What Is Bitrate and Why It Matters
Bitrate is the amount of data transmitted per second in your stream — measured in kilobits per second (kbps). A higher bitrate means better audio quality, but also more data usage and higher bandwidth requirements.
Choosing the right bitrate is a strategic decision: too high and some users can't listen smoothly; too low and you risk poor audio quality. The perfect bitrate depends on who your audience is, how they connect, and what type of content you stream.
๐ฅ Understanding Your Audience
Before setting your bitrate, ask yourself:
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Are my listeners on mobile or desktop?
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Do they live in areas with fast or limited internet?
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Is my content mostly music, voice, or a mix?
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Do I want to save bandwidth for a large audience?
ViaRad.io lets you stream in MP3 or AAC/AAC+, and even offer multiple streams at different bitrates from the same station — so your audience can choose what works best for them.
๐ Bitrate Recommendations by Use Case
| Use Case | Recommended Bitrate | Format | Encoding Profile | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ค Talk-only / Podcasts | 32–48 kbps | AAC+ | HE-AAC v2 | Mono is enough; excellent compression |
| ๐ถ Music (general) | 96–128 kbps | AAC or MP3 | AAC LC or MP3 | Balance between quality and reach |
| ๐ฑ Mobile-first audience | 24–64 kbps | AAC+ | HE-AAC v2 | Saves data and works even on 3G |
| ๐ก FM Radio quality | 128 kbps | MP3 or AAC | AAC LC or MP3 | Widely accepted "standard" for music |
| ๐ผ High fidelity music | 192–256 kbps | MP3 or AAC | AAC LC | Best for audiophile listeners |
| ๐ Global/remote audience | 32–64 kbps | AAC+ | HE-AAC v2 | Reduces buffering in slow connections |
๐งช Bitrate vs. Perceived Quality (with AAC+)
AAC+ (especially HE-AAC v2) is extremely efficient. Here's a rough comparison of perceived quality:
| Bitrate | Perceived Quality (AAC+) |
|---|---|
| 24 kbps | Low, acceptable for voice |
| 32 kbps | Good for mono music |
| 48 kbps | Very good for stereo voice or music |
| 64 kbps | Excellent for general music |
| 96 kbps | Almost indistinguishable from 128 kbps MP3 |
๐ก Note: MP3 requires at least 96 kbps to sound decent for music. AAC+ can deliver similar quality at half the bitrate.
๐ Streaming Multiple Bitrates (Multi-Stream Strategy)
You can create multiple mount points with different bitrates for different listener types. Example:
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/high.mp3→ 128 kbps MP3 for desktop users -
/mobile.aac→ 48 kbps HE-AAC v2 for mobile -
/ultralow.aac→ 24 kbps for areas with limited bandwidth
ViaRad.io fully supports this flexible architecture — perfect for adapting to your audience without compromising quality.
๐ง Tips for Choosing Your Bitrate
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๐ง Test your stream at different bitrates using real devices (phones, old browsers, etc.).
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๐ If you have many mobile listeners, prioritize AAC+ with lower bitrates.
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๐ For voice-only content, don’t waste bandwidth — 32–48 kbps is often ideal.
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๐ For AutoDJ, lower bitrates reduce CPU/memory load on the server — especially with many listeners.
โ Summary
Choosing the right bitrate is not about using the highest number — it's about understanding your audience and balancing quality with accessibility. With the powerful options from ViaRad.io, you can deliver a stream that sounds amazing to everyone, everywhere.