äänikompressioita

Äänikompressio, also known as audio compression, refers to the process of reducing the size of digital audio files. This is achieved by removing redundant or less perceptible information from the audio signal. There are two main types of audio compression: lossless and lossy.

Lossless compression techniques reduce file size without discarding any audio data. This means that when a lossless compressed file is decompressed, it is identical to the original, preserving all its original quality. Examples of lossless audio codecs include FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) and ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec). These are often preferred for archival purposes or by audiophiles who prioritize the highest fidelity.

Lossy compression, on the other hand, achieves greater file size reduction by permanently removing parts of the audio data that are considered less important to human hearing. This is based on psychoacoustic models that exploit the limitations of human perception. While the decompressed file is not identical to the original, the perceived difference in quality can be minimal, especially at higher bitrates. Popular examples of lossy audio codecs include MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) and AAC (Advanced Audio Coding). Lossy compression is widely used for music streaming, digital radio, and portable music players due to its efficiency in saving storage space and bandwidth. The trade-off is a reduction in audio fidelity compared to the original source.