Supported audio formats

The following sections outline which audio formats are supported by BrightSign players.

  • AAC audio in H.264 Video (CBR only; no VBR support)
  • MP3 audio files as stereo or mono at a 48kHz or 44kHz sampling rate (MPEG1/MPE2 Video), with a maximum bit depth of 16 bits, and a maximum bitrate of 320kBit/s. 
  • WAV audio files as stereo or mono. We recommend a maximum bit depth of 24 bits at a sampling rate of 96kHz, 48kHz, or 44.1kHz (except for the HDx20, HDx10, and AU320, which may require a lower bit depth).
  • M4A and AAC audio files (requires BrightAuthor version 4.3.0.x or later; not supported in BSN presentations)
  • Dolby Digital (AC3) 5.1 audio in an MPEG2 or MOV video (pass-through over HDMI or TOSLINK w/ expander). Other multichannel audio formats may work as pass-through, but they are not officially supported.
  • DTS audio in the TS (transport stream) video container as pass-through. DTS in other containers (MOV, MP4, MKV) are not currently supported. Note that the XTx44 currently does not support DTS audio in any container.

Important: All tracks must have the same sampling rate, or you must enable the Mixed Audio feature, if you plan to output multiple audio tracks simultaneously (from either audio or video files).

 

XCxx55

See Supported Audio Types for more information.

 

AU335

See Supported+Audio+Formats for more information.

 

XTx44, XDx34

  • FLAC codec (with the .ogg file format)
  • Opus codec

 XTx43, XDx33/32, HDx24/23/22, LS424/423, 4Kx42:

  • FLAC and Vorbis codecs (with the .ogg file format)

HD600:

  • MP3 audio files as stereo or mono at a 48kHz sampling rate

HD2000:

  • MP3 audio files as stereo or mono at a 48kHz or 44kHz sampling rate
  • WAV audio files as stereo or mono
  • Dolby Digital (AC3) 5.1 audio in a video file (decode or raw pass-through)
  • PCM Audio in a video file (LPCM)

 

Notes:

  • To play videos with surround sound, you must encode an AC3 audio layer along with an MPEG2 video layer.
  • BrightSign players do not decode surround sound (AC3) audio; but the audio can be passed through to a decoding device over HDMI of SPDIF.
  • If you are using Adobe Premiere to encode the video with the SurCode codec for audio, ensure that SurCode is in BluRay mode, not Dolby Digital mode.
  • BrightAuthor version 8.0.73 and later fix a bug that was causing AC3 audio to play back louder than expected. 
Have more questions? Submit a request

43 Comments

  • 0
    Avatar
    Brandon

    NOTE:

    • Gefen HDMI to HDMI Plus Audio converter, (SKU: GTV-HDMI-2-HDMIAUD, UPC: 845344056111) only supports multichannel analog output for LPCM 5.1 audio input.  It does NOT output analog for compressed audio formats.

      See pages v and 8 in the manual
      http://www.gefen.com/pdf/GTV-HDMI-2-HDMIAUD.pdf
    • Atlona HD570 will only supports multichannel analog output for LPCM audio input.  It does NOT output analog for compressed audio formats.

      See the Atlona product page - https://atlona.com/product/at-hd570/
      "This audio de-embedder supports uncompressed analog LPCM 7.1, 5.1, 2ch through the multi-channel analog outputs. On the optical output it supports Dolby Digital, LPCM 2CH and DTS signals. Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio pass through HDMI connection without being de-embedded."

    When you play the file on your laptop, unless your sound hardware is set to bitstream the audio output, it is decoding the AAC or AC3 and outputting multichannel LPCM.  That's why the Gefen box can decode it to analog.  It also does not work when audio is bitstreamed from a capable computer-based player, as bitstreaming does the same thing the BrightSign player does - it passed the encoded audio directly out to the device, rather than decoding it first.

    When you play it through the BrightSign player, the player doesn't decode the audio, so the encoded AAC or AC3 goes to the Gefen device which cannot decode encoded audio.

    The Gefen manual states this on page v, "This product does not decode audio formats."

    It does not work when sent multichannel AAC, Dolby Digital/AC3, DTS, or other encoded audio sources when sent from a hardware Blu-ray/DVD player (that isn't set to downmix to stereo), or a BrightSign player in Pass through mode.

    Depending on your situation, it may work to use multiple BrightSign players using BrightWall or synchronized presentations, each outputting two channels of audio.  Your audio will need to be split into separate stereo files.

    Edited by Brandon
  • 0
    Avatar
    Luke Smith

    Aside from the fact that support for AAC audio is only offered when encoded at a constant bit rate is ridiculous (how hard can it really be to include support for variable bit rates?), could you take a moment to spell out VBR and CBR on this page so that the people who are in the field and using these products don't have to guess at what you mean? Thanks.

  • 0
    Avatar
    nicolas.horne

    what is the max bit rate for audio only playback using HD223?

  • 0
    Avatar
    Torben Tilly

    Can you please recommend a compatible decoder for use with XD233 to pass-through embedded AC3 audio file. Thanks in advance.

  • 0
    Avatar
    cabin_fever

    Hey there, since Dolby Digital (AC3) 5.1 audio  isn't supported by Adobe CC2018 anymore, can you name another 5.1 Codec that works? I have tried several without any luck. Dolby Digital used to work great.

    Edited by cabin_fever
  • 1
    Avatar
    Ivo

    If you looking for an external surround decoder to wire up powered speakers
    try this device. it works perfectly.
    SpeaKa SP-4916328 audio extractor

  • 0
    Avatar
    Zuu

    LS423:
    Can I play any uncompressed multichannel audio file (wav, flac) through an external surround decoder? how much channels player can handle?

  • 0
    Avatar
    Jon Holtze

    Hi Ivo

     

    Did the speka device work with AC3? And exactly what format and bitrate did you use to make it work?

    I have testet with a Goobay HDMI 4K2K 7.1 Audio Extractor. But that obviously not supporting AC3 even though it says so on multiple websites.

     

    Thanks in advance

  • 0
    Avatar
    Ivo

    Hi Jon,
    Yes the Speaka audio decoder works smoothly with AC3 audio
    I produce 5.1 AC3 from seperate uncompressed wav mono files using Apple's Compressor surround tool or with a multiitrack session in Adobe Audition.  usually 48Khz 448kb/s
    combine them with a MPEG2 or H265 encoded CBR videostream. No H264 (mp4 wrapper) as it has no support for AC3. This might be the reason you don't get audio decoded. The Goobay should be able to decode dolby AC3.  checkout TMPEG Smart Renderer great tool the produce and combine video-audio streams.
    best, Ivo

  • 0
    Avatar
    Jon Holtze

    Thanks. 

    The Speaka worked like a charm. Did'nt have any trouble at all.

    Made an mpeg 2 video in 35 mbps and used an AC3 audio track of 640kbit in mode 3F2R/LFE.

    Then i combined the two tracks in TSmuxer. Worked at first try.

    So the conclusion is that some of these boxes like the goobay are just a piece of crap :)

     

    / Jon

  • 0
    Avatar
    Remi

    Hi Jon or Ivo,

    I try with HD224 player and Speakea decoder.

    My file is mpg file with AC3 but not working.

    Which player do you use ?

    Thank you

    Remi

  • 0
    Avatar
    Ivo

    HI Remi,
    I use multiple players like HD220, XD233 with success
    So I think the problem is in your data or your surround receiver.
    I think the HD224 is not that different from the rest.

    I don't own a HD224 (yet) do do a real life test
    but i'm happy test your file on my setup

    once I had a problem connecting my Speaka decoder to a projector
    It was a "4k" projector and I didn't force the resolution to HD so the brightsign player used 4k resolution as it's HDMI handshake. The Speaka decoder does not support that resolution so it didn't parse it through.

    Best

    Ivo

     

     

     

     

     

  • 0
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    Remi

    I found my problem !

    Only this parameter...

    Merci

  • 0
    Avatar
    Jack McCombe

    Hello,

     

    I am looking to create a 6 channel sound installation using the SpeaKa SP-4916328 audio extractor and a XD223 BrightSign player. Basically, I want to use the LFE channel as a 6th normal speaker channel so it would be a 6.0 set up. 

    Do any of you know how this might be achievable?

    I have tried with an AC3 file paired with MPEG 2 as suggested above, but the LFE channel is always silent. I'm new to all this and can't figure out what is happening. 

     

    Thank you,

     

    Jack.

  • 1
    Avatar
    Ivo

    Hello Jack.
    if your channels in the AC3 are properly produced the LFE channel should be audible when connecting your active subwoofer system to the SW output. some movies have minimal low frequency events or are they are very low in volume. In BrightAuthor your audio is set the go pass through?
    Ivo

    Edited by Ivo
  • 1
    Avatar
    Remi

    @Jack McCombe

    Hi,

    I use it in 3 stereo channels (multi-language).

    It's work for me.

  • 0
    Avatar
    Jack McCombe

    Hi Ivo,

    Perhaps I'm not understanding you or I haven't explained myself well enough:

     

    I only have 6 active speakers (no sub) and I am simply wanting the SW out to be another sound channel rather than low frequency. 

     

    Are you saying that if I place a normal soundtrack in the LFE track in Audition, for example, it should play out the speaker I have attached to the SW out on the SpeaKa SP-4916328?

     

    Best,

     

    Jack

     

     

  • 0
    Avatar
    Jack McCombe

    Hi Remi,

     

    How would I produce it this way? With one BrightSign player and in BrightAuthor? Are you using the SpeaKa SP-4916328?

     

    Thanks!

     

    Jack

  • 0
    Avatar
    Ivo

    Hello Jack, sorry now I get your point.
    The Speaka decoder doesn't do any filtering as far I know.
    So the problem might be caused by the software creating the surround file. probably your LFE track by default cut's off the higher frequencies.
    Did you tried to combine your tracks with Apple Compressor Add Multichannel Surround group tool to export it as a generic AC3? don't use any low-pass filtering in the export settings.


    Ivo

  • 0
    Avatar
    Jack McCombe

    Hi Ivo,

     

    I had already tried this yes. It did result in some sound coming through the speaker I had plugged into the SW out, but it seemed only to be low frequency sounds... and not the full track.

    Bit of a mystery...

  • 0
    Avatar
    marcel

    Hi Ivo,

     

    how did you set the passthrough for the HDMI AC3 output?

    my hd223 doesn't pass the audio through the hdmi and

    i can't find any command in brightscript to force that...

     

    thanks,

    marcel

     

  • 0
    Avatar
    Ivo

    Hello Marcel,
    You need to set that in Brightauthor in the Media property - advanced tab - AUDIO -> passthrough
    also you need to check this for presentation properties as Remi noticed
    choose Mixed Audio PCM/Compressed

  • 0
    Avatar
    Alfonso Descalzo

    Hi Ivo,

     

    How did you solve it for a 4K signal?

     

    Thanks

  • 0
    Avatar
    Ivo

    Hello Alfonso,
    I'm not sure I understand the difficulty.
    for 4k (or UHD) you need at least a HD or XD 4 series
    You can combine an AC3 file with a H265 encoded mp4, that works!

    output from Brightsign's HDMI or Toslink to the surround receiver
    If you need to use a HDMI audio extractor make sure it's supporting the 4K signal.
    cheers

    Ivo

  • 0
    Avatar
    Ivo

    by the way your surround receiver also needs to support the 4K signal
    if you use it straight from the Brightsign, otherwise a 4K capable audio extractor will do.

    Edited by Ivo
  • 0
    Avatar
    Alfonso Descalzo

    Hi Ivo, thanks for the answer.

    I usually work with the Speaka, but now I need 4K and it can´t handle it.

    Do you know any other extractor which works with 4K, or use the Toslink to extract it?

     

    Thanks!

     

  • 0
    Avatar
    Jaap

    Is there a list of still available for order (also in Europe) on short notice?

    We once tested the Speaka SP-4916328 but it had noise.

    We succesfully and always using the Extron SSP7.1 but in this project like Jack McCombe we want to use the SUB channel as a normal speaker but the Extron is filtering the low frequenty of the 6th channel. I just send out a support request to Extron in case they can help. But we are on a deadline here and want to address multiple alternative options. The content is not filtered we have checked. Content can be downloaded here (2,9Mb)

    https://wetransfer.com/downloads/d42ce7898b2c8a7cd6783eac356a337c20200501094214/059c96cbe7ca67735ea911491b6bc61720200501094214/4364a4

    We also tried dolby digital plus 7.1 audio (Because the Extron is 7.1 capable) but that doesn't work either:
    https://www.dropbox.com/s/8mq2yut7n2ir0b8/h264_ddplus.mov?dl=0

    We are using Genelec active speakers and Brightsign HD224

    Thanks

  • 0
    Avatar
    Jaap

    To clarify my fist question: Is there a list products still available for order (also in Europe) on short notice?

    Additional information:
    Resolution video 1920x1200px
    We prefer to use optical audio output from BrightSign

  • 0
    Avatar
    Jaap

    Hi,

    We have been in contact with Extron Support today regarding the SSP7.1 sound processor. They cannot disable or change the bypass filter on the sub channel.

    They not planning to update the firmware because it is an outdated product

    Seems like we cannot use the processor like we intended. Any suggestions would be kindly appriaciated

    Kind regards

  • 0
    Avatar
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