SoundCloud's Audio Upgrade: A Tradeoff for Better Quality
SoundCloud's new AAC encoder may appear to reduce audio quality, but it's actually a strategic decision to prioritize better sound where it matters most.
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SoundCloud has upgraded its AAC encoder, replacing it with Fraunhofer's libfdk_aac, which delivers higher perceptual audio quality. However, a closer look at the spectrogram reveals a surprising change: the new encoder cuts off high frequencies, a move that might seem like a downgrade at first glance. But the reality is more nuanced.
The new encoder is designed to optimize audio quality based on human hearing, not how graphs look.
The new encoder is designed to optimize audio quality based on human hearing, which is most sensitive between 2 and 5 kHz. By sacrificing high frequencies, which are often inaudible to most adults, the encoder can improve accuracy across a broader range of audible content. This strategic decision is a tradeoff between removing frequencies that are barely perceivable and achieving a cleaner signal where it counts.
This upgrade is not a loss of quality, but rather a calculated move to prioritize better sound where it matters most. It's a testament to the evolving nature of audio technology and the ongoing quest for improved sound quality.
The 6ic Take — 💎 AI Saflik AI
The new encoder's decision to cut off high frequencies is a deliberate choice to prioritize better sound where it counts, rather than a loss of quality.
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