SoundCloud Refutes Decreasing Audio Quality, Cites Standard Testing (billboard.com)

cordovaCon83 writes: NestHQ published an article today noting that online streaming service Soundcloud has implemented the Opus codec for its archive of music and started streaming at 64kbps instead of its prior 128kbps streams. Opus has been touted as a more efficient codec than the aging MP3 codec. Whether this will have a major effect on audio fidelity remains to be seen, as well as whether such a move will affect the already ailing music service's business. UPDATE: SoundCloud tells Billboard that this swap in codecs is nothing new and is part of frequent tests it runs with its audio -- just as other streaming services do regularly. "We always appreciate feedback, but these reports are inaccurate," a SoundCloud spokesperson told Billboard in a statement. "SoundCloud has not altered its approach to audio quality. We have been using the Opus codec (among others) since 2016, and we regularly test different combinations of encoding and streaming to offer listeners a quality experience on any device. Furthermore, we store all content from creators at its originally uploaded quality level so we can continually adapt to advances in encoding and playback."

Comments

"Touted?"

[ewhac]

Opus has been touted as a more efficient codec than the aging MP3 codec.

Nothing "touted" about it -- it is better than MP3.

Opus does have an unusual limitation, however: It has a limited selection of input sample rates, and 44.1KHz is not one of them. So anything recorded at 44.1KHz has to be up-sampled to 48KHz before it can be encoded in Opus.

Re:"Touted?"

[KozmoStevnNaut]

The resampler in Opus is more than good enough to not have any audible artifacts. The entirety of Opus is built around the 48KHz sample rate, so it's best to just go with the default. You can force it into 44.1KHz mode, but it's not recommended.