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Format Description Properties
• ID: fdd000109
• Short name: Vorbis
• Content categories: sound
• Format category: bitstream encoding
• Last significant update: 2004-05-28
Identification and description
| Full name | Vorbis Audio Codec |
| Description | Bitstream encoding format designed for efficient distribution of waveform sound over moderate bandwidth connections; may be used at higher data rates for better fidelity. From an open source project. From the Vorbis specification: " . . . a general purpose perceptual audio CODEC intended to allow maximum encoder flexibility, thus allowing it to scale competitively over an exceptionally wide range of bitrates." |
| Production phase | Generally used for final-state, end-user delivery. |
| Relationship to other formats | |
| Used by | Ogg_Vorbis, file with specific audio codec |
Local use
| LC experience or existing holdings | None |
| LC preference | General preference for recorded sound is WAVE_LCPM. For compressed sound, MP3_FF or AAC_ADIF are acceptable. |
Sustainability factors
| Disclosure | Fully documented. Developed by the Xiph.Org Foundation, a non-profit organization. |
| Documentation | Vorbis specification. See also http://www.xiph.org/ogg/vorbis/doc/ and Useful references below. |
| Adoption | See Ogg_Vorbis. |
| Licensing and patent claims | See Ogg. |
| Transparency | Depends upon algorithms and tools to read; requires sophistication to build tools. Open source documentation supports tool building. |
| Self-documentation | See Ogg. |
| External dependencies | Surround sound requires appropriate amplifier and loudspeakers or headphone. |
| Technical protection considerations | See Ogg. |
Quality and functionality factors
| Normal rendering | Good support. |
| Fidelity (support for high audio resolution) |
From the specification:
"At the high quality/bitrate end of the scale (CD or DAT rate stereo,
16/24 bits) [Vorbis] is in the same league as MPEG-2 and MPC [MusePack
lossy audio codec]. Similarly, the 1.0 encoder can encode high-quality
CD and DAT rate stereo at below 48kbps without resampling to a lower
rate. Vorbis is also intended for lower and higher sample rates (from
8kHz telephony to 192kHz digital masters) . . . . " |
| Support for multiple sound channels | From the specification: " . . . a range of channel representations (monaural, polyphonic, stereo, quadraphonic, 5.1, ambisonic, or up to 255 discrete
channels)." |
| Support for downloadable or user-defined sounds, samples, and patches | Not investigated at this time. |
| Functionality beyond normal rendering | May be streamed as raw data under RTP (Realtime Transport Protocol) |
File type signifiers
| Tag type | Value | Note |
| Filename Extension | | See Ogg |
| Internet Media Type | | See Ogg_Vorbis |
Notes
Format specifications
URLs
• Vorbis specification (http://www.xiph.org/ogg/vorbis/doc/Vorbis_I_spec.pdf)
• See also Ogg.
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Useful references
URLs
• Streaming broadcasts that use Vorbis, aka "oggcasts" (http://wiki.xiph.org/VorbisStreams)
• Computer games that use Vorbis (http://wiki.xiph.org/GamesThatUseVorbis).
• See Ogg.
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Last updated Monday, 06-Mar-2006 07:38:53 EST
