The Technology of Video and Audio Streaming, 2nd Edition

9Audio encoding

Introduction

Audio encoding can look easy beside video. It takes only a few seconds to set up a PC to rip your favorite CDs to an MP3 file. The MP3 industry has spawned a large number of encoding applications, many that can be used to process streaming audio.

There are a few pitfalls to avoid, but a modest investment in equipment can produce very good results. The problems encoding audio are most likely to arise if you want to set up live webcasts on location. You lose the control that you had ripping CDs back in the workshop. Also, music CDs are carefully crafted, with excellent mixes, controlled dynamics, and superb sound quality. At the live event, you are recording direct from microphones via an audio console, and you may ...