This post comes straight from the Funimation Development Team which works on improving all aspects of FunimationNow!
Earlier this year, a newly redesigned FunimationNow was launched. This was a complete overhaul of our entire platform, not just a new visual design.
As part of this overhaul, we also carefully reviewed the quality of audio and video we were delivering to our fans, and decided to make some changes, changes which should only improve the viewing experience.
For those of you that want to geek out on the specifics, we’ll include charts down below. For everyone else, the short version is:
- To enhance the video, we broadened the range of bit rates and significantly increased the maximum bit rate
- To improve the audio quality, we switched to a newer codec, and lowered the bit rate
If you’re paying attention, then about now you’re thinking higher video bit rate = good! and lower audio bit rate = bad? The newer audio codec was supposed to produce the same quality sound at a lower bit rate, and initial testing seemed to support that conclusion.
Then we heard from some of our great fans that had a different opinion and were happy to help us figure out what was going on. Our library is massive and reencoding it is a process measured in months, not days, so we needed to be sure we had the right solution before we made any changes. The amazing and extremely helpful feedback we received from our fans was instrumental in finding that right solution. Together, we worked our way to a new encoding that brings the audio quality up to the highest level we’ve ever delivered, while maintaining the huge improvements we had made in video quality.
We have now begun the process of reencoding our entire library. Anything released in the past couple of weeks is already done, and the rest of the library will be released in batches over the coming weeks, resulting in an improvement in sound quality for our fans.
We cannot adequately express how truly thankful we at Funimation are for the unique relationship we enjoy with our fans and for everyone’s continued support. Together, we really can create an extraordinary place to watch anime!
And now…
The promised charts
Note: All video is delivered using HLS and provides up to 10 layers, allowing the player to minimize buffering while matching the best possible quality to your available bandwidth (or video quality settings). Audio is consistent across all layers due to the significantly lower bandwidth requirements.
Prior to our relaunch:
| Dimensions | Video Bit Rate (kbps) | Audio Bit Rate (kbps) | Video Codec | Audio Codec |
| 852×480 | 750 | 128 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 852×480 | 1000 | 128 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 852×480 | 1500 | 128 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 852×480 | 2000 | 128 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 1280×720 | 1500 | 128 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 1280×720 | 2500 | 128 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 1280×720 | 3500 | 128 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 1920×1080 | 4000 | 128 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
Following our relaunch:
| Dimensions | Video Bit Rate (kbps) | Audio Bit Rate (kbps) | Video Codec | Audio Codec |
| 416×234 | 200 | 64 | H.264 | HE-AAC (v2) |
| 480×270 | 400 | 64 | H.264 | HE-AAC (v2) |
| 640×360 | 600 | 64 | H.264 | HE-AAC (v2) |
| 640×360 | 1200 | 64 | H.264 | HE-AAC (v2) |
| 960×540 | 3500 | 64 | H.264 | HE-AAC (v2) |
| 1280×720 | 5000 | 64 | H.264 | HE-AAC (v2) |
| 1280×720 | 6500 | 64 | H.264 | HE-AAC (v2) |
| 1920×1080 | 8500 | 64 | H.264 | HE-AAC (v2) |
| 1920×1080 | 10000 | 64 | H.264 | HE-AAC (v2) |
The new and improved encoding:
| Dimensions | Video Bit Rate (kbps) | Audio Bit Rate (kbps) | Video Codec | Audio Codec |
| 416×234 | 200 | 256 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 480×270 | 400 | 256 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 640×360 | 600 | 256 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 640×360 | 1200 | 256 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 960×540 | 1800 | 256 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 960×540 | 2350 | 256 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 1280×720 | 3500 | 256 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 1440×810 | 5000 | 256 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 1920×1080 | 6500 | 256 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
| 1920×1080 | 8000 | 256 | H.264 | AAC-LC |
Why didn’t you implement this before the launch? You say you want to give your customers the best quality? What was the purpose of relaunching with poor specifications? Clearly you guys knew you were boning customers according to the chart.
“The newer audio codec was supposed to produce the same quality sound at a lower bit rate, and initial testing seemed to support that conclusion.”
do all the new shows already have the increased quality?
It says in the post that anything released in the past couple of weeks is already done, so I guess that means episodes from last week and maybe the week before have the increased quality.
yes. They said that in the article. Everything else will start being updated on the site in the coming months. Straight from the article:
“Anything released in the past couple of weeks is already done, and the rest of the library will be released in batches over the coming weeks, resulting in an improvement in sound quality for our fans.”
Thanks for listening Funi. Especially glad to hear about the update in audio quality. Can’t beat hi-fidelity audio, just as important or sometimes more than picture quality. It’s what makes the viewing experience that more immersive. Greatly appreciate your dedication. Can see people still are complaining about apps or whatever you haven’t fixed, which I
m sure is a problem, but I just want to appreciate what you’ve done in this instance.
I wanted to give a shoutout to Sophie for helping get this done. Thanks a ton!
😀
I wish you guys would offer surround sound through Funimation Now. But I guess thats why I still buy the Blurays.
AAC doesn’t offer true surround sound support
There’s really no way they can offer surround sound through a browser. And if you watch it on mobile devices, it’s not an option either.. Only possible way is to offer it through the Windows 10 UWP app, Netflix is already doing it. The only problem is, the Windows 10 UWP app is crappy, and they don’t seem to want to update it, let along offering surround sound.
I don’t really understand so much about bit rates. I mean, for me is “the more the better. But I do understand the audio adjustments you’ll be doing.
My kingdom for the old FunimationNow design 😫
Looks great!
As a new user (from NZ) I really support best quality where possible. After all I am here for the quality. Keep it up.
I particularly like the 256kbps audio; as an sound engineer this is very important to me 🙂
Just jumped here to confirm. Playing Funimation on my tv, the pictures have become much more clear and clean.