Radio New Zealand - higher quality streams?

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jscriv

38 posts

Geek

#140851 22-Feb-2014 14:02

Anyone know why RNZ only streams at a max of 64K? Or are there higher [unpublished?] streams available?

Cheers,

Jeremy

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2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#992434 22-Feb-2014 17:31

RNZ have other, non-internet modes at higher bit-rates. For example, in the Auckland area, RNZ National has an unpublished Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) stream available which runs at 128k; RNZ Concert streams at 192k (very nice). There are about 6 other DAB stations, all maintained by Kordia, speeds of which which vary from 64 to 192k. Availability generally is good but there can be drop-out periods of one or more days (e.g., BBC recently) as I am told the transmissions are 'still experimental'. Not exactly what you expected but hope this helps.

Shindig

1585 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#992527 22-Feb-2014 19:33

I live in Parnell, line of sight to Sky Tower. The RNZ Concert stream is superb.

The little things make the biggest difference.

jscriv

38 posts

Geek

#992528 22-Feb-2014 19:38

Thanks for the info. I don't have a DAB receiver, but have dusted off an old Denon FM tuner and it doesn't sound too bad (I'm in Wellington). I might try some A/B comparisons with the 64k stream for fun :-)

jnimmo

1097 posts

Uber Geek

#992549 22-Feb-2014 21:21

I was just about to post something asking the same question - have a new Sonos system and would love a higher quality stream. I've also found on the 64k stream to get a little bit of jitter which seems unusual (don't have that problem on other streams I've tried even international ones)

farcus

1554 posts

Uber Geek

#992604 22-Feb-2014 22:29

jnimmo: I was just about to post something asking the same question - have a new Sonos system and would love a higher quality stream. I've also found on the 64k stream to get a little bit of jitter which seems unusual (don't have that problem on other streams I've tried even international ones)

yeah, I listen to RNZ National on Tunein Radio and get the jitter sometimes.
Would be great to have a higher quality (non wma) stream.

jnimmo

1097 posts

Uber Geek

#992625 22-Feb-2014 23:57

I remember reading a great blog post a few years ago about the tech infrastructure behind RNZ's (then) new website & it talked about streaming too. Can't find it now though. I'll email them a suggestion

EDIT: http://richardhulse.blogspot.co.nz/2012/12/radio-nzs-new-hosting.html
I think there was another series earlier on too. Author looks to be a Geekzone user so he might spot this suggestion anyway

jscriv

38 posts

Geek

#992781 23-Feb-2014 14:03

thanks jnimmo - useful link. I might add a comment to his blog directing him to this thread.

I'm guessing (after reading his post) that it's the cost of bandwidth that is prohibitive. I would have hoped peering with the ISPs would have been a way around that, but perhaps not.

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jnimmo

1097 posts

Uber Geek

#992802 23-Feb-2014 14:26

They could always just offer a higher quality stream over APE/WIX surely if bandwidth became an issue, but I'm no expert :)

richardlh

17 posts

Geek

#993094 24-Feb-2014 06:35

Hi Jeremy,

Our live streams are restricted to 64k as this figure is used in our streaming agreement with the music industry.

I do have on my list to replace the current Windows Media streams with MP3 and AAC streams, but that has been delayed while we make changes to our hosting infrastructure.

Cheers,

Richard Hulse
Webmaster/Radio New Zealand

naggyman

697 posts

Ultimate Geek

#993105 24-Feb-2014 07:43

jnimmo: I remember reading a great blog post a few years ago about the tech infrastructure behind RNZ's (then) new website & it talked about streaming too. Can't find it now though. I'll email them a suggestion

EDIT: http://richardhulse.blogspot.co.nz/2012/12/radio-nzs-new-hosting.html
I think there was another series earlier on too. Author looks to be a Geekzone user so he might spot this suggestion anyway

That was a very interesting blog post - thanks for linking to it.

Morgan French-Stagg

morgan.french.net.nz

jnimmo

1097 posts

Uber Geek

#993109 24-Feb-2014 07:51

richardlh: Hi Jeremy,

Our live streams are restricted to 64k as this figure is used in our streaming agreement with the music industry.

I do have on my list to replace the current Windows Media streams with MP3 and AAC streams, but that has been delayed while we make changes to our hosting infrastructure.

Cheers,

Richard Hulse
Webmaster/Radio New Zealand

Thanks for the reply Richard (and the interesting blog posts), that makes sense.
I'm sure AAC even at 64k will sound a bit better than WMA so that will be something to look forward to :)

richardlh

17 posts

Geek

#993114 24-Feb-2014 08:18

jnimmo: They could always just offer a higher quality stream over APE/WIX surely if bandwidth became an issue, but I'm no expert :)

We already peer at both APE and WIX, or more accurately FX Networks who is our ISP peers there. With Gigabit connections in Auckland and Wellington bandwidth is not a problem for us. :-)

farcus

1554 posts

Uber Geek

#993399 24-Feb-2014 15:49

. . .

Our live streams are restricted to 64k as this figure is used in our streaming agreement with the music industry. . .

gotta say that it doesn't come as much of a surprise that it would be the music industry that has its foot on the throat of music streaming in NZ.
What would be the problem for them with you streaming at a higher bitrate?

jscriv

38 posts

Geek

#993434 24-Feb-2014 16:27

Thanks for joining the thread Richard.

I can only hope that when your agreements with the music industry come up for renewal, you can point to Spotify/iTunes Radio etc that are permitted to deliver higher bandwidth streams into NZ, and get the same ability for RNZ.

Cheers,

Jeremy

Groucho

524 posts

Ultimate Geek

#993443 24-Feb-2014 16:41

I would love to see RNZ become available via iTunes which would open the 'streaming' market up to many more listeners and devices.

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