# Audio encoders blocks

Media Blocks SDK .Net

Audio encoding is the process of converting raw audio data into a compressed format. This process is essential for reducing the size of audio files, making them easier to store and stream over the internet. VisioForge Media Blocks SDK provides a wide range of audio encoders that support various formats and codecs.

# AAC encoder

AAC (Advanced Audio Coding): A lossy compression format known for its efficiency and superior sound quality compared to MP3, widely used in digital music and broadcasting.

AAC encoder is used for encoding files in MP4, MKV, M4A and some other formats, as well as for network streaming using RTSP and HLS.

Use the AACEncoderSettings class to set the parameters.

# Block info

Name: AACEncoderBlock.

Pin direction Media type Pins count
Input PCM/IEEE 1
Output AAC 1

# The sample pipeline 

graph LR;
    UniversalSourceBlock-->AACEncoderBlock;
    AACEncoderBlock-->MP4SinkBlock;

# Sample code 

var pipeline = new MediaBlocksPipeline();

var filename = "test.mp3";
var fileSource = new UniversalSourceBlock(await UniversalSourceSettings.CreateAsync(new Uri(filename)));

var aacEncoderBlock = new AACEncoderBlock(new MFAACEncoderSettings() { Bitrate = 192 });

pipeline.Connect(fileSource.AudioOutput, aacEncoderBlock.Input);

var m4aSinkBlock = new MP4SinkBlock(new MP4SinkSettings(@"output.m4a"));
pipeline.Connect(aacEncoderBlock.Output, m4aSinkBlock.CreateNewInput(MediaBlockPadMediaType.Audio));

await pipeline.StartAsync();

# ADPCM encoder

ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation): A type of audio compression that reduces the bit rate required for audio storage and transmission while maintaining audio quality through adaptive prediction.

ADPCM encoder is used for embedding audio streams in DV, WAV and AVI formats.

Use the ADPCMEncoderSettings class to set the parameters.

# Block info

Name: ADPCMEncoderBlock.

Pin direction Media type Pins count
Input PCM/IEEE 1
Output ADPCM 1

# The sample pipeline 

graph LR;
    UniversalSourceBlock-->ADPCMEncoderBlock;
    ADPCMEncoderBlock-->WAVSinkBlock;

# Sample code 

var pipeline = new MediaBlocksPipeline();

var filename = "test.mp3";
var fileSource = new UniversalSourceBlock(await UniversalSourceSettings.CreateAsync(new Uri(filename)));

var adpcmEncoderBlock = new ADPCMEncoderBlock(new ADPCMEncoderSettings());
pipeline.Connect(fileSource.AudioOutput, adpcmEncoderBlock.Input);

var wavSinkBlock = new WAVSinkBlock(@"output.wav");
pipeline.Connect(adpcmEncoderBlock.Output, wavSinkBlock.Input);

await pipeline.StartAsync();

# ALAW encoder

ALAW (A-law algorithm): A standard companding algorithm used in digital communications systems to optimize the dynamic range of an analog signal for digitizing.

ALAW encoder is used for embedding audio streams in WAV format or transmitting over IP.

Use the ALAWEncoderSettings class to set the parameters.

# Block info

Name: ALAWEncoderBlock.

Pin direction Media type Pins count
Input PCM/IEEE 1
Output ALAW 1

# The sample pipeline 

graph LR;
    UniversalSourceBlock-->ALAWEncoderBlock;
    ALAWEncoderBlock-->WAVSinkBlock;

# Sample code 

var pipeline = new MediaBlocksPipeline();

var filename = "test.mp3";
var fileSource = new UniversalSourceBlock(await UniversalSourceSettings.CreateAsync(new Uri(filename)));

var alawEncoderBlock = new ALAWEncoderBlock(new ALAWEncoderSettings());
pipeline.Connect(fileSource.AudioOutput, alawEncoderBlock.Input);

var wavSinkBlock = new WAVSinkBlock(@"output.wav");
pipeline.Connect(alawEncoderBlock.Output, wavSinkBlock.Input);

await pipeline.StartAsync();

# FLAC encoder

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec): A lossless audio compression format that preserves audio quality while significantly reducing file size compared to uncompressed formats like WAV.

FLAC encoder is used for encoding audio in FLAC format.

Use the FLACEncoderSettings class to set the parameters.

# Block info

Name: FLACEncoderBlock.

Pin direction Media type Pins count
Input PCM/IEEE 1
Output FLAC 1

# The sample pipeline 

graph LR;
    UniversalSourceBlock-->FLACEncoderBlock;
    FLACEncoderBlock-->FileSinkBlock;

# Sample code 

var pipeline = new MediaBlocksPipeline();

var filename = "test.mp3";
var fileSource = new UniversalSourceBlock(await UniversalSourceSettings.CreateAsync(new Uri(filename)));

var flacEncoderBlock = new FLACEncoderBlock(new FLACEncoderSettings());
pipeline.Connect(fileSource.AudioOutput, flacEncoderBlock.Input);

var fileSinkBlock = new FileSinkBlock(@"output.flac");
pipeline.Connect(flacEncoderBlock.Output, fileSinkBlock.Input);

await pipeline.StartAsync();

# MP2 encoder

MP2 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer II): An older audio compression format that preceded MP3, still used in some broadcasting applications due to its efficiency at specific bitrates.

MP2 encoder is used for transmitting over IP or embedding to AVI/MPEG-2 formats.

Use the MP2EncoderSettings class to set the parameters.

# Block info

Name: MP2EncoderBlock.

Pin direction Media type Pins count
Input PCM/IEEE 1
Output audio/mpeg 1

# The sample pipeline 

graph LR;
    UniversalSourceBlock-->MP2EncoderBlock;
    MP2EncoderBlock-->FileSinkBlock;

# Sample code 

var pipeline = new MediaBlocksPipeline();

var filename = "test.mp3";
var fileSource = new UniversalSourceBlock(await UniversalSourceSettings.CreateAsync(new Uri(filename)));

var mp2EncoderBlock = new MP2EncoderBlock(new MP2EncoderSettings() { Bitrate = 192 });
pipeline.Connect(fileSource.AudioOutput, mp2EncoderBlock.Input);

var fileSinkBlock = new FileSinkBlock(@"output.mp2");
pipeline.Connect(mp2EncoderBlock.Output, fileSinkBlock.Input);

await pipeline.StartAsync();

# MP3 encoder

MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer III): A popular lossy audio format that revolutionized digital music distribution by compressing files while retaining a reasonable sound quality.

An MP3 encoder can convert audio streams into MP3 files or embed MP3 audio streams in formats like AVI, MKV, and others.

Use the MP3EncoderSettings class to set the parameters.

# Block info

Name: MP3EncoderBlock.

Pin direction Media type Pins count
Input PCM/IEEE 1
Output audio/mpeg 1

# The sample pipeline 

graph LR;
    UniversalSourceBlock-->MP3EncoderBlock;
    MP3EncoderBlock-->FileSinkBlock;

# Sample code 

var pipeline = new MediaBlocksPipeline();

var filename = "test.mp3";
var fileSource = new UniversalSourceBlock(await UniversalSourceSettings.CreateAsync(new Uri(filename)));

var mp3EncoderBlock = new MP3EncoderBlock(new MP3EncoderSettings() { Bitrate = 192 });
pipeline.Connect(fileSource.AudioOutput, mp3EncoderBlock.Input);

var fileSinkBlock = new FileSinkBlock(@"output.mp3");
pipeline.Connect(mp3EncoderBlock.Output, fileSinkBlock.Input);

await pipeline.StartAsync();

# OPUS encoder

OPUS: A highly efficient lossy audio compression format designed for the internet with low latency and high audio quality, making it ideal for real-time applications like WebRTC.

OPUS encoder is used for embedding audio streams in WebM or OGG formats.

Use the OPUSEncoderSettings class to set the parameters.

# Block info

Name: OPUSEncoderBlock.

Pin direction Media type Pins count
Input PCM/IEEE 1
Output OPUS 1

# The sample pipeline 

graph LR;
    UniversalSourceBlock-->OPUSEncoderBlock;
    OPUSEncoderBlock-->WebMSinkBlock;

# Sample code 

var pipeline = new MediaBlocksPipeline();

var filename = "test.mp3";
var fileSource = new UniversalSourceBlock(await UniversalSourceSettings.CreateAsync(new Uri(filename)));

var opusEncoderBlock = new OPUSEncoderBlock(new OPUSEncoderSettings() { Bitrate = 192 });
pipeline.Connect(fileSource.AudioOutput, opusEncoderBlock.Input);

var webmSinkBlock = new WebMSinkBlock(new WebMSinkSettings(@"output.webm"));
pipeline.Connect(opusEncoderBlock.Output, webmSinkBlock.CreateNewInput(MediaBlockPadMediaType.Audio));

await pipeline.StartAsync();

# Speex encoder

Speex: A patent-free audio compression format designed specifically for speech, offering high compression rates while maintaining clarity for voice recordings.

Speex encoder is used for embedding audio streams in OGG format.

Use the SpeexEncoderSettings class to set the parameters.

# Block info

Name: SpeexEncoderBlock.

Pin direction Media type Pins count
Input PCM/IEEE 1
Output Speex 1

# The sample pipeline 

graph LR;
    UniversalSourceBlock-->SpeexEncoderBlock;
    SpeexEncoderBlock-->OGGSinkBlock;

# Sample code 

var pipeline = new MediaBlocksPipeline();

var filename = "test.mp3";
var fileSource = new UniversalSourceBlock(await UniversalSourceSettings.CreateAsync(new Uri(filename)));

var speexEncoderBlock = new SpeexEncoderBlock(new SpeexEncoderSettings() { Mode = SpeexMode.NarrowBand });
pipeline.Connect(fileSource.AudioOutput, speexEncoderBlock.Input);

var oggSinkBlock = new OGGSinkBlock(@"output.ogg");
pipeline.Connect(speexEncoderBlock.Output, oggSinkBlock.Input);

await pipeline.StartAsync();

# Vorbis encoder

Vorbis: An open-source, lossy audio compression format designed as a free alternative to MP3, often used within the OGG container format.

Vorbis encoder is used for embedding audio streams in OGG or WebM formats.

Use the VorbisEncoderSettings class to set the parameters.

# Block info

Name: VorbisEncoderBlock.

Pin direction Media type Pins count
Input PCM/IEEE 1
Output Vorbis 1

# The sample pipeline 

graph LR;
    UniversalSourceBlock-->VorbisEncoderBlock;
    VorbisEncoderBlock-->OGGSinkBlock;

# Sample code 

var pipeline = new MediaBlocksPipeline();

var filename = "test.mp3";
var fileSource = new UniversalSourceBlock(await UniversalSourceSettings.CreateAsync(new Uri(filename)));

var vorbisEncoderBlock = new VorbisEncoderBlock(new VorbisEncoderSettings() { BaseQuality = 0.5f });
pipeline.Connect(fileSource.AudioOutput, vorbisEncoderBlock.Input);

var oggSinkBlock = new OGGSinkBlock(@"output.ogg");
pipeline.Connect(vorbisEncoderBlock.Output, oggSinkBlock.Input);

await pipeline.StartAsync();

# WAV encoder

WAV (Waveform Audio File Format): An uncompressed audio format that preserves audio quality but results in larger file sizes compared to compressed formats.

WAV encoder is used for encoding audio into WAV format.

Use the WAVEncoderSettings class to set the parameters.

# Block info

Name: WAVEncoderBlock.

Pin direction Media type Pins count
Input PCM/IEEE 1
Output WAV 1

# The sample pipeline 

graph LR;
    UniversalSourceBlock-->WAVEncoderBlock;
    WAVEncoderBlock-->FileSinkBlock;

# Sample code 

var pipeline = new MediaBlocksPipeline();

var filename = "test.mp3";
var fileSource = new UniversalSourceBlock(await UniversalSourceSettings.CreateAsync(new Uri(filename)));

var wavEncoderBlock = new WAVEncoderBlock(new WAVEncoderSettings());
pipeline.Connect(fileSource.AudioOutput, wavEncoderBlock.Input);

var fileSinkBlock = new FileSinkBlock(@"output.wav");
pipeline.Connect(wavEncoderBlock.Output, fileSinkBlock.Input);

await pipeline.StartAsync();

# WMA encoder

WMA (Windows Media Audio): A proprietary audio compression format developed by Microsoft, offering various compression levels and features for different audio applications.

WMA encoder is used for encoding audio in WMA format.

Use the WMAEncoderSettings class to set the parameters.

# Block info

Name: WMAEncoderBlock.

Pin direction Media type Pins count
Input PCM/IEEE 1
Output WMA 1

# The sample pipeline 

graph LR;
    UniversalSourceBlock-->WMAEncoderBlock;
    WMAEncoderBlock-->ASFSinkBlock;

# Sample code 

var pipeline = new MediaBlocksPipeline();

var filename = "test.mp3";
var fileSource = new UniversalSourceBlock(await UniversalSourceSettings.CreateAsync(new Uri(filename)));

var wmaEncoderBlock = new WMAEncoderBlock(new WMAEncoderSettings() { Bitrate = 192 });
pipeline.Connect(fileSource.AudioOutput, wmaEncoderBlock.Input);

var asfSinkBlock = new ASFSinkBlock(@"output.wma");
pipeline.Connect(wmaEncoderBlock.Output, asfSinkBlock.CreateNewInput(MediaBlockPadMediaType.Audio));

await pipeline.StartAsync();

# Platforms

Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.