StreamFab Staff,Please forward this to the programmer/developer to fix how StreamFab handles Audio for CBR on it's Amazon downloader product.StreamFab gets the best available audio nearly every time for CBVR (HEVC).This is *not* the case with StreamFab CBR audio even when better audio (bitrate/# of channels/Dolby) is available via Amazon. (see attached)This occurs on Amazon Prime Movies, TV Shows, Addon Channels and purchased movies.Amazon is my number one goto streaming service and it's frustrating to have to compare files in order to get the best available download, which also includes audio quality.Thanks!PS: This is probably even more important considering your recent email to me about your new "aggregate search engine" that you will be coming out with. The best download option is different for different people but should also consider audio quality in it's assessment.We plan to launch:[B]* An aggregated search engine where you can search and compare videos from different platforms to find your best download option![/B]- StreamFab via email to me on July 27, 2022.

StreamFab Staff,Please forward this to the programmer/developer to fix how StreamFab handles Audio for CBR on it's Amazon downloader product.StreamFab gets the best available audio nearly every time for CBVR (HEVC).[/I]Mike_MSome updates from today to include with yesterday's downloads.

I just grab the worst quality CVBR video stream then manually mux the audio from CVBR and video from CBR.

I'm pretty certain that was intentional as the fact that it would do that was stated in the initial release of the feature allowing users to choose between CVBR and CNR, The audio bitrate encoding type was paired with each.It would be nice to be able to choose the audio bitrate encoding type as a separate choice, IMO.I know bitrate encoding type isn't the correct term, but can't remember the correct term for fixed quality vs fixed bitrate in audio.

I'm pretty certain that was intentional as the fact that it would do that was stated in the initial release of the feature allowing users to choose between CVBR and CNR, The audio bitrate encoding type was paired with each.It would be nice to be able to choose the audio bitrate encoding type as a separate choice, IMO.I know bitrate encoding type isn't the correct term, but can't remember the correct term for fixed quality vs fixed bitrate in audio.potenial_userThanks for your post!*****I read a few previous posts from Kid Joe (re: Fixed Respecting) and Mona (H265 is usually better quality) in regards to audio quality on Amazon.***** ⬇️https://forum.dvdfab.cn/forum/softwa...azon-cbr-audioYes v4.0.1.3 has fixed respecting the H264/H265 setting for Amazon. The H265 (HEVC) files are smaller, but if I recall correctly that is because HEVC/H265 is more efficient at the same bit rates.And so far Jolt and Without Remorse, which downloaded as H264 and 224 kb/s, 84 kHz, 2 Channel E-AC-3 (DD+) audio on 4.0.1.2, they now come down as HEVC(h265) video with 640 kb/s 48 kHz, 6 Channel (5.1), E-AC-3 (DD+) audio.- KidJoehttps://forum.dvdfab.cn/forum/softwa...ged#post408173Most streams with h265 video have better audio.StreamFab downloads them, not re-encode them.- Mona****** To me this is a quality issue in audio and does not appear to be spelled out in any documentation on StreamFab's Amazon Downloader Module and their website.It only says that a user has a choice of formats.In the case StreamFab Amazon module if you choose CBR on Amazon the audio quality is diminished and you don't really have the choice of Audio options.I kind of understand that it may be related to coding/re-encoding and only grabbing the standard offered configuration (fixed respecting?) for H264 from Amazon.StreamFab currently takes a lot of time in downloading and processing a file and kicks off a "re-muxing" process near the end.I don't know how difficult it would be for StreamFab to grab the best audio version and re-combine it in with the CBR/H264 format to produce a better file.I do know that the alternate software does not *seem* to take much, if any time, in combining the best audio from Amazon into it's CBR File when it downloads these same files from Amazon Prime, subscribed channels or purchased videos.I spent a lot of time (weeks) revisiting my movies and re-downloading what I think is the "best download option" for me.Best for me: Good Resolution/Bitrate of Video and Audio with multi-channel/Dolby/Dolby+I also spent time downloading files at least 3 different ways, putting them in a spreadsheet and comparing them for people to consider.My main TV/Audio setup has a test emulation mode that emulates multi-channel from 2 channels, but it's *not* as good or enjoyable as having those aspects available in a download, especially in high action films and music offerings for artists.

I just grab the worst quality CVBR video stream then manually mux the audio from CVBR and video from CBR.DeadPixelHi all,I know that the audio bitrate of CBR is 192 kbps/s, if we can confirm that the new video is played back well after mux from the CVBR audio and CBR video, we will consider to download CVBR audio when downloading CBR video from Amazon.Wilson

Hi all,I know that the audio bitrate of CBR is 192 kbps/s, if we can confirm that the new video is played back well after mux from the CVBR audio and CBR video, we will consider to download CVBR audio when downloading CBR video from Amazon.WilsonWilson.WangWilson Wang,Thank You! for your consideration.It will save a *lot* of work and go towards making StreamFab an even better and versatile product.Really appreciate you looking into this.It will be especially cool on the CBR files that are AAC stereo and have Dolby versions for the CVBR when there is a very notifiable difference in audio quality.It doesn't just effect Amazon, but all of the other various channels and offerings including purchased videos.Mike

Hi all,I know that the audio bitrate of CBR is 192 kbps/s, if we can confirm that the new video is played back well after mux from the CVBR audio and CBR video, we will consider to download CVBR audio when downloading CBR video from Amazon.WilsonWilson.WangI've been muxing the two since CBR was enabled and I'm yet to see a situation where the audio was out of sync or didn't work properly.

Hi all,I know that the audio bitrate of CBR is 192 kbps/s, if we can confirm that the new video is played back well after mux from the CVBR audio and CBR video, we will consider to download CVBR audio when downloading CBR video from Amazon.WilsonWilson.WangNothing to confirm...they match and always have.

Thanks Wilson, that is great news! Hopefully it happens

Wilson Wang,Could it also be possible to see the audio format and bit rate directly before the download?For example, AAC 128 kbit or Dolby Digital 640 kbit.At the moment, only the approximate file size is displayed for audio.It would be very helpful to see the exact bit rate and audio format before the download.

Staff/StreamFab/Programmer - Please fix Amazon CBR Audio

Mike_M

Summation of StreamFab 5.0.4.0 Dev v.5 and aggregate post of data at:

StreamFab 5.0.4.9 Dev v.5 (CBR Audio improvement) with Amazon/Channels/Purchases
https://forum.dvdfab.cn/forum/software-support-english/youtube-to-mp3-youtube-video-downloader/413922-streamfab-5-0-4-9-dev-v-5-cbr-audio-improvement-with-amazon-channels-purchases

Dula87

Anyway to get this beta compiled for MacOS?

Chameleon

So to sum it up this just enhances the audio to 224 kb/s 2 Channel Dolby Digital Plus. This whole new version is all about audio, not video, am I correct? HBO is still 720p and nothing has changed.

Mike_M

So to sum it up this just enhances the audio to 224 kb/s 2 Channel Dolby Digital Plus. This whole new version is all about audio, not video, am I correct? HBO is still 720p and nothing has changed.
Chameleon

The topic I started was "Staff/StreamFab/Programmer - Please fix Amazon CBR Audio"

StreamFab 5.0.4.0 Dev v.5 had changes in it specifically to deal with updating how it handled CBR audio for Amazon.

HBO is still 720p video resolution via StreamFab.

You're summation of audio is incorrect based on the sampling of files I did for Amazon, subscribed channels and purchased videos.

The largest percentage of files (23/7 or about 75%) in one representative sampling of Amazon files had a ceiling of 192 kb/s for Audio for CBR, they now get 640kb/s for CBR Audio. :D

The other ~25% of files that were 125 kb/s AAC are now 224 kb/s Dolby Digital Plus. :)

*****

The analysis for other Streaming sites that I included, other that Amazon, was for comparison and educational purposes (mine & others), as was the inclusion of video resolutions.

One thing that jumped out at me was seeing the benefit of checking each files sound offerings after you select it to see if Atmos is offered, for HBOMax and Disney+ (maybe for others in the future) that changed the resulting audio for CBR from 384 kb/s to 768 kb/s.

This would be a good future enhancement of the StreamFab program to choose ATMOS automatically when it's available in the StreamFab settings to choose for the audio quality boost without having to manually check every file after choosing it.

Another suggestion by Marty92 was to show audio quality prior to download, which would also be helpful to have.

Seeing the comparison of audio/video quality from Paramount+ vs. as a channel on Amazon (which is higher quality video/audio) also might help some.

I would think something that would interest you is seeing side by side comparisons of StreamFab vs The Other Software (mentioned and compared in recent email in July by StreamFab) and it's clear message that DvdFab/StreamFab needs to address 720p for HBOMax.

If I read/participated in a thread entitled "Staff/StreamFab/Programmer - Please fix Amazon CBR Audio" and a moderator (Wilson Wang) posted a StreamFab Dev version that he said addressed the CBR audio for the issue pointed out, I wouldn't expect the HBOMax 720p issue to be addressed by it.

It would be a very nice surprise if HBOMax 720p was addressed in a near future StreamFab release though.

I found what I did useful to me and I learned some things and can't help but thinking so did some other users.

Mike

Cats4U

This would be a good future enhancement of the StreamFab program to choose ATMOS automatically when it's available in the StreamFab settings to choose for the audio quality boost without having to manually check every file after choosing it.

The only thing I'm concerned about with this idea is for the people that are just using their stereo built-in TV audio or soundbar. Downmixing just from basic 5.1 multi-channel to stereo can be a crapshoot based on how the sound was originally engineered. The biggest common problem of which is the lowering volume of dialogue and the blaring of incidental music and background sounds. And you want to automatically add in ATMOS on top of that? I've read that downmixing from ATMOS to basic 5.1 can sometimes be just as perilous if not as dramatic.

Mike_M

The only thing I'm concerned about with this idea is for the people that are just using their stereo built-in TV audio or soundbar. Downmixing just from basic 5.1 multi-channel to stereo can be a crapshoot based on how the sound was originally engineered. The biggest common problem of which is the lowering volume of dialogue and the blaring of incidental music and background sounds. And you want to automatically add in ATMOS on top of that? I've read that downmixing from ATMOS to basic 5.1 can sometimes be just as perilous if not as dramatic.

Cats4U

Hi Cats4U,

Would adding another option in StreamFab settings in the existing choice "Audio Settings Selected if Available" under VIP Services be an issue?

Currently we can choose in VIP Settings:

1. Stereo (AAC)
2. Multi-Channel 5.1 (EAC3 /AC3)

Possible new choice?
3. Multi-Channel (ATMOS)

That's what I meant by "automatic" - if you set this in settings, then it automatically chooses that audio if available.

Despite having setting in the VIP audio selection when downloading from HBOMax on both StreamFab 5.0.3.8 and StreamFab 5.0.3.9 Dev - Fantastic Beasts - The Secrets of Dumbledore, StreamFab automatically chooses 768 kb/s 6Ch, E-AC-3 JOC (Dolby Digital Plus with Dolby Atmos) and you don't get any choice.

Deadpool via HBOMax automatically downloads:

SFab 5048 1280x720 3693 kb/s 768 kb/s 6Ch E-AC-3 DD+ Atmos
SFab 5049 1280x720 3693 kb/s 768 kb/s 6Ch E-AC-3 DD+ Atmos

When downloading from Disney Plus for the movie Deadpool or Deadpool 2 (and others) it gives you 3 choices after you choose the file in StreamFab and before you download of:

1) Multi-Channel (ATMOS)
2) Multi-Channel (EAC3)
3) Stereo (AAC)

and it automatically chooses #2, in order to get below you have to change it to #1.

SFab 5048 1280x720 3693 kb/s 768 kb/s 6Ch E-AC-3 DD+ Atmos
SFab 5049 1280x720 3693 kb/s 768 kb/s 6Ch E-AC-3 DD+ Atmos

What I was envisioning is the VIP setting giving the user the ability to control the default, specifically for Disney Plus for now and others in the future.

My understanding of downmixing ATMOS/5.1 is very limited and I'd defer to your and other peoples expertise on this.

Seeing as HBOMax doesn't give you a choice and is it defaulting to above configuration is it also applicable to your concern?

Would it be better to you if 2) Multi-Channel 5.1 (EAC3 /AC3) in VIP settings automatically picked that configuration in HBOMax instead of defaulting to above with ATMOS?

Don't know if the above configuration is what you are saying would be an downmixing Atmos/5.1 issue on some systems.

I just know that it sounds *really* nice when I played the above 2 movies on my 5.1 system and looked for scenes with background music and dialogue such as the scene with Deadpool with fake vampire teeth, background music with dialogue between him/girlfriend.

Am I speaking Apples to your Oranges?

Thanks for any educating on this matter!

Mike

Cats4U

Hi Cats4U,

Would adding another option in StreamFab settings in the existing choice "Audio Settings Selected if Available" under VIP Services be an issue?

Currently we can choose in VIP Settings:

1. Stereo (AAC)
2. Multi-Channel 5.1 (EAC3 /AC3)

Possible new choice?
3. Multi-Channel (ATMOS)

That's what I meant by "automatic" - if you set this in settings, then it automatically chooses that audio if available.

Mike_M

That's the key to the misunderstanding... I thought that when you wrote "This would be a good future enhancement of the StreamFab program to choose ATMOS automatically" that that would be the only way that we would receive audio. It appears my brain switched off at that point and I never read the rest of the sentence which included "when it's available in the StreamFab settings".
Obviously you could see that what I was thinking would be a bad thing. Having those three options would be great. The only setback would be with the education of the user who thinks more is better when they don't have the hardware to back it up but that's out of our job description. :p

Mike_M

That's the key to the misunderstanding... I thought that when you wrote "This would be a good future enhancement of the StreamFab program to choose ATMOS automatically" that that would be the only way that we would receive audio. It appears my brain switched off at that point and I never read the rest of the sentence which included "when it's available in the StreamFab settings".
Obviously you could see that what I was thinking would be a bad thing. Having those three options would be great. The only setback would be with the education of the user who thinks more is better when they don't have the hardware to back it up but that's out of our job description. :p
Cats4U

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