set default 2ch-audio for clients /w Google Chrome to AAC or Opus instead of MP3

[mholin 23]

Hi guys

 

I would ask for setting the default audio transcoding codec to AAC or even better OPUS, as we have now year 2025.

mp3 was released in 1991

AAC was released in 1999

OPUS was released in 2010

Chrome is able to playback all of them

 

what do you think?

regards Michael

[Luke 42077]

Hi, options to control this are always possible. 

i can tell you though that opus is not a good idea if you value reliability. In our experience many devices that claim to support opus don’t actually play it very well when we try to use it.

[mholin 23]

an option to set this by the admin would be great.

a switch to AAC could a first, quick step.

thanks Michael

[PegaMenis 9]

@LukeChrome supports Opus audio in fragmented MP4 (.m4s) segments from version 70 (Oct 2018), Firefox lacks Opus-in-m4s but supports AAC-in-m4s from version 42 (Nov 2015), and Safari added stereo Opus-in-m4s in version 17 (Sept 2023). Note: Opus in HLS requires .m4s segments (fMP4); it cannot be used with the traditional .ts (MPEG-TS) format. Using .m4s segments has benefits: it allows more efficient seeking, better support for advanced audio codecs like Opus, lower latency startup, and more precise time alignment—making it the modern choice for HLS streaming. For maximum compatibility across browsers, AAC in .m4s remains the safest universal default, while Opus in .m4s can be offered for Chrome 70+ and Safari 17+ clients.

[PegaMenis 9]

Works flawless by using these hls parameters:

AudioCodec=opus,aac&SegmentContainer=m4s

Edited August 6, 2025 by PegaMenis