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Speex: A Free Open Source Codec For Free Speech

speex.org — Speex is an Open Source/Free Software patent-free audio compression format designed for speech. The Speex Project aims to lower the barrier of entry for voice applications by providing a free alternative to expensive proprietary speech codecs. Well-suited to handle VoIP, internet audio streaming, data archival (like voice mail), and audio books.

Who dugg this? Made popular Sep 30, 2006

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22 Comments

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  • lachlan334, on 10/12/2007, -0/+17Speex is awesome for VoIP, TeamSpeak uses it and it's really good quality for the bandwidth it uses.
  • Devz0r, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14It is made by the same people who make Ogg Vorbis, and has similar qualities: higher quality for lower bitrate compared to all other codecs.
  • StaplesGuy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Did you remember like a year ago when this was huge news?
  • doublebackslash, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Appears?
    I convert gsm, wav, speex, ulaw, alaw, and a litany of others with sox on Linux and lame.
    Scripted and everything, I'm 100% there is a windows alternative, or failing that cygwin.
    Also I'm pretty sure that winamp can play speex encoded files in an ogg container.
  • wurzelgummage, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Interesting. If it makes smaller files for voice at higher quality, it would be cool for downloading audiobooks etc. Assuming an app appears to easily convert it to mp3.
  • Ikioi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7@Jugalator

    Got link?

    As they say, a study found that 97% of all statistics used by people are made up.
  • Megatog615, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6stoanhart: Most servers haven't selected the speex codec.
  • jerrygofixit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Great codec, been using it on Counter-Strike servers for years.
  • jerrygofixit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Most CS servers use voice miles (I think) by default, voice_speex is night and day, few admins bother to change 2 lines in the config to get the better quality.
  • kodek, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4"If it isn't an MP3 or WAV, most clients become a deer staring into headlights."

    Dead?
  • roguescout, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I need a free, open source version of this:

    http://tinyurl.com/jztb2

    ;)

    33KHz is getting there though. 48KHz would be better. Bandwidth and congestion is always the big limiting factor, but I am curious of this codec's stability and the latencies involved for collaborative online recording sessions. Drop-outs and buffering would have to be zero. 44.1KHz would have to be the minimum sample rate.

    It is good to see the Ogg team on this. Too bad I have a terrible time convincing others to use their compression. If it isn't an MP3 or WAV, most clients become a deer staring into headlights.
  • Ikioi, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Speex 1.0.2 Released-September 24, 2003

    Yeah, just a liiiitle old, heh.
  • bnolsen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Big problem with adoption of this codec is that Windows Media doesn't go out and "automatically" grab this plugin for install. Sad to say, most people are too computer illiterate to deal with this format on a widespread basis. Very sad, but very true. I tried to deploy sound files in this format and got too many complaints that people couldn't figure out how to install the codec to play them.
  • tropican8, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1No digg. I really don't understand why people post random applications and call it news. If this was about 1.2beta1 being released, that would be different.
  • veniv, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Cool. Now, developers have a new accessory to play with. I've been waiting long to develop a speech-based application.

    http://www.sleektools.net/sleekview.html
  • s1rk3ls, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1I would believe http://about.skype.com/ before someone's personal homepage on Comcast claiming Skype was owned by eBay... So before someone else wastes a few minutes researching it, yes, according to http://about.skype.com/ - "Skype, based in Luxembourg, has relationships with a growing network of hardware and software providers and is an eBay company."
  • stoanhart, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3"Great codec, been using it on Counter-Strike servers for years."

    you've just scared me off. Counter strike has got to have some of the worst quality speach ever!
  • KIERANMULLEN, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2Not dugg... Not News... Although I like the codec, this is very old news.This codec has been out for a very long time.

    http://www.speex.org/news/
  • i440, on 10/12/2007, -6/+0Use "duplicate story"
  • generalleoff, on 10/12/2007, -9/+0When did Digg remove the old news option?
  • Jugalator, on 10/12/2007, -15/+2"higher quality for lower bitrate compared to all other codecs."

    Umm, there are blind tests done that don't really agree on this most bold claim.

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