C:\Temp\Samples\Show Me Your Spine (Edit) [iTunes 160kbps VBR].m4a

16:06:26 : Test started.
16:06:32 : 01/01  50.0%
16:06:37 : 02/02  25.0%
16:06:41 : 03/03  12.5%
16:06:44 : 04/04  6.3%
16:06:48 : 05/05  3.1%
16:06:53 : 06/06  1.6%
16:07:07 : 07/07  0.8%
16:07:13 : 08/08  0.4%
16:07:18 : 09/09  0.2%
16:07:23 : 10/10  0.1%
16:07:31 : 11/11  0.0%
16:07:40 : 11/12  0.3%
16:07:46 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 11/12 (0.3%)

I've ABX the first few seconds, same bitrate as Nero AAC at 0.50. Sounds worse then Nero AAC at 0.50 IMO.

iTunes 8.2.16 AAC iTunes Plus (256kbps)

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.8
2009/07/26 16:08:17

File A: C:\Temp\Samples\Show Me Your Spine (Edit).flac
File B: C:\Temp\Samples\Show Me Your Spine (Edit) [iTunes Plus 256kbps].m4a

16:08:17 : Test started.
16:08:28 : 01/01  50.0%
16:08:34 : 01/02  75.0%
16:08:39 : 02/03  50.0%
16:08:44 : 03/04  31.3%
16:08:51 : 04/05  18.8%
16:08:55 : 05/06  10.9%
16:09:04 : 06/07  6.3%
16:09:25 : 07/08  3.5%
16:09:39 : 08/09  2.0%
16:09:55 : 09/10  1.1%
16:10:19 : 10/11  0.6%
16:10:28 : 11/12  0.3%
16:10:35 : 12/13  0.2%
16:10:42 : 13/14  0.1%
16:10:52 : 14/15  0.0%
16:11:09 : 15/16  0.0%
16:11:19 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 15/16 (0.0%)

I've ABXed the first few secs again, sounds better but different then the 160 VBR version. Very easy to ABX unlike Nero at higher settings.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: 2E7AH on 2009-07-27 19:15:07
Is it something wrong with Audition AAC filter (http://www.rarewares.org/aac-encoders.php#audition-aac) or?

I found somewhat old Nero MPEG-4 filter, and thought to try it. Then to get it to work some additional files are needed: aac.dll; aacenc32.dll; NeroIPP.dll and placed in "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\AudioPlugins" folder (Nero 6). But unfortunately, the result was same as with FAAC/FAAD filter:

Nero MPEG-4 filter: +36ms
FAAC/FAAD filter: +36ms
QuickTime filter: +11ms

I guess Nero Digital AAC filter is missing here
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: /mnt on 2009-08-18 14:21:41
I've found a yet another problem sample that effects Nero AAC at 0.50 greatly:

-q 0.50

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.8
2009/08/18 13:35:50

File A: C:\Music\Nine Inch Nails\Closer To God (Single)\01. Closer To God.m4a
File B: E:\Music\Albums\Nine Inch Nails - Closer To God (Single)\01. Closer To God.flac

13:35:50 : Test started.
13:36:06 : 01/01  50.0%
13:36:18 : 02/02  25.0%
13:36:26 : 03/03  12.5%
13:36:33 : 04/04  6.3%
13:36:43 : 05/05  3.1%
13:36:52 : 06/06  1.6%
13:37:02 : 07/07  0.8%
13:37:12 : 08/08  0.4%
13:37:24 : 09/09  0.2%
13:37:36 : 10/10  0.1%
13:37:37 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 10/10 (0.1%)

Nasty disortion and possibly stereo corruption. Very easy to ABX.

Edit sample:

-q 0.5

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.8
2009/08/18 13:55:48

File A: C:\Temp\Closer To God [Edit].flac
File B: C:\Temp\Closer To God [Edit] q 0.5.mp4

13:55:48 : Test started.
13:55:55 : 01/01  50.0%
13:56:01 : 02/02  25.0%
13:56:07 : 03/03  12.5%
13:56:10 : 04/04  6.3%
13:56:15 : 05/05  3.1%
13:56:21 : 06/06  1.6%
13:56:26 : 07/07  0.8%
13:56:31 : 08/08  0.4%
13:56:35 : 09/09  0.2%
13:56:41 : 10/10  0.1%
13:56:43 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 10/10 (0.1%)

Still present on the sample.

-q 0.55

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.8
2009/08/18 13:57:52

File A: C:\Temp\Closer To God [Edit].flac
File B: C:\Temp\Closer To God [Edit] q 0.55.mp4

13:57:52 : Test started.
13:58:11 : 01/01  50.0%
13:58:18 : 02/02  25.0%
13:58:28 : 03/03  12.5%
13:58:40 : 04/04  6.3%
13:58:56 : 05/05  3.1%
13:59:11 : 06/06  1.6%
13:59:22 : 07/07  0.8%
13:59:38 : 08/08  0.4%
13:59:48 : 09/09  0.2%
13:59:58 : 10/10  0.1%
14:00:00 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 10/10 (0.1%)

Better then 0.50, but still far from being transparent.

iTunes AAC 160kbps VBR


Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.8
2009/08/18 14:02:57

File A: C:\Temp\Closer To God [Edit] iTunes 160 VBR.m4a
File B: C:\Temp\Closer To God [Edit].flac

14:02:57 : Test started.
14:03:42 : 01/01  50.0%
14:03:57 : 02/02  25.0%
14:04:24 : 03/03  12.5%
14:04:40 : 04/04  6.3%
14:04:54 : 05/05  3.1%
14:05:09 : 05/06  10.9%
14:05:19 : 05/07  22.7%
14:05:35 : 05/08  36.3%
14:05:36 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 5/8 (36.3%)

Possible but i find it hard to ABX on the iTunes encode. Sounds better then the Nero encodes.

Sample:

Closer To God (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=5320)
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: muaddib on 2009-08-19 11:28:39
Thank you for reporting it.
What were the bitrates?
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: /mnt on 2009-08-19 13:07:10
It's also ABXable at -q 0.60:

Code: [Select]
foo_abx 1.3.4 report
foobar2000 v0.9.6.8
2009/08/19 12:57:00

File A: C:\Temp\Closer To God [Edit] -q 0.6.mp4
File B: C:\Temp\Closer To God [Edit].flac

12:57:00 : Test started.
12:57:48 : 01/01  50.0%
12:58:00 : 02/02  25.0%
12:58:21 : 03/03  12.5%
12:58:35 : 04/04  6.3%
12:58:43 : 05/05  3.1%
12:58:58 : 06/06  1.6%
12:59:18 : 07/07  0.8%
12:59:31 : 08/08  0.4%
12:59:39 : 09/09  0.2%
12:59:49 : 10/10  0.1%
12:59:58 : 11/11  0.0%
13:00:06 : 12/12  0.0%
13:00:07 : Test finished.

 ----------
Total: 12/12 (0.0%)

A artifact appears at 0:02. Then a really nasty artifact appears at 0:06.

Thank you for reporting it.
What were the bitrates?

Nero -q 50: 145 kbps
Nero -q 55: 172 kbps
Nero -q 60: 192 kbps
iTunes 160 VBR: 188 kbps

Judging from the bitrate display under foobar2000 (1 sec update display), Nero AAC seems to use low bitrates on this sample.
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: stereotype on 2009-11-29 15:47:59
New Nero is out, any news for the codec?

No, still 1.3.3.x

@menno

Any chance of releasing a 64-bit binary for linux?
Shouldn't be too hard or too much work I think, no?

If not, any tips on what is needed to run the 32-bit binary on a 64-bit machine (Fedora 12 in my case)

Thanks
Title: Nero AAC Codec 1.3.3.0
Post by: stereotype on 2009-11-29 16:05:46
In case anyone else needs it, a simple # yum install glibc.i686 libstdc++.i686 solved my problem...

64-bit binaries would still be nice though