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New "mp3PRO" From Fraunhofer, But What About LAME?

Posted by Hemos on from the the-industry-keeps-moving dept.

xenoweeno writes: "This Week In Consumer Electronic reports that Thomson and the Fraunhofer Institute are working on a new mp3 format they've dubbed "mp3PRO." Thanks to competition from e.g. Windows Media Audio, they're looking to get 128kbps quality down to 64kbps. Great, but what does this mean for projects like L.A.M.E., which has just recently freed itself from Fraunhofer ["regular"] mp3 code/patents? Back into the fray?"

4 of 206 comments (clear)

  1. Patents aren't so easy to get around. by jemfinch · · Score: 5
    Great, but what does this mean for projects like L.A.M.E., which has just recently freed itself from Fraunhofer ["regular"] mp3 code/patents? Back into the fray?"


    LAME isn't "free from Fraunhofer mp3 code/patents". They may have finally outgrown their name and become a full-fledged mp3 encoder in their own right, but no matter, Fraunhofer's patent still stands. LAME infringes on that patent.



    From the Vorbis FAQ:

    Why Vorbis? MP3 is open.

    No, it isn't. Fraunhofer (and other MPEG consortium members) claim that it is impossible to create an mp3 encoder without infringing on their patents. To create/use an encoder, the law says one must pay royalties to Fraunhofer and other MPEG Consortium members. In other words, you can play what you like, but you're not allowed to contribute without paying the ante.
    (note that this question isn't on the faq from vorbis.com, it's from xiph.org.

    No matter how hard LAME tries, it is another MP3 encoder, and as such, infringes on mp3 patents.

    Higher quality closed formats is not the answer. Higher quality open formats are the only way.

    Jeremy
    --
    Looking for a Python IRC bot?
  2. same speed, better quality? by morie · · Score: 5

    if they claim they can heve the same quality in half the data, does this also maen they have better quality in the same ammount of data?, e.g. is this going to improve the quality of a 128 kbps compression?

    --
    Sig (appended to the end of comments I post, 54 chars)
  3. Not likely by pouwelse · · Score: 5
    Researchers in the field of audio coding agree that the subband filtering technology in MP3 and AAC is now mature. The MP3PRO claims are very impressive, the improvement claims they make are not very likely. They have either changed the world of audio coding or are defending they intrests with waporware.

    For my Ph.D. research I work a lot with audio codecs and the statement that they want a 64 Kbps bitrate to sound like 128 Kbps MP3 is doubtfull. They claim the MP3PRO format to be downwards compatible, the MP3 standard does not leave any room for a 50% reduction without a giant breakthrough.

    A new technology is needed such as sinusodial coding.

    MP3PRO Open technology? also doubtfull.

    Johan.

  4. Re:Software/algorithm patents... by Skeptopotamus · · Score: 5
    I think that in general its because the patented, closed technology comes first. With all due respect to the people who create wonderful patent free & Open Source alternatives (png, ogg vorbis, etc) they are always in reaction to an existing technology brought forth by a company who could afford the R&D costs on something more original.

    By the time the open source alternative is available for use by non-programmers it is generally too late...Even if the open source alternative has considerable benefits over the closed one (PNG compared to GIF for example) habits that have had time to form don't die easily, and the majority of people just stick with what they've already grown used to.