R4 - best quality?

[Dave2002]

This afternoon there is a drama on BBC R4 about Bach - with Simon Russell Beale - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08m8q81 - which sounds quite interesting.

Will this be available in high quality audio? Which will be the best way to receive it - DAB, Freeview, Freesat, via internet - and I suppose I should still mention FM.

Is R3 still the only BBC channel which generally gets the benefit of significantly improved sound quality?

[johnb]

iPlayer (or whatever it is currently called) most definitely gives you the best audio quality.

I'm not totally up to date on all the various iPlayer options, but if you opt in to DASH-HTML5 you get Radio 4 (and, as far as I know, the other national channels) in 320 kbps AAC.

The HTML5 was originally introduced as a "beta" option with the intention to move over to it eventually. It works very well with Firefox (I haven't used it with other browsers). I'm not sure whether you still have to opt in but if you use the link below the webpage with show whether you are currently using Flash or HTML5 as a default and give you the option to change from one to the other.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/html5

[Later Edit]
I've just swapped over to the Flash player and it *looks* as though Radio 4 on the Flash player is also at 320 kbps for both live and listen again. The HTML5 player still has the advantages of providing a rewind option and not using Flash (which is notoriously vulnerable).

[Dave2002]

Thanks. I wasn't sure - couldn't remember - whether all the stations were distributed in high quality via the iPlayer. I checked my browser - it is still on HTML5 which is what I intended.

Right now the best quality for R3 is from the FLAC trial - mentioned elsewhere in this site - and also here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/taster/projects...-concert-sound but sadly only for a short while longer.

[johnb]

The R3 FLAC trial is excellent and very promising. However, it is currently of limited use as you have to sit in front of the computer, preferably using headphones, that is unless you are able to connect a computer to your audio system in some way.

[Bryn]

The R3 FLAC trial is excellent and very promising. However, it is currently of limited use as you have to sit in front of the computer, preferably using headphones, that is unless you are able to connect a computer to your audio system in some way.

It can be Totally Recorded. See also see http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...712#post615712 . I have not yet worked out to to use Videolan (Version 3) to do the job, but more details from Gweefry might help.

[johnb]

It can be Totally Recorded. See also see http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...712#post615712 . I have not yet worked out to to use Videolan (Version 3) to do the job, but more details from Gweefry might help.

I agree, but <Cough> I suspect that the BBC might be a touch unhappy about people doing it.

[Bryn]

I agree, but <Cough> I suspect that the BBC might be a touch unhappy about people doing it.

Indeed, but some will surely show the Audacity to save for educational purposes.

[Dave2002]

Indeed, but some will surely show the Audacity to save for educational purposes.

The loss going a more complex digital/analogue route might be hardly noticeable. Optical out -> DAC -> analogue output to digital recorder. Still in the interests of experimentation, naturally.