Workshop at ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium 2025

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At ABU DBS 2025, Christian Simon, Business Development Manager at Fraunhofer IIS, will present a deep dive into xHE-AAC, an advanced audio codec designed to optimize streaming and OTT experiences.

Title: Maximizing Streaming Efficiency and Savings with the xHE-AAC Audio Codec Solution

This workshop will explore how xHE-AAC delivers superior audio quality even at low bitrates, enhancing both audio and video streaming services while significantly reducing CDN costs for operators and service providers. The xHE-AAC codec is already supported on over 5 billion devices worldwide.

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Key Benefits of xHE-AAC for Broadcasters and Streaming Services:

1. Exceptional Audio Quality at Low Bitrates

Delivers stereo audio starting at just 12 kbps, outperforming older audio codecs.

2. Seamless Adaptive Bitrate Streaming

Automatically adjusts bitrate to minimize buffering and ensure an uninterrupted listening experience across the entire bit rate range, up to transparent quality.

3. Significant Cost and Data Savings

Up to 75% bitrate savings compared to legacy codecs, leading to reduced CDN costs for service providers and lower data consumption for users.

4. Advanced Features for Optimal Performance

Includes Loudness Normalization, Dynamic Range Control, and other cutting-edge audio processing enhancements.

5. Real-World Adoption & Industry Use Cases

Learn how major industry players are benefiting from xHE-AAC, including in a hands-on session with German radio streaming solution provider Ferncast and their reseller BCI, featuring aixtream, an advanced encoding and streaming solution.

aixtream & xHE-AAC: A Powerful Streaming Solution

aixtream, developed by Ferncast, is a cutting-edge, software-based streaming solution that integrates xHE-AAC encoding to deliver high-quality, flexible, and scalable audio streaming.

“Ferncast’s aixtream is a modern solution that is very flexible in its application thanks to its cloud-based approach. Through its industry-leading efficiency, quality, and flexibility, xHE-AAC is the perfect audio codec for such solutions,” explains Christian Simon, Business Developer Media Technologies at Fraunhofer IIS. “That’s why this combination is currently tested by German public broadcaster ARD who want to maintain great streaming efficiency while ensuring the best experience for their customers on all device types.”

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xHE-AAC playback is natively supported in billions of consumer playback platforms including Microsoft Windows 11 as well as in the operating systems of Google, Amazon, and Apple. Netflix and other service providers are delivering billions of hours of xHE-AAC content each month.

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Don't miss this insightful session at ABU DBS 2025!

🗓 26 February 2025 | Workshop 7

📍 Wyndham Acmar Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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Full event details & program here

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