Re: [slim] OraStream?
orastream wrote: > For streaming, the OraStream (and ClassicsOnlineHD*LL" - a new CD- & > HD-quality classical music service with more than 70,000 classical music > albums, including 1,000 albums in 24-bit audio resolution) sites uses a > MPEG Audio standard format known as MPEG-4 SLS. You would note that this > codec is also called HD-AAC by its inventors. OraStream works with the > Non-Core version (i.e. without the lossy-AAC core) of MPEG 4-SLS. > > The OraStream platform utilises the fine-grain, scalable audio layers of > this lossless audio format to scale lossless and high-res audio > streaming based on the quality of the user's network connection. When a > user connects to our servers, the user's network connection is monitored > continuously in real-time. When a user's connection is good, every layer > of the bitstream is delivered for lossless audio playback. When the > connection is poorer, the server removes some layers (via a bitstream > truncation process that ensures optimal multi-channel distribution) to > match the poorer connection. > > Network adaptive audio streaming is dynamic, in real-time and > transparent to the user. Music streaming scales from 80 kbps to >5,500 > kbps (compressed bitrate quality of 24/192 audio) so quality of service > is assured in moderately congested 3G and public-WiFi network > conditions. In super fast networks, quality of experience can be > achieved with full lossless 24-bit audio streams. > > As MPEG-4 SLS applications include that of audio archival, the format > handles PCM audio in resolutions up to 24bit depth/192kHz sampling > frequency. Therefore, with a good connection, users can stream 16-bit, > 44.1 kHz and any higher resolution up to 24-bit, 192 kHz audio quality > on desktop PCs and mobile devices. > > Beside using different encoding methods, MQA encapsulation is carried > out during encoding and MQA files are fixed bit-rate files. The smallest > near CD- or CD-quality file (without MQA) requires about 1 Mbps > connection to stream (with good QoS experience). The MQA files (of > high-res audio recordings) are only about 50%-100% larger (for > downloads). Notwithstanding, Meridian claims that MQA files are > master-quality-authenticated (by artists, producers, sound engineers) to > sound as the original studio recordings are intended or better. I have had a lot of problems with the Orastream player. Despite having a greater than 55 MBPS connection, the player frequently downsamples to mp3 quality. It refers to this as cache play. However, it never adapts, as it seems to stay in mp3 quality forever once it gets there. The selection of music is good. However, the problems with the player make it unlikely I will continue with this service long term. margolbe's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=30194 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=102914 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] OraStream?
For streaming, the OraStream (and ClassicsOnlineHD*LL" - a new CD- & HD-quality classical music service with more than 70,000 classical music albums, including 1,000 albums in 24-bit audio resolution) sites uses a MPEG Audio standard format known as MPEG-4 SLS (see attached paper). You would note that this codec is also called HD-AAC by its inventors. OraStream works with the Non-Core version (i.e. without the lossy-AAC core) of MPEG 4-SLS. The OraStream platform utilises the fine-grain, scalable audio layers of this lossless audio format to scale lossless and high-res audio streaming based on the quality of the user's network connection. When a user connects to our servers, the user's network connection is monitored continuously in real-time. When a user's connection is good, every layer of the bitstream is delivered for lossless audio playback. When the connection is poorer, the server removes some layers (via a bitstream truncation process that ensures optimal multi-channel distribution) to match the poorer connection. Network adaptive audio streaming is dynamic, in real-time and transparent to the user. Music streaming scales from 80 kbps to >5,500 kbps (compressed bitrate quality of 24/192 audio) so quality of service is assured in moderately congested 3G and public-WiFi network conditions. In super fast networks, quality of experience can be achieved with full lossless 24-bit audio streams. As MPEG-4 SLS applications include that of audio archival, the format handles PCM audio in resolutions up to 24bit depth/192kHz sampling frequency. Therefore, with a good connection, users can stream 16-bit, 44.1 kHz and any higher resolution up to 24-bit, 192 kHz audio quality on desktop PCs and mobile devices. Beside using different encoding methods, MQA encapsulation is carried out during encoding and MQA files are fixed bit-rate files. The smallest near CD- or CD-quality file (without MQA) requires about 1 Mbps connection to stream (with good QoS experience). The MQA files (of high-res audio recordings) are only about 50%-100% larger (for downloads). Notwithstanding, Meridian claims that MQA files are master-quality-authenticated (by artists, producers, sound engineers) to sound as the original studio recordings are intended or better. 17153 +---+ |Filename: AES Paper 120 Convention.pdf | |Download: http://forums.slimdevices.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17153| +---+ orastream's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=63868 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=102914 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] OraStream?
Thanks BBB and Mnyb Is Meridian's MQA encapsulation process much the same approach? http://www.stereophile.com/content/ive-heard-future-streaming-meridians-mqa *Source*: Streaming TIDAL, Pandora, other > Logitech Media Server 7.7.5-ickStream plugin, with iPeng app on iPhone5s/iPad *Great Room*: SB Touch(1) > AudioQuest Toslink > PS Audio DL3 DAC > Audio Envy interconnect cables > Martin Logan Purity/powered & synched SB Touch(2) > JVC 110w amp > Martin Logan Motion 4 *Adjacent*: synched SB Touch(2) > AudioEngine 5/powered *Master Bedroom*: Samsung Blu-ray player/Pandora > older Sony Wega TV with excellent speakers WTB: SB Touch, send private message DanSmedra's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=62637 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=102914 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] OraStream?
FWIW: they are using MPEG-4 SLS (aka. HD-AAC, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_SLS for details). This codec delivers "best effort" quality, meaning that depending on the network connection you get lossless or some lossy quality. It's not lossless guaranteed. LMS comes with a sls utility which should transcode such streams to whatever you can play. Now somebody would need to come up with a plugin to give access to that service... -- Michael ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] OraStream?
Piont seem to be to traffic shape when needed , you get the full Rez when your bandwith is up to it . But . Only a very limited amount of tracks at the moment . So it can't be a drop in replacement for any current streaming service due to the lack of program material . If there is nothing to listen to the quality does not matter . I can think of it as a complementary service to the ones I already have and to my own collection , but then the price must be lowered. There no piont going beyond > 16/44.1 for streaming . You can make extremely weak arguments for 24/96 as a consumer format for disc or download . 24/192 is just silly . And . There electronics track offerings are at 16/44.1 and the classical tracks are for the most 24/96 . Do you need EDO : probably not as most tracks are 24/96 or less even if an occasional 24/192 would show up LMS a would handle it trough downsampling ( yes I think direct mysqueezebox.com support is very unlikely ) . So basically the need of EDO a is determined by the need for USB audio and/or don't having a server capable of downsampling 192k or using DoP . And >96k demands external DAC as EDO won't make the squeezebox support 24/192 internally . But hey . They are also a store so if some of thier limited music offering suits you just buy the albums :) So my questions would be is there anyway to get to thier online store without forking out for a monthly subscription or is this subscription only . Main hifi: Touch + CIA PS +MeridianG68J MeridianHD621 MeridianG98DH 2 x MeridianDSP5200 MeridianDSP5200HC 2 xMeridianDSP3100 +Rel Stadium 3 sub. Bedroom/Office: Boom Kitchen: Touch + powered Fostex PM0.4 Misc use: Radio (with battery) iPad1 with iPengHD & SqueezePad (in storage SB3, reciever ,controller ) server HP proliant micro server N36L with ClearOS Linux http://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html Mnyb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4143 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=102914 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
Re: [slim] OraStream?
"OraStream uses a lossless compression algorithm. However, it has the unique advantage of transforming the compressed bitstream into fine-grained scalable layers while maintaining its 'losslessness'. We From what I get that's the same 'losslessness' as the 128kbps MP3's claimed "CD quality". There's a reason why they put it in quotes: they shave off stuff they think you won't hear anyway. But it's a lossy process, not lossless. You could consider downsampling your hires file to CD quality "maintaining 'losslessness'" because you can't hear the difference anyway :-P. -- Michael ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
[slim] OraStream?
"Today, people generally listen to music in MP3. For a decade, storage efficiency has been gained at the cost of nearly 90% of the original audio data on music CDs: all of which is lost through compression. This compression process is irreversible - once your music is compressed, it will never sound like the original. MP3 and variants like AAC and WMA are lossy formats. By contrast, "lossless" formats like FLAC, Apple Lossless and AIFF retain a bit-identical 'zipped' version of the original music to ensure absolute music fidelity. "The state of the art streaming adopted by services like Spotify, Beats Music, Deezer and Qobuz (among many others) is up to 320kbps for lossy quality (MP3) and up to 1,411kbps for lossless CD quality (FLAC). The problem of delivering high quality music in a convenient way, requires a new solution: OraStream. Beyond MP3 and CD, OraStream was purposed and built from ground up to 'fluidify' the downloading and *_streaming_of_high-resolution_music_up_to_9,216_kbps_(or__192kHz/24-bit)_over_any_data_network_*. "OraStream uses a lossless compression algorithm. However, it has the unique advantage of transforming the compressed bitstream into fine-grained scalable layers while maintaining its 'losslessness'. We shave away data layers to fit the bitstream nicely through the available network bandwidth, without any expensive transcoding. This is the value of OraStream." Has anyone researched this yet? Will the Ultra Hi-Rez stream require use of the EDO plugin or not? Is anyone working on an OraStream plug-in for Squeezebox or IckStream? *Source*: Streaming TIDAL, Pandora, other > Logitech Media Server 7.7.5-ickStream plugin, with iPeng app on iPhone5s/iPad *Great Room*: SB Touch(1) > AudioQuest Toslink > PS Audio DL3 DAC > Audio Envy interconnect cables > Martin Logan Purity/powered & synched SB Touch(2) > JVC 110w amp > Martin Logan Motion 4 *Adjacent*: synched SB Touch(2) > AudioEngine 5/powered *Master Bedroom*: Samsung Blu-ray player/Pandora > older Sony Wega TV with excellent speakers WTB: SB Touch, send private message DanSmedra's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=62637 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=102914 ___ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss