mppenc 1.16/libmpcdec 1.2.3

[Seed]

Musepack encoder version 1.16 and libmpcdec 1.2.3 are released.

libmpcdec 1.2.3 enables a new, fast method for seeking, and additionally, a seek table, the result of which is generally instant seeking. On very long tracks you will sometimes notice a delay when seeking from beginning to the end of the track. However, on consecutive seeks playback resumes instantly.

On files that were encoded with an encoder older than 1.16 fast seeking is not bit-perfect. The reason is that sometimes, due to the way older encoders inject scale factors to the stream, the new seeking method may replace a very high frequency band with silence for a period of a few milliseconds and in rare cases up to a second or so.

In our testing we haven't found any case where that is actually audible. Other than a theoretical very slightly different sounding output for a very short time period after seeking, there is no other artifact that can be caused by the fast seeking, so for all practical purposes it is perfectly fine on older as well as newer files.

The new encoder version differs mainly in the way it injects scale factors to the stream. This enables bit perfect seeking at all times with the new decoding library.

Special thanks goes to snowgoon for the initial seeking patches, R2D, for developing it further and adding features, Lefungus, for doing lots of library work, encoder patching and advising, and xmixahlx for his loads of testing, compiling, patching and support.

1.16 is probably the last SV7 encoder. All efforts are now directed at building SV8. Development can be followed on our Trac and SVN repositories.

Decoder library changelog:

1.2.3
* Added fast-seeking (bit-perfect only with mppenc 1.16 files and later, optional but safe on pre-mppenc 1.16 files). Patch by Nicolas Botti
* Reduced memory usage and code size. Patch by Peter Pawlowski

Encoder changelog:

1.16:
* Add fast seeking flag in reserved header data. Enable bit-perfect fast seeking. Patch by Andrew Cupper & Nicolas Botti
* Add optional beeping at the end of encoding (--beep)
* Remove tag guessing from filename on UNIX
* Add Unicode input support for tags (--unicode) (UNIX only). Patch by Valery Bruniaux
* Frontend patches from xmixahlx & Shy
* Code clean-up
* Port build system to cmake for UNIX & msvc2005 for win32

1.15v
* Workaround for denormal number issues. Synthetic samples with passages of digital silence are handled correctly regardless of the compiler used
* Translation of German source code comments to English. Patch by CiTay & Seed

1.15u
* Changes in the way the encoded signal is padded to MPC frame boundaries. Beginning and end of track encoding is handled differently, resulting in significantly improved gapless coding. Thanks to Xiph's Monty for the initial advice

1.15t
* Aggressive compiler settings could cause a glitch in rare synthetic samples

1.15s
* In some rare cases, the output file would have an incorrect duration (4 missing samples) when encoding some very long tracks
* There was a glitch at the end of the track when encoding from a 24-bit source through pipe
* --xlevel is used by default. Use --noxlevel to override
* Removed "Unstable/Experimental" flag writing

mppenc 1.16 for Windows
mppenc 1.16 for Linux / mppenc 1.16 source code
libmpcdec 1.2.3

[xmixahlx]

in addition, xmms-musepack has been updated to utilize fast-seeking with the 1.2.1 release.

the feature is a toggle in the decoder plugin options (enable/disable fast seeking).

webpage: http://www.musepack.net/index.php?pg=lin
tarball: http://files.musepack.net/linux/plug...-1.2.1.tar.bz2

also, rarewares/debian is updated with: libmpcdec, mppenc (musepack-encoder), and xmms-musepack


later

[Seed]

I want to thank r2d for joining the dev team and for his great work on the new stream version. Hannes for hosting the Musepack packages on a reliable German mirror. grimmel for hosting Musepack's TRAC/SVN and testing on FreeBSD. DEATH for his late-night work that enabled support of 1.16 on the best audio player for any OS, foobar2000. Lefungus, for his relentless passion regarding the new encoder and lots of hours of work on the lib. GenjuroXL with his mingw testing. snowgoon, for creating interest in the format again through his patches. preglow, for making MPC on RockBox a reality. xmixahlx, for his ongoing support and suggestions. Shy, for endless days and nights of working on the site and testing samples. reezeh, for the turnips

[Seed]

Anyone who downloaded the new encoder in the first 4 hours since its release should redownload it from the same URL. A last minute b0rkage
caused mppenc to fail with lower --quality settings. The culprit should have his head chopped by a guillotine very soon

[flocksoft]

congratulations to all the developers, very good news

I like the fast seeking, useful in partiicular with very long files!

we was waiting for 1.15w, but you give us 1.16

from http://www.musepack.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1443#1443

Originally Posted by Shy

notes/explanations

The next encoder release will be 1.15w. The bit stream's version number will be incremented to 7.2 (current is 7.1). The updated bitstream will be fully compatible with previous SV7 decoders/decoder libraries.

The new changes in the bitstream and the decoder library allow fast, sample and bit accurate seeking in MPC files encoded with the new encoder.

Existing MPC files, made with 1.15v and below, can also take advantage of fast seeking. The difference is that decoding accuracy after seeking, for a period of a few miliseconds and in rare cases up to a few seconds, may not be perfect (bit-accurate). A very high frequency, often unused subband may not be used during that time. The difference would most likely not be audible, and in a case where it is audible, it would pose no major issue (clicking, screeching, etc). A tool to losslessly convert existing files' bitstream (no reencoding involved) will be offered.

The release date is not set. It could take about a week or few.

Developers are welcome to test the current changes and feedback is appreciated.

now using last mp3tag version (2.37), the "identified codec" is Musepack SV7.0

here's an addition for the software list: CUE Splitter since last release (yesterday) supports mpc splitting (first program able to do this, AFAIK)
http://www.enfis.it/news.php

[Shy]

Yes, the ".0" may be added by some applications. In fact, the internal Stream Version number (which has been 7.1 for years, and is now is 7.2) is not really reported to applications by the decoder, so applications may simply report it as 7 or 7.0. It's really just an aesthetic problem though .

Good to see that Enfis released the new version already. I've discussed with him by email lately. I'll add CUE Splitter to the program overview page.

[user]

great, great, great !
1000 Thanks, will use 1.16 soon (and replace 1.15) for my new backup rips as small HQ alternative backup to the flac's.

Hihi, these histories are slaps around the ears for some guys at a certain forum The quality counts, and people with ears use mpc, and knowledgeable people invest their time into the right things

[incaseof]

Definitely longer battery life with Rockbox on iPod Video 5G!

Keep up the good work, appreciate your sweat..

[xmixahlx]

a bug-fix of libmpcdec 1.2.3 prompts the release of...

libmpcdec 1.2.4.

the frontpage is updated, as well
packages at rarewares/debian are updated, also.


later