What lossless audio codec gives the smallest file size for speech recordings?

MikeHunt79 · 8 Mar 2012 at 00:48

Apologies for a non GD like thread in GD, I couldn't really see any other section for this.

if a mod want to move it to sound city or something feel free to do so.

I'm recording in 16bit, 44.1Khz and mono, and there are a multitude of lossless codecs out there; FLAC, ALAC, APE, and Apple lossless spring to mind.

Now I've got hours of recordings that I'm archiving, and I really need the smallest filesize as eventually I'm going to have to upload them over a slowish connection.

So, Which codec would give the smallest filesize overall?

Thanks

datalol-jack · 8 Mar 2012 at 01:18

Speex is your best option, surely? If it is just voice, you will be pushed to find something better optimized or more compact.

Edit:

Sorry, missed the lossless bit. FLAC is a good option and is an open standard.

lord filbuster · 8 Mar 2012 at 01:22

Speex is lossy though.
To be honest, i'd just use FLAC on maximum compression if it has to be lossless. There really isn't anything in it size wise between lossless codecs.

DcD · 8 Mar 2012 at 01:26

To be honest, if you want lossless, size shouldn't be a concern. They just don't go together.

FLAC is your best bet I reckon.

MikeHunt79 · 9 Mar 2012 at 00:07

Ok, FLAC it is, thanks.

The files are pretty much the same size as OptimFROG it seems.

This site offers a good comparison:
http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=Lossless_comparison

DcD said:
To be honest, if you want lossless, size shouldn't be a concern. They just don't go together.

Well I've got a few Gb of uncompressed AIF files (similar to WAV) that will probably compress down to around 50% of their original size, so if I can compress without throwing away data I will.

I've already tried using programs like 7zip but you have to decompress the file before you can listen to it so not ideal.

DcD said:
FLAC is your best bet I reckon.

Yep everything seems to support FLAC apart from iTunes, but I prefer VLC anyway so I'm now running all my AIF files thru a FLAC compressor and they seem to be around 40% of the original size.