In a previous post here on ASR there was a discussion about lossless vs lossy bit-rate in audio.
Some of us only listen music using lossless codecs and others like myself listen to both lossless and lossy codecs.
So I got curious, what does YT Premium and YTM Premium actually use? Some formats I'm sure about, but not all. Time to test (Famous last word, this was a time sink).
But first a short background:
As a Google Play Music refugee, I'm was forced to move to YouTube Music Premium and YouTube Premium for my streaming needs or change streaming service.
I have no problem with that, it sound as good as Google Music did, even if here is differences in the codecs and bit-rates. In the early days GPM was using 320 kbps MP3 and later moved on to 320 kbps AAC (Not confirmed, haven't found any trustworthy links on AAC) and YouTube Music uses lower bit-rate AAC and Opus codecs.
Here are the results(long text, thanks @Tks for the reformatting suggestions):
(Reference links last in this post)
Video (No subscription)
The YTM App on Android has a few extra features not present on Windows 10
Windows 10 Desktop App
Shortcut: chrome_proxy.exe --user-data-dir="?" --profile-directory=Default --app-id=?. (Removed userdata, app-id and replaced it with a ?-sign)
Youtube/Youtube Music formats:
https://gist.github.com/AgentOak/34d47c65b1d28829bb17c24c04a0096f
Select your streaming and download audio quality:
https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/answer/9076559?hl=en
Artist
Data was harvested with a command line program, youtube-dl.exe, downloadable from Https://youtube-dl.org for verification of the "stats for nerds"
Links only works on the windows platform in Chrome.
Pentatonix
Videos/songs:
That's Christmas To Me (Deluxe Edition): Mary Did You Know
3. Perfect Match, Android 10
Mary did you know - (Lyrics)
4. Song and Video as close as Possible
Toto
Videos/songs:
Live From Amsterdam, 25th Anniversary: Africa (Live)
3. Perfect Match
Toto IV: Africa
4. Song and Video as close as possible
Special features, images
Some of us only listen music using lossless codecs and others like myself listen to both lossless and lossy codecs.
So I got curious, what does YT Premium and YTM Premium actually use? Some formats I'm sure about, but not all. Time to test (Famous last word, this was a time sink).
But first a short background:
As a Google Play Music refugee, I'm was forced to move to YouTube Music Premium and YouTube Premium for my streaming needs or change streaming service.
I have no problem with that, it sound as good as Google Music did, even if here is differences in the codecs and bit-rates. In the early days GPM was using 320 kbps MP3 and later moved on to 320 kbps AAC (Not confirmed, haven't found any trustworthy links on AAC) and YouTube Music uses lower bit-rate AAC and Opus codecs.
Here are the results(long text, thanks @Tks for the reformatting suggestions):
(Reference links last in this post)
Video (No subscription)
- On Desktop using Windows10/Chrome/Youtube website: VP9
- On Desktop using Windows10/Chrome/YouTube website: Opus Variable Bitrate at ~160kbps, 48,000 kHz
- On Desktop using Windows10/Chrome/Youtube website: AV1
- On the Desktop App: AV1
- On Desktop using Windows10/Chrome/Youtube website: AAC Variable Bitrate at ~256kbps, 44,100 kHz
- On the Desktop App: AAC Variable Bitrate at ~256kbps, 44,100 kHz
- On Android: AAC Variable Bitrate at ~256kbps, 44,100 kHz
The YTM App on Android has a few extra features not present on Windows 10
- In the app you can toggle between the song you are listening to and watch a corresponding video (and vice versa), with a few caveats.
- If you are listening to a song and Google don't find a corresponding video, then you can't toggle.
- If you are watching a video and Google can't find a song that matches, the video will be replaced with a still image playing the audio part with the same bit-rate.
- If Google finds the perfect match song/video or video/song it will sync them. When you toggle , you will be continuing the song/video where you left off. Toggle back and the same things apply. The only thing that do differ is the sound level.
- If google doesn't find you exact song/video it will try to pick a video/song that's is as close as possible. Sometimes it doesn't work and the app keeps the bit-rate from the video when you toggle. (Se screenshots)
Windows 10 Desktop App
Shortcut: chrome_proxy.exe --user-data-dir="?" --profile-directory=Default --app-id=?. (Removed userdata, app-id and replaced it with a ?-sign)
Youtube/Youtube Music formats:
https://gist.github.com/AgentOak/34d47c65b1d28829bb17c24c04a0096f
Select your streaming and download audio quality:
https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/answer/9076559?hl=en
Artist
Data was harvested with a command line program, youtube-dl.exe, downloadable from Https://youtube-dl.org for verification of the "stats for nerds"
Links only works on the windows platform in Chrome.
Pentatonix
Videos/songs:
That's Christmas To Me (Deluxe Edition): Mary Did You Know
3. Perfect Match, Android 10
Code:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE
Code:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=PPoEfC7T1kg
Code:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE
Code:
youtube-dl.exe -F https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=PPoEfC7T1kg
Code:
youtube-dl.exe -F https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPoEfC7T1kg
Mary did you know - (Lyrics)
4. Song and Video as close as Possible
Code:
Android YTM App: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZVjXsf_7aI
Code:
Android YTM App: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=cZVjXsf_7aI
Code:
Android YTM App: youtube-dl.exe -F https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZVjXsf_7aI
Code:
Android YTM App: youtube-dl.exe -F https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=cZVjXsf_7aI
Toto
Videos/songs:
Live From Amsterdam, 25th Anniversary: Africa (Live)
3. Perfect Match
Code:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37ZaSINRDGM
Code:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=37ZaSINRDGM
Toto IV: Africa
4. Song and Video as close as possible
Code:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAo_Ycocl1E
Code:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=37ZaSINRDGM
Special features, images
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