Thomson multimedia presents mp3PRO, Download here

bonkers325

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
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News

"...mp3PRO, the eagerly anticipated next generation version of the world?s most popular audio compression format, makes its debut with the introduction of the free demonstration mp3PRO encoder/decoder now available for download from www.thomson-multimedia.com and www.rca.com.

Launched by Thomson multimedia, mp3PRO is an improved version of the popular mp3 coding-decoding (codec) format that provides improved sound and creates files that are half or less the size of original mp3 files. In addition to its combination of more compact mp3 files and superior audio quality, mp3PRO offers backwards and forwards compatibility enabling original mp3 files to play normally on the new mp3PRO player and mp3PRO files to play on original mp3 systems. The best audio performance is achieved when consumers both encode and decode music files in mp3PRO.

Developed by Coding Technologies, mp3PRO utilizes both Coding Technologies' codec enhancement technology and the pioneering work in the field of perceptual audio coding covered under the basic mp3 patents owned by Thomson and Fraunhofer. When making an mp3Pro file, the new mp3PRO encoder splits audio recordings in two. One part of the new files contains all the information found in ordinary mp3 recordings to maintain complete compatibility with original version players. At the same time, new or upgraded players supporting mp3PRO will tap into another stream that holds high audio frequencies, putting them together to make a higher-quality sound.

Offering 128kbs performance at a 64kbs-encoding rate, mp3PRO doubles the digital music capacity of flash memory and of compact discs. For example, traditional audio CDs hold 15 songs, and an mp3 CD today holds up to 150 songs. In the near future, mp3PRO will allow consumers to store over 300 songs on an mp3PRO Compact Disc. Utilizing advanced psychoacoustic techniques and music structure analysis, mp3PRO creates files that are twice (or more) as compact as original mp3 files, with equal or better sound quality, along with backwards and forwards compatibility..."

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Siva

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2001
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Wasn't this posted?

Anyway, I really hope my ipaq supports mp3pro, might just get some moer life out of it with those smaller file sizes!
 

PliotronX

Diamond Member
Oct 17, 1999
8,883
107
106
Holy Jesus, this is going to make MP3s obsolete for sure. Well, time to go and redo my collection.. all 5Gigs of em (soon to be 1.6Gig).
 

Urinal Mint

Platinum Member
Jan 16, 2000
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Too bad the 64kbit it encodes at sounds like hammered ass. I'll stick to my 256kbit mp3s, thanks. :)
 

PliotronX

Diamond Member
Oct 17, 1999
8,883
107
106
Crap I must eat my words now, with a side of fries. I can hear artifacts, but it's definitely better than MP3 at 128Kbps. I'm glad I don't have to redo my LAME encoded collection...

This will be great for portable players though, cause you'd be hardpressed to hear artifacts on small headphones with mp3PRO.
 

Siva

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2001
5,472
0
71
I dunno, I hear a lot less artificats than I do with regular mp3s @ 192 (cept when my cd skips :p)
 

slipperyslope

Banned
Oct 10, 1999
1,622
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Urinal Mint,

I think I will take MP3Pro at 160Kb and kick the crap out of your 256Kb Mp3s. This of course is going with the assumption that MP3Pro will scale up well from 64Kb without high diminishing returns.

From what I listened to,64Kb MP3Pro is almost as good as 128Kb mp3s. That isn't saying much for quality but going by that then 160Kb should scale to be the same quality as 256Kb normal mp3s.

Jim
 

Urinal Mint

Platinum Member
Jan 16, 2000
2,074
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slippery:

I will whole-heartedly agree with your statement... I just don't see the point in releasing encoding software if all it's capable of is this dinky 64kbit business. I mean, come out with some gusto... not everyone cares about file size. Granted, it's important for portables, but at home I don't have anything under 256kbit. At least release a 128kbit encoder for mp3pro.