Talk:Variable Bitrate Compression

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Can you point to some examples of Average Bitrate Compression being recommended elsewhere or in actual use? My assumption is that most players only buffer information for a few seconds so if the bitrate increases too high for too long, the music will stop while it re-buffers. Webfork

Yes, in the LAME documentation it is mentioned and recommended for streaming. I only know 2 radio stations which use it, but then again i haven't checked the other ones out. DFM and Radio100. The advantage is basically that the bandwidth used per listener can never be more than X, where X is always lower than the CBR stream while the quality is the same or where X is the same as the CBR stream while the quality of the CBR is lower than the VBR stream or a middle ground mix of these 2. The positive side effect of ABR over VBR is that the ABR is more constant: It'll always be more near Y (which lies right under X) than a VBR stream which is more dynamic. This consistensy is friendly for people with not much bandwidth available, or people who prefer to assign a limited # of bandwidth to online audio. I also think you're right on the spot with the buffer argument. PS: the buffer space also differs per client and is decided when connected. One client with limited bandwidth could be lucky with VBR not getting a buffer underrun because the buffer available was higher than one unlucky person who also has limited bandwidth available but did not got enough buffer space in order to not get a buffer underrun.