OPTICODEC-PC INTRODUCTION
1-1
Section 1
Introduction
About this Manual
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Overview
Opticodec-PC is the first standards-based MPEG-4 AAC/aacPlus
™
, AAC/HE AAC, ISMA
compliant and SHOUTcast/Icecast compatible encoding software for high quality
streaming audio. Opticodec-PC offers the most important feature that the basic net-
caster is looking for in an encoding product — entertainment-quality sound at eco-
nomical bitrates.
The software lets streaming providers supply content encoded with the Coding
Technologies
®
AAC/aacPlus codec, widely acknowledged as offering the highest
available audio quality at the lowest possible bitrate. Streams encoded with Optico-
dec-PC can be experienced through RealPlayer
®
10, QuickTime 6, Winamp 5.05, vari-
ous Ethernet players, and 3G wireless devices. Streams can automatically list them-
selves on
www.opticodec.net
, a directory service for Opticodec-PC streams.
Opticodec-PC offers a choice of a standards-based RTSP/RTP streaming protocol for
use with streaming servers (such as the free enterprise-class, scaleable Darwin
Streaming Server from Apple) or the HTTP/ICY streaming protocol (for use with
SHOUTcast or Icecast Servers). Both server types are non-proprietary and available
for most computer platforms, and some servers are open-source.
Professional radio broadcasters would never consider going on the air without audio
signal processing. They consider it a vital component of the program content, con-
tent being what attracts listeners. This carefully crafted content is what holds listen-
ers and keeps them coming back. Broadcast ratings services have proven this true for
over 30 years. Over that period, Orban’s patented Optimod technology has helped
radio and television broadcasters everywhere shape their sound to grab and hold
their listening audiences.
