# WavPack Audio Encoder for .NET Applications

Video Capture SDK .Net Video Edit SDK .Net Media Blocks SDK .Net

VideoCaptureCoreX VideoEditCoreX MediaBlocksPipeline

WavPack is a powerful audio codec that offers both lossless and hybrid lossy compression capabilities, making it highly versatile for different application requirements. The VisioForge.Core library provides a robust implementation of this codec for .NET developers seeking high-quality audio compression solutions.

With support for various quality levels, correction modes, and stereo encoding options, the WavPack encoder can handle multiple channel configurations while delivering excellent compression across a wide range of bitrates and sample rates.

To begin using the WavPack encoder, you'll need to create an instance of the WavPackEncoderSettings class with your desired parameters:

var encoder = new WavPackEncoderSettings
{
    Mode = WavPackEncoderMode.Normal,
    JointStereoMode = WavPackEncoderJSMode.Auto,
    CorrectionMode = WavPackEncoderCorrectionMode.Off,
    MD5 = false
};

This simple configuration uses balanced compression settings and automatic stereo encoding mode selection, suitable for most general use cases.

WavPack offers four distinct compression modes that balance processing speed against compression efficiency:

public enum WavPackEncoderMode
{
    Fast = 1,      // Prioritizes encoding speed
    Normal = 2,    // Balanced compression (default)
    High = 3,      // Higher compression ratio
    VeryHigh = 4   // Maximum compression
}

For applications where file size is critical, you can implement higher compression settings:

var encoder = new WavPackEncoderSettings
{
    Mode = WavPackEncoderMode.High,
    ExtraProcessing = 1 // Enables advanced filters for better compression
};

The most straightforward method for controlling output quality is to specify a target bitrate:

var encoder = new WavPackEncoderSettings
{
    Bitrate = 192000 // 192 kbps
};

Key specifications for bitrate control:

• Valid range: 24,000 to 9,600,000 bits/second
• Setting values below 24,000 disables lossy encoding
• Enables the lossy encoding mode automatically

For more precise quality control, especially when maintaining consistent quality across different sample rates is important:

var encoder = new WavPackEncoderSettings
{
    BitsPerSample = 16.0 // Equivalent to 16-bit quality
};

Important notes:

• Values below 2.0 disable lossy encoding
• This approach maintains more consistent quality regardless of sample rate variations

WavPack provides three methods for encoding stereo content, each with different characteristics:

var encoder = new WavPackEncoderSettings
{
    JointStereoMode = WavPackEncoderJSMode.Auto
};

Available stereo encoding modes:

• Auto: Intelligently selects the optimal encoding method based on content
• LeftRight: Uses traditional left/right channel separation
• MidSide: Implements mid/side encoding which often yields better compression for stereo material

One of WavPack's unique features is its hybrid mode, which generates a correction file alongside the main compressed file:

var encoder = new WavPackEncoderSettings
{
    CorrectionMode = WavPackEncoderCorrectionMode.Optimized,
    Bitrate = 192000 // Required when using correction modes
};

The available correction options:

• Off: Standard operation with no correction file
• On: Generates a standard correction file
• Optimized: Creates an optimization-focused correction file

Note that correction modes only function when lossy encoding is active, making them ideal for applications where initial file size is important but future lossless restoration might be needed.

The WavPack encoder supports:

• Sample rates from 6,000 Hz to 192,000 Hz
• 1 to 8 audio channels
• Optional MD5 hash storage of raw samples for verification
• Additional processing options for quality enhancement

Before implementation, you can verify encoder availability in your environment:

if (WavPackEncoderSettings.IsAvailable())
{
    // Configure and use the encoder
    var encoder = new WavPackEncoderSettings
    {
        Mode = WavPackEncoderMode.Normal,
        Bitrate = 192000,
        MD5 = true
    };
}

// Initialize the Video Capture SDK core
var core = new VideoCaptureCoreX();

// Create a WavPack output instance
var wavPackOutput = new WavPackOutput("output.wv");

// Add the WavPack output to the capture pipeline
core.Outputs_Add(wavPackOutput, true);

// Initialize the Video Edit SDK core
var core = new VideoEditCoreX();

// Create a WavPack output instance
var wavPackOutput = new WavPackOutput("output.wv");

// Set the output format
core.Output_Format = wavPackOutput;

// Configure WavPack encoder settings
var wavPackSettings = new WavPackEncoderSettings();

// Create the encoder block
var wavPackOutput = new WavPackEncoderBlock(wavPackSettings);

// Create a file output destination
var fileSink = new FileSinkBlock("output.wv");

// Connect the encoder to the file sink in the pipeline
pipeline.Connect(wavPackOutput.Output, fileSink.Input); // pipeline is MediaBlocksPipeline

For optimal encoder performance and quality balance:

When implementing WavPack in your applications:

1. Balance quality and performance by selecting the appropriate compression mode based on your use case
2. Leverage hybrid mode when distributing lossy files that may need lossless restoration later
3. Consider format compatibility with your target platforms and playback environments
4. Test thoroughly across different audio content types to ensure optimal settings

The WavPack encoder provides a versatile solution for audio compression in .NET applications. Whether you need archival-grade lossless compression or efficient lossy compression with future upgrade potential, the implementation in VisioForge's SDKs offers the flexibility and performance required by professional audio applications.

By understanding the various configuration options and implementation strategies outlined in this guide, you can effectively integrate WavPack encoding into your software development projects and deliver high-quality audio processing capabilities to your users.