While video quality often gets the spotlight, poor audio can ruin an otherwise perfect video. Understanding audio codecs and proper encoding settings is crucial for professional results.
AAC: The Modern Standard
Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) is the de facto standard for video audio. It offers better quality than MP3 at the same bitrate and is supported by virtually all devices and platforms. AAC is the default audio codec for YouTube, streaming services, and most video formats.
Recommended AAC Settings
- •For speech/podcasts: 128 kbps stereo or 64 kbps mono
- •For music videos: 192-256 kbps stereo
- •For high-quality music: 256-320 kbps stereo
- •Sample rate: 48 kHz (video standard) or 44.1 kHz (audio CD standard)
MP3: The Universal Fallback
While AAC has surpassed MP3 in quality and efficiency, MP3 remains useful for maximum compatibility with older devices. It's supported by literally every device made in the last 25 years. Use MP3 when you need guaranteed playback on vintage or specialized hardware.
Opus: Superior Quality for Web
Opus is an open, royalty-free codec that delivers exceptional quality, especially at low bitrates. It's becoming increasingly popular for web applications, streaming, and VoIP. While browser support is excellent, support on mobile apps and standalone players is still growing.
When to Use Opus
- •Web video applications where file size matters
- •Real-time communication and streaming
- •Projects requiring open-source, royalty-free solutions
- •Low-latency applications
Sample Rate and Bit Depth
For video work, stick with 48 kHz sample rate - it's the broadcast and video production standard. Only use 44.1 kHz when working with audio CD sources. For bit depth, 16-bit is sufficient for final delivery; 24-bit is only needed during editing to preserve quality through multiple processing stages.
Matching Audio to Video Quality
Balance your audio quality with your video quality. There's no point using 320 kbps audio with heavily compressed video, or vice versa. With Conter, you can create presets that combine appropriate video and audio settings for different use cases.
