YouTube may introduce customizable audio quality for Premium subscribers
YouTube is reportedly developing a new feature that will allow users to adjust the audio quality while watching videos. There is a catch, this option could be exclusively available for subscribers of YouTube Premium.
Google recently launched a new subscription tier called YouTube Premium Lite in the U.S. This option provides ad-free viewing on “most videos” but comes with limitations, such as the inability to download videos for offline viewing or play them in the background. This tier is part of YouTube’s ongoing effort to entice users into the paid subscription fold. There may soon be another reason why people may want to subscribe to the service.
As it stands, the quality of audio on YouTube depends on the video uploader, leaving viewers with no control over the audio bitrate. But, an upcoming upgrade will reportedly offer three adjustable audio quality options: Normal, High, and Auto. The latter option would automatically adapt to the user’s internet speed, similar to existing video quality settings. This feature was initially revealed as an experimental option for music videos in January.
The introduction of customizable audio settings could enhance the platform’s appeal, particularly to audiophiles who prioritize sound quality. Such an upgrade may also serve as a strategic move to attract more subscriptions to YouTube Premium, which has been under pressure to compete in the streaming arena.
The exact launch date of this audio feature remains uncertain, as it is currently reflected only in code snippets within the YouTube beta app, which were spotted by Android Authority. But its potential implementation could mark one of the platform's most significant upgrades in recent years.
Google can get bent. What a horrible change. As if they weren’t earning enough already.
Yeah will be quite magical how Google will increase the 128 quality to 320 on that Macarena file Juan from Paraguay uploaded 16 years ago. It’s one of those “special” 320 versions… Just like some YT-Downloaders want you to believe when they convert a 128 to 256 and you believe you have the best downloader in the world that manages to magically download quality that doesn’t exist. But hey, if it SAYS 256, then it is 256! Right???? Wrong. You can’t add “better sound” to something that has already been shaved down to 128. This is something many people find very difficult to grasp. You listen with your eyes, apparently. Google now wants us to believe that they will at least triple the bandwith for all audio data AND reupload every piece of music on YouTube so that Premium members get to choose a “better” sound… Yeah, and cows fly too. Now some of you will say “I download all my music, it’s 320 quality”. Of coooourse it iiiiiiiiiis….. Have you checked with spectrum analyzers and other programs? All of your 320 files? You’d be amazed..no PISSED OFF, when you realize that 80-90% of your huge downloaded music catalogue are FAKE 320 files upconverted from 128. Why would someone be so cruel to you, you may ask..? Ad-revenue. All those sites that provide the latest albums are ad-supported and the 320-sheep FLOCK to any site that claims to share only 320 files. They hoover the web to get the 128 files from streaming sites and upconvert them fast as they can to be the first to have the new and fantastic sounding 320 file! You don’t care, it says 320, it sounds soooo much better than that 128 from that other site….You can hear the difference, with your eyes. And your listening equipment is the phones speaker or a pair of 100 dollar bluetooth headphones..maybe even a megastereo 5D surround bluetooth speaker on your desk. With DOLBY! The 320 High-Fidelity audio station. Welcome to the internet where everything’s a lie and everyone’s a sucker.
YouTube uses Opus for audio encoding and it’s superior to mp3 at lower bitrates. Lossy-to-lossy transcoding not recommended generally but, it’s not that “stupid” to convert 128 kbps Opus to 256 mp3 if you want compatibility of mp3 and good audio quality.
What a load of complete garbage.
Wow! you sound very knowledgeable, enlighten us!
I can already do this with yt-dlp and it’s free and open source software.
YT will never get a squirt of piss from me. I’ll download all I want for free and they can suck it.
I’ve noticed this component is installed for me on Linux, I only noticed through the Update Manager when there was an update for it. I don’t remember installing it, probably some program like FreeTube or something needs it.
I still haven’t figured out how to use it separately.