What is ATRAC3plus?
ATRAC3plus is a new audio codec from Sony that differs substantially from ATRAC3 (ATRAC4 would in fact have been a better name). Though not used in the original Minidisc, ATRAC3plus is used in Hi-MD and Sony’s solid-state and CD walkman products. It uses a transform window 4 times bigger than ATRAC3 (4096 samples, or 92ms) and splits the input into 16 sub-bands prior to the FFT (MDCT) and subsequent bit allocation processing. Sony has measured ATRAC3plus fidelity at 64kbps and found its audio quality equivalent to 128kbps MP3 (mech. trans.) Sony’s current PC software produces ATRAC3plus output at user selectable bitrates of 132, 105, 66, 64 and 48 kbps. AV Watch Japan has done a bit of ATRAC3plus signal analysis and comparison with ATRAC3 (mech. trans.) ATRAC3plus is described briefly on Sony’s ATRAC3 site (local copy).
Related Questions
- I want to listen to my favorite music on my PSP system using a Memory Stick media. What media do you recommend for ATRAC3plus format files, including ATRAC3?
- How can I record music on a Memory Stick Duo media to play music on a PSP using the ATRAC3plus format (including ATRAC3)?
- Can a CD created in the ATRAC3 or ATRAC3plus format or MP3 format play in any CD player?
