What is the standardized internal processing frequency Opus encoders use for all input audio, including 44.1 kHz music streams?
Answer
48 kHz
A core engineering decision made by the Opus developers to prioritize consistency and optimize for modern hardware was standardizing on an internal processing frequency of 48 kHz. Even when input audio is provided at the common CD standard of 44.1 kHz, the encoder tools perform an internal conversion to 48 kHz. Any audio data exceeding 20 kHz is discarded during this process, as that range is considered irrelevant for lossy compression efficiency based on typical human hearing limits. This decision shifts the resampling burden to the encoder, allowing the decoder to operate consistently at its optimal, tested rate, providing a smoother experience across diverse devices.
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