Musepack: Difference between revisions

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=Introduction=
{{Codec Infobox
Musepack is a lossy audio compression scheme created by [[Andree Buschmann]]. It is strongly based on the [[MPEG-1]] Layer-2 ([[MP2]]) algorithms. Informal listening tests have demonstrated that MPC is the best [[lossy]] audio encoder at ~140kbps and above [[bitrate]]s, but competes less well at lower, 'streaming' bitrates such as 32/48/64kbps. This is due to MPC being a [[subband]] [[codec]] as well as the fact that very little optimization has gone into such low [[bitrate]]s. As can be seen in various 128kbit/s listening tests (see below), despite the fact that MPC has been optimized little for such bitrates it is in the same class of other modern competitors such as [[AAC]] and [[Ogg Vorbis]].
| name = Musepack
| logo = [[Image:Musepack_logo.png|Official Musepack logo]]
| type = lossy
| purpose = Living audio compression
| maintainer = Andree Buschmann / Frank Klemm
| recommended_encoder = mpcenc.exe 1.30.0
| recommended_text = Musepack SV8 (2009-04-02)
| website = https://musepack.net
}}


= Introduction =
'''Musepack''' is a lossy audio compression scheme created by Andree Buschmann. He started work on the codec in 1998 (then called MP+) because he was unsatisfied with the audio quality of MP3 codecs at the time. It is strongly based on the [[MPEG-1]] Layer-2 ([[MP2]]) algorithms, with 32 subbands of the same bandwidth, but with several significant improvements. Musepack is optimized for "transparency". The format doesn't compete well at lower, 'streaming' bitrates such as 32/48/64kbps. This is due to MPC being a [[subband]] [[codec]] as well as the fact that very little optimization has gone into such low [[bitrate]]s. However, as can be seen in various 128kbit/s listening tests (see below), despite the fact that MPC has been optimized little for such bitrates it is in the same class of other modern competitors such as [[AAC]] and (Ogg) [[Vorbis]].


 
== Pros ==
==Pros==
* Suffers less from different "problem cases" than most other formats (less pre-echo)
* Best [[lossy]] encoder for mid-high bitrates
* Suffers from far less "problem cases" than other formats.
* Very fast encoding/decoding
* Very fast encoding/decoding
* Designed to be [[transparency|transparent]] by default at --standard setting.
* Designed to be very good by default at --standard setting.
* Open source encoder
* Open source
* Portable playback by Pocket-PCs, Palm OS-based and Windows CE/Windows Mobile-based devices, even Smartphones/Tablets, see [https://www.musepack.net/index.php?pg=pro Program Overview]
* Portable playback on digital audio players with Rockbox support, see http://www.rockbox.org
* Support & development forum at https://forum.musepack.net/


==Cons==
== Cons ==
* Not supported on portable players
* Marginal support (yet) on portable players
* No [[multichannel]]
* No specification available
* Seeking is imperfect (to be fixed in SV7.5)
* Not streamable
* Can't be cut/edited
* No support for [[sampling rate]]s above 48khz
* No support for [[sampling rate]]s above 48khz


 
= Technical details =
 
== Supported input formats ==
=Technical details=
* channels: 1 to 8
==Supported input formats (SV7)==
* channels: 1 or 2
* bit depths: 1 to 32 bit linear [[PCM]]
* bit depths: 1 to 32 bit linear [[PCM]]
* sample rates: 32kHz, 37.8kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz (44.1 and 48 are highly tuned)
* sample rates: 32kHz, 37.8kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz (44.1 and 48 are highly tuned)
* [[WAV]], raw [[PCM]], a lot of [[lossless]] compressed audio formats like [[FLAC]], [[LPAC]], [[Monkey's_Audio|APE]], [[OptimFROG]], [[SZIP]] and Shorten ([[SHN]])
* [[WAV]], raw [[PCM]], a lot of [[lossless]] compressed audio formats like [[FLAC]], [[LPAC]], [[Monkey's_Audio|APE]], [[OptimFROG]], [[SZIP]] and Shorten ([[SHN]])


==Encoder Functions==
== Encoder Functions ==
[[MPC Encoder Functions]]
[[MPC Encoder Functions]]


 
= Links =
=Links=
== User oriented links ==
==User oriented links==
* [http://musepack.net Musepack.net] - a general info, news and software site.
* [http://musepack.net Musepack.net] - a general info, news and software site.
* [[Case]]'s [http://www.saunalahti.fi/~cse/ page] (Winamp plug-ins and more).
* [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=1927 Users' HowTo MPC guide at HydrogenAudio]
* [[Frank Klemm]]'s [http://www.uni-jena.de/~pfk/mpp/ official page]
* [http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=EAC_and_Musepack#Software_Needed EAC and Musepack]
 


==Technical links==
== Technical links ==
* [[Frank Klemm]]'s [http://www.uni-jena.de/~pfk/mpp/ official page]
* [http://trac.musepack.net/musepack/wiki Specifications]
* [http://www.audiocoding.com/modules/wiki/?page=MPC MPC at AudioCodingWiki]
* [https://musepack.net/index.php?pg=src Source code]
* reference: Frank Klemm [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/musepack/klemm/www.personal.uni-jena.de/~pfk/mpp/audiocoder_english.html mirror]


== Listening test involving MPC ==
* [[Listening Tests]] page
* [https://bernholdtech.blogspot.de/2013/03/Nine-different-audio-encoders-100-pass-recompression-test.html Nine different audio encoders 100-pass recompression test]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codec_listening_test Codec listening test + results on Wikipedia.org]
* <s> ff123's 128kbit/s group listening test</s>
* <s> ff123's second 128kbit/s group listening test</s>
* <s> rjamorim's 128kbit/s test</s>


==Listening test involving MPC==
Please note that some of these tests, while valid, used encoder versions which have now been superseded. You should make your own decision about the comparative quality of MPC, listening to clips of music in the style you prefer.
* [http://ff123.net/128tests.html ff123's 128kbit/s group listening test]
* [http://ff123.net/128test/instruct.html ff123's second 128kbit/s group listening test]
* [http://audio.ciara.us/test/128extension/results.html rjamorim's 128kbit/s test]


Please note that some of these tests, while valid, used versions of the encoders in almost all of the formats tested which have now been superseded. You should make your own decision about the comparative quality of MPC, listening to clips of music in the style you prefer.
Also note that these are tests at low bitrates; an area where MPC is not particularly optimized. The encoder was designed by the author to be very good at the --standard setting, thus little to no low [[bitrate]] tuning has gone into the [[codec]], opposite to that of [[AAC]], (Ogg) [[Vorbis]], [[WMA]] and others which focus more on this region. However, as can be seen in the various listening test pages, MPC competes surprisingly well with the rest of them.


Also note that these are tests at low bitrates; an area where MPC is not particularly optimized. The encoder was designed by the author to be transparent at the --standard setting, thus little to no low [[bitrate]] tuning has gone into the [[codec]], opposite to that of [[AAC]], [[Ogg Vorbis]], [[WMA]] and others which focus more on this region. However, as can be seen in the various listening test pages, MPC competes surprisingly well with the rest of them.
[[Category: Codecs]]
[[Category: Lossy]]
[[Category:Encoder/Decoder]]

Latest revision as of 12:10, 28 February 2021

Musepack
Official Musepack logo
Living audio compression
Developer(s) Andree Buschmann / Frank Klemm
Release TBC
Type Lossy
Recommended encoder Musepack SV8 (2009-04-02)
Website https://musepack.net

Introduction

Musepack is a lossy audio compression scheme created by Andree Buschmann. He started work on the codec in 1998 (then called MP+) because he was unsatisfied with the audio quality of MP3 codecs at the time. It is strongly based on the MPEG-1 Layer-2 (MP2) algorithms, with 32 subbands of the same bandwidth, but with several significant improvements. Musepack is optimized for "transparency". The format doesn't compete well at lower, 'streaming' bitrates such as 32/48/64kbps. This is due to MPC being a subband codec as well as the fact that very little optimization has gone into such low bitrates. However, as can be seen in various 128kbit/s listening tests (see below), despite the fact that MPC has been optimized little for such bitrates it is in the same class of other modern competitors such as AAC and (Ogg) Vorbis.

Pros

  • Suffers less from different "problem cases" than most other formats (less pre-echo)
  • Very fast encoding/decoding
  • Designed to be very good by default at --standard setting.
  • Open source
  • Portable playback by Pocket-PCs, Palm OS-based and Windows CE/Windows Mobile-based devices, even Smartphones/Tablets, see Program Overview
  • Portable playback on digital audio players with Rockbox support, see http://www.rockbox.org
  • Support & development forum at https://forum.musepack.net/

Cons

  • Marginal support (yet) on portable players
  • No support for sampling rates above 48khz

Technical details

Supported input formats

  • channels: 1 to 8
  • bit depths: 1 to 32 bit linear PCM
  • sample rates: 32kHz, 37.8kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz (44.1 and 48 are highly tuned)
  • WAV, raw PCM, a lot of lossless compressed audio formats like FLAC, LPAC, APE, OptimFROG, SZIP and Shorten (SHN)

Encoder Functions

MPC Encoder Functions

Links

User oriented links

Technical links

Listening test involving MPC

Please note that some of these tests, while valid, used encoder versions which have now been superseded. You should make your own decision about the comparative quality of MPC, listening to clips of music in the style you prefer.

Also note that these are tests at low bitrates; an area where MPC is not particularly optimized. The encoder was designed by the author to be very good at the --standard setting, thus little to no low bitrate tuning has gone into the codec, opposite to that of AAC, (Ogg) Vorbis, WMA and others which focus more on this region. However, as can be seen in the various listening test pages, MPC competes surprisingly well with the rest of them.

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