Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399
Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399
https://hydrogenaud.io/themes/default/images/mobile.png
2009-06-11 02:00:14

Hi all,

I'm transcoding my MP3 files to .aac files to play on my Nokia 5320 XpressMusic

Yes, I am aware that transcoding will reduce quality. I'm just aiming for a smaller file size to fit more songs into my phone.

Now, I use MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399 for the Transcoding. I choose CT AAC+ encoder. Next, I choose 96 kbps. Then, I'm stumped:

Which version to use? AAC+ Ver 1 or AAC+ Ver 2 ?

Which standard to use, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4?

Please help me... I've been searching high and low for the recommended settings to no avail.

(And, perhaps also consider the quirkiness -- if any -- of Nokia 5320 XpressMusic's Music Player app)

Thanks beforehand.

Nobody is Perfect.

I am Nobody.

http://pandu.poluan.info

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #1 – 2009-06-11 02:01:48

Just in case anyone wondered... I've tried all four combinations (MPEG-2 v1, MPEG-2 v2, MPEG-4 v1, MPEG-4 v2), and though I may be imagining it (has no way to perform ABX on my phone), MPEG-4 v2 variant seems more "springy" (better treble)...

But then again, I may be imagining it... so...

Nobody is Perfect.

I am Nobody.

http://pandu.poluan.info

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #2 – 2009-06-11 03:24:52

Well, at that bitrate, I would go with LC-AAC instead of AAC+/HE-AAC. I believe that HE-AAC really excels at the 32-64kbps range and that LC-AAC should be used for bitrates of 96kbps and above. I am curious as to why you are using MediaCoder when there are plenty of free applications out there that use the Nero AAC encoder (it is more heavily tested here). You wouldn't have to worry about which version (v1 or v2) when using Nero and instead focus on a quality setting (around -q0.30) for VBR encoding.

I may be wrong on this part but, from what I remember, HE-AACv1 should be used for 32-40kbps encoding and HE-AACv2 should be used for 48-64kbps encoding (those might be switched though). Additionally, I would go with mpeg-4 AAC files instead of mpeg-2 AAC files. Again, you wouldn't have to worry about this when using the Nero AAC encoder. foobar2000 is a free application that can transcode your lossy files using Nero's AAC encoder.

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #3 – 2009-06-11 14:23:21

I am curious as to why you are using MediaCoder when there are plenty of free applications out there that use the Nero AAC encoder (it is more heavily tested here).

To clarify: MediaCoder is free, and does use the Nero encoder. See here.

"Lifting Shadows Off a Dream"

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #4 – 2009-06-11 15:46:38

IIRC, 5320XM has very similar hardware spec as 6120 classic, except the OS is newer (S60v3 FP2), and has a Nseries-like interface for the music player. As far as I know, AAC support in Nokia S60v3/FP1/FP2 has no major known issues. I tried a few Nero-encoded AAC ringtones in MP4 format in the past and they all played fine.

I would recommend you to use Nero AAC with foobar2000. At least for me, this combination is far easier to use, and use far less system resources than MediaCoder. MediaCoder is bloated, slow, non-unicode compliant, needs Firefox or XULrunner for full functionality, and I somehow don't really like the interface.

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #5 – 2009-06-11 17:49:35

Guys, thanks for the replies. I know I can always count on Hydrogenaudio for nitty-gritty answers re: digital audio

It's been quite some while since I last posted here, and I can see HA's quality for technical stuffs is still second to none

IIRC, 5320XM has very similar hardware spec as 6120 classic, except the OS is newer (S60v3 FP2), and has a Nseries-like interface for the music player. As far as I know, AAC support in Nokia S60v3/FP1/FP2 has no major known issues. I tried a few Nero-encoded AAC ringtones in MP4 format in the past and they all played fine.

I would recommend you to use Nero AAC with foobar2000. At least for me, this combination is far easier to use, and use far less system resources than MediaCoder. MediaCoder is bloated, slow, non-unicode compliant, needs Firefox or XULrunner for full functionality, and I somehow don't really like the interface.

Aha! That clinches the deal for me. Thanks, William!

A bit spelunking on fb2k's AAC encoding interface indeed shows that with "Target Quality" mode set to -q0.30 -- as suggested by kornchild2002 -- I can get approximately 82 kbps, even lower than what I got with MediaCoder, yay!

As to your comment on MediaCoder: I agree... MediaCoder now is not the MediaCoder I used to know back when I was still active here.

Again, thanks guys for all your suggestions!

Nobody is Perfect.

I am Nobody.

http://pandu.poluan.info

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #6 – 2009-06-11 18:22:32

To clarify: MediaCoder is free, and does use the Nero encoder. See here.

Interesting, thanks for further clarifying that. The use of 96kbps CBR, instead of -q values, made it appear that it wasn't using Nero's AAC encoder.

pepoluan, you can even go lower if you want. foobar2000 has the ability to conduct a blind ABX test, you don't have to use your headphones. Simply use the headphones that you would normally hookup to your cellphone. I suggest trying various low -q values and then conduct a few ABX tests. You may find out that a lower -q value produces the same audible results as a -q0.3. I don't know how strapped you are for space on your cellphone but a difference of 0.25MB per song could mean a lot with 1-4GB of storage.

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #7 – 2009-06-11 18:31:32

To clarify: MediaCoder is free, and does use the Nero encoder. See here.

Well, how free is it really if you have to agree to install OpenCandy adware/spyware with it? Plus they include the Nero encoder without a license from Nero (i.e. they steal it), same for RealMedia codecs and some others.

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #8 – 2009-06-11 18:36:00

MediaCoder illegally redistributes the Nero AAC encoder. (it also installs adware BTW).

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #9 – 2009-06-11 18:39:52

@Menno: Why doesn't Nero do anything about them stealing the encoder btw.? I mean you could ask download sites and SourceForge to take it down under the DMCA. Or ask magazines like Chip or c't to not promote it in their articles.

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #10 – 2009-06-11 18:43:19

Complaint to SF has been sent. I'll ask our legal department what else we can do against this.

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #11 – 2009-06-11 20:13:40

To clarify: MediaCoder is free, and does use the Nero encoder. See here.

Interesting, thanks for further clarifying that. The use of 96kbps CBR, instead of -q values, made it appear that it wasn't using Nero's AAC encoder.

My bad; I overlooked the Nero Encoder option in MediaCoder. I seem to recall older MediaCoder versions that do not have Nero Encoder within it.

pepoluan, you can even go lower if you want. foobar2000 has the ability to conduct a blind ABX test, you don't have to use your headphones. Simply use the headphones that you would normally hookup to your cellphone. I suggest trying various low -q values and then conduct a few ABX tests. You may find out that a lower -q value produces the same audible results as a -q0.3. I don't know how strapped you are for space on your cellphone but a difference of 0.25MB per song could mean a lot with 1-4GB of storage.

Well kornchild2002, I *am* aware of foobar2000's wonderful ABX facility

I just want to quickly get to a workable setting so I can prep my phone with all my favorite tracks before I hit the road in... oh, 7 hours from now (still leaving me about 5 hours of sleep, good )

FYI, I have only a 1 GB microSD card in my phone, and indeed transcoding (nearly) everything to AAC wins *a lot* of space for me

To clarify: MediaCoder is free, and does use the Nero encoder. See here.

Well, how free is it really if you have to agree to install OpenCandy adware/spyware with it? Plus they include the Nero encoder without a license from Nero (i.e. they steal it), same for RealMedia codecs and some others.

Um, it didn't ask to install OpenCandy when I installed it?

Complaint to SF has been sent. I'll ask our legal department what else we can do against this.

Whoa... this be getting serious

Anyways, time for me to logout and sleep.

Nobody is Perfect.

I am Nobody.

http://pandu.poluan.info

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #12 – 2009-06-12 07:22:58

My bad; I overlooked the Nero Encoder option in MediaCoder. I seem to recall older MediaCoder versions that do not have Nero Encoder within it.

They do, at least since version 0.5 released in 2006.

Um, it didn't ask to install OpenCandy when I installed it?

The license presented in the MediaCoder setup says:

Quote from: Broad Intelligence EULA link=msg=0 date=

The software installer you are about to initiate utilizes the OpenCandy, Inc. recommendation network in order to provide you offers that may be of interest. By clicking on the "Next" or "Install" button below, you agree that OpenCandy may collect and use certain information obtained in connection with this software installation in accordance with the policies and practices set forth in OpenCandy's Privacy Policy, which can be read at http://www.opencandy.com/privacy-policy/.

This is presented at the very end of the EULA which most people won't read anyways. There is no option to install MediaCoder without OpenCandy.

The OpenCandy privacy policy mentioned in the license is quite vague about what they will do. It definitely says that they will scan your system for installed software and collect various other information about your location and your PC, however.

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #13 – 2009-06-12 07:30:02

That is definitely the performance of spyware. I hate it when companies dupe people into installing their software by putting something at the very end of the EULA.

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #14 – 2009-06-12 12:42:48

Aha! That clinches the deal for me. Thanks, William!

A bit spelunking on fb2k's AAC encoding interface indeed shows that with "Target Quality" mode set to -q0.30 -- as suggested by kornchild2002 -- I can get approximately 82 kbps, even lower than what I got with MediaCoder, yay!

As to your comment on MediaCoder: I agree... MediaCoder now is not the MediaCoder I used to know back when I was still active here.

Again, thanks guys for all your suggestions!

You are welcome. Hope you enjoy your phone. It is a really nice little phone that doubles as a DAP. It's small, light and works well as an audio player.

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #15 – 2009-06-12 19:12:46

You are welcome. Hope you enjoy your phone. It is a really nice little phone that doubles as a DAP. It's small, light and works well as an audio player.

Indeed I enjoyed it very much

Not to mention the respectable Internet performance at 3.6 Mbps HSDPA -- provided I got a satisfactory 3.5G signal, of course. But even without HSDPA, I can still drop down to EDGE and even GPRS speeds, and browse the Internet quite satisfactorily.

Only one thing still wanting: The battery life sucks I ended up bringing 2 spare batteries and a charger everywhere I go.

.

.

.

Uh, sorry for the OOT posting...

Back to something relevant to the topic:

I uninstalled MediaCoder. Will that also remove the OpenCandy spyware? NOD32 is not complaining though.

Nobody is Perfect.

I am Nobody.

http://pandu.poluan.info

Confused with all AAC settings in MediaCoder 0.7.0.4399

Reply #16 – 2009-06-13 21:25:04

I uninstalled MediaCoder. Will that also remove the OpenCandy spyware? NOD32 is not complaining though.

Yes, the uninstallation also removes OpenCandy. However, OpenCandy is called one last time during the uninstallation process so it would have been better to manually delete the OpenCandy DLL before uninstalling MediaCoder.