Editing ATRAC (section)

=== ATRAC3plus ===
[[File:Atrac3plus logo.svg|frameless|right|upright=1]]
This [[codec]] is used in Sony [[Hi-MD]] [[Walkman]] devices (e.g., "Hi-LP and Hi-SP"), Network [[Walkman]] players, [[Memory Stick]] players, [[VAIO]] Pocket, [[PS3]] and [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]] console, and [[ATRAC CD]] players. It is a hybrid subband/[[Modified discrete cosine transform|MDCT]] codec based on a 16 channel [[Quadrature mirror filter|QMF]] followed by a 128-point [[Modified discrete cosine transform|MDCT]]. Prior to MDCT coding, Generalized Harmonic Analysis (GHA) is used to extract tonal components, an improved version of the process used in ATRAC3. As in previous ATRAC versions, gain control is used to control preecho rather than variable sized transforms, although different MDCT windows are apparently possible.

[[File:Car stereo display.jpg|thumb|250px|An [[ATRAC CD|ATRAC3plus CD]] playing on a Sony car stereo.]]
[[SonicStage]] version 3.4, released in February 2006,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sony.jp:80/products/overseas/contents/support/download/index.html|title=Overseas Model Customer Support|date=7 April 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060407092514/http://www.sony.jp/products/overseas/contents/support/download/index.html|archive-date=2006-04-07|access-date=2021-08-30|url-status=live}}</ref> introduced ripping CDs in bitrates 320 and 352.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sony.jp/products/overseas/contents/support/download/e_jeb_SS34ug.html|title=Overseas Model Customer Support|date=5 February 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060205040106/https://www.sony.jp/products/overseas/contents/support/download/e_jeb_SS34ug.html|archive-date=2006-02-05}}</ref> The available bitrates are: 48, 64, 96, 128, 160, 192, 256, 320 and 352&nbsp;kbit/s. The newer bitrates are not always compatible with all older hardware decoders, however, some of the older hardware has been found to be compatible with certain newer ATRAC3plus bitrates.

MiniDiscs recorded in this format are incompatible with older players.

In a test conducted by an independent firm, but financed by Sony, it was concluded that ATRAC3plus at 64&nbsp;kbit/s is equal in subjective sound quality to an obsolete MP3 encoder at 128&nbsp;kbit/s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sony.net/Products/ATRAC3/tech/ITS_test_report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060405031225/http://www.sony.net/Products/ATRAC3/tech/ITS_test_report.pdf |archive-date=2006-04-05 |url-status=live|title=ITS test report}}</ref> Performance against modern high quality MP3 encoders was not evaluated.