mp3PRO native support

[Vytas]

I'm asking if "native" support for mp3PRO streams can be added to Winamp 5.

I use the THOMSON mp3PRO decoder plug-in with Winamp 5.

Here's the problem. When it is installed, I can no longer access aacPLUS streams. The aacPLUS decoder is native to Winamp 5.04 and up. I'm told the mp3PRO plug-in interferes with the aacPLUS decoder. The only way I can access aacPLUS streams is to delete the "in_mp3PRO.dll" file in the plug-ins folder. Then I have to reinstall the mp3PRO decoder to access mp3PRO streams again.

Since my Internet radio station streams mp3PRO and is about to add aacPLUS, it is going to be a real pain to monitor my own streams. Think of how confusing it will be to listeners.

Needless to say, as aacPLUS catches on, you'll probably be hearing more about people wondering about why they can't access both types of streams with Winamp. Since Coding Technologies is behind both file formats, can you support BOTH natively? Thank you.

Vytas Safroncikas, President
BornAgainRadio.com

[gaekwad2]

No

[Vytas]

Thanks for you swift reply.

The message linked to your "no" answer says Winamp would have to pay for the rights to the mp3PRO decoder.

Interestingly, THOMSON already gives away the Winamp plug-in as a free download. Did Winamp have to pay to include THOMSON/Coding Technologies AAC/aacPLUS native support?


Vytas Safroncikas
BornAgainRadio.com

[Wildrose-Wally]

As far as I know, mp3PRO is kinda dead.

[Vytas]

THOMSON's website says this about mp3PRO:

http://www.mp3licensing.com/mp3/mp3pro.html

"...commercial applications will have access to royalty-free mp3PRO decoding."

Dead or "not yet happening", it would appear that adding native Winamp support would not be a legal problem.

Vytas Safroncikas
BornAgainRadio.com

[Wildrose-Wally]

Is not going to happen anyway. Free or not free, there are no coders left at Nullsoft.

[DJ Egg]

Winamp is freeware, not commercial.
Patent/Royalty fees must be paid to Thomson/FhG.

http://www.mp3licensing.com/royalty/index.html

Sure, MP3Pro Decoding could be added to in_mp3.dll in Winamp Pro only, but would the average user be willing to pay the $14 fee just to get native MP3Pro decoding?

So basically, no means no!

Nullsoft chose aac/aacPlus to use as the audio format with Shoutcast NSV streaming.
We don't have any need for the dead MP3Pro format.

And, afaik, there's an option in the MP3Pro plugin config to not use it for standard MP3 streams.


ps. btw, Tag Loomis is still coding for Winamp.

[Vytas]

Call me stupid, but I don't get it.

Commercial software gets the decoder FREE?
Freeware has to PAY for it?
And THOMSON gives away the decoder plug-in for FREE.

If all of the above is true, the lawyers must be running the asylum.

Happy New Year!

Vytas Safroncikas
BornAgainRadio.com

[drewbar]

But Mp3Pro is still poo and pretty much a dead format. Just use the third party plug-in if you really want it.

[tuner2_admin]

Another bit of clarification, Thomson has nothing to do with aacPlus. aacPlus is a Coding Technologies thing which they put into MPEG as an open standard. (see ISO/IEC 14496-3, incl. Amd.1:2003, Amd.2:2004, known there as HE AAC and HE AAC v2). Yes, mp3PRO has the SBR from Coding Technologies (and CT even develops mp3PRO software,) but mp3PRO licensing is under the sole purvue of Thomson (as is mp3 for that matter.)

http://www.tuner2.com/

[Vytas]

Thanks for the info.

Bowing to marketplace realities, we've decided to drop our mp3PRO stream, using every bit to maximize the quality of our 56kbps mp3 stream. I still think mp3PRO still has very much to offer.

We have just started streaming in the new aacPLUS v2 format at 32kbps 44.1 kHz using Winamp 5.04 and higher.

I am still blown away with the audio quality that can be packed into a dial-up sized stream. Kudos to the Coding Technologies folks and everyone else associated with the aacPLUS technology.

Vytas Safroncikas
BornAgainRadio.com

[DJ Egg]

Hallelujah and amen