Does an audio watermark survive MP3 128 kbps?
In Aureal's local fixture matrix — 20 seconds, 44.1 kHz, strength 0.5 — MP3 128 kbps passed for the high, mid and dual bands. That is evidence for the named fixtures, not a guarantee for every encoder, source or platform. Test the actual delivery chain.
How Aureal handles it
The named fixture is a 20 s, 44.1 kHz, strength-0.5 test with a speech-like source and a local ffmpeg encode. It is a sanity check, not a service-level guarantee. For a release, encode a representative master, scan it, and record the carrier band, confidence and BER. If the result is marginal, adjust the band or strength before distribution.
Common failure mode
“It survived MP3 128 once, so it survives every encoder.”
Why it fails: One fixture result does not cover other encoders, bitrates, source material or platform processing. The published table is evidence for the named fixtures, not a universal compatibility claim.
Verified example
Test the exact chain before shipping:
ffmpeg -i master.wav -codec:a libmp3lame -b:a 128k test.mp3
node aureal-watermark.cjs detect test.mp3 --id 883921
Record the band, confidence and BER with the release.Example only. Validate against your own audio, codec and processing chain.
Scope and limits
- Fixture result: 20 s, 44.1 kHz, strength 0.5, named encoders.
- Not a guarantee for every source, encoder or platform.
- Test the actual delivery chain and record band/confidence/BER.
Frequently asked questions
Which carrier band should I use for MP3?
All three bands passed the local 128 kbps fixture. For lossy distribution, dual or mid band is a practical starting point; validate on your own material before committing.
Is 128 kbps guaranteed?
No. The fixture result is evidence for the named setup, not a guarantee for every encoder, source or platform.
Related topics
Test the actual delivery chain. A fixture result is a starting point, not a guarantee for your material.
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