View source for Vorbis

{{Short description|Royalty-free lossy audio encoding format}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}} 
{{Use American English|date=October 2023}}
{{Confused|Vobis}}
{{Infobox file format
|logo         = Vorbis_many_fish_logo_2005.svg
| logo_size   = 150px
|caption      = Vorbis logo
|extension    = .ogg<ref name="MIME-and-FileExt">{{Cite web|url=https://wiki.xiph.org/MIME_Types_and_File_Extensions|title=MIME Types and File Extensions - XiphWiki|website=wiki.xiph.org}}</ref>
|mime         = application/ogg, audio/ogg, audio/vorbis, audio/vorbis-config
|type code    =
|uniform type =
|magic        =
|owner        = [[Xiph.Org Foundation]]
|released     = {{start date|2000|05|08}}<ref name="vorbis-freeze-monty"/><ref name="xiph-vorbis-freeze"/>
|latest release version = Vorbis I
|latest release date    = {{start date|2020|07|04}}<ref name="vorbis-spec">{{cite web | author=Xiph.Org Foundation | title = Vorbis I specification | url = http://www.xiph.org/vorbis/doc/Vorbis_I_spec.html | date=2012-01-20 | access-date=2012-01-31 | publisher=Xiph.Org Foundation}}</ref>
|type         = [[Lossy compression|Lossy]] [[Audio file format|audio]]
|containerfor =
|containedby  = [[Ogg]], [[Matroska]], [[WebM]]
|extendedfrom =
|extendedto   =
|open         = Yes<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/playogg/en/|title=PlayOgg! - FSF - Free Software Foundation |access-date=2013-10-01|date=2010-03-17}}</ref>
|free         = Yes<ref>{{cite tech report |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |series=Sustainability of Digital Formats |type=Full draft |title=Ogg Vorbis Audio Format |date=19 February 2008 |url=https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000117.shtml |access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>
|standard     = [http://xiph.org/vorbis/doc/Vorbis_I_spec.html Specification]
|url          = {{Official URL}}
}}
{{Infobox software
| name = libvorbis
| logo = 
| screenshot = Ogginfo screenshot.png
| caption = Screenshot of <code>ogginfo</code> showing information of an .ogg file
| collapsible = 
| author = 
| developer = [[Xiph.Org Foundation]]
| released = {{start date|2002|07|19}}
| latest_release_version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q96233686|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| latest_release_date = {{Release date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|mdy|preferred|single|Q96233686|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}
| latest_preview_version = 
| latest_preview_date = 
| programming language = [[C (programming language)|C]]
| size = 
| language = 
| genre = [[Audio codec]], [[reference implementation (computing)|reference implementation]]
| license = [[3-clause BSD license]]<ref name="Vorbis.com FAQ"/><ref>{{cite web  | publisher = Xiph.Org Foundation | title = Sample Xiph.Org Variant of the BSD License  | url = http://www.xiph.org/licenses/bsd/ | access-date = 2009-08-29}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|https://www.xiph.org/downloads|Xiph.org downloads}}
| qid = Q96233686
}}

'''Vorbis''' is a [[free and open-source software]] project headed by the [[Xiph.Org Foundation]]. The project produces an [[audio coding format]] and software reference encoder/decoder ([[codec]]) for [[lossy compression|lossy]] [[audio compression (data)|audio compression]], '''libvorbis'''.<ref name="release-1.3.4">{{cite web|author=Xiph.Org |url=http://www.xiph.org/press/2014/libvorbis-1.3.4/ |title=libVorbis 1.3.4 released|date=2014-01-22|access-date=2014-02-09}}</ref> Vorbis is most commonly used in conjunction with the [[Ogg]] [[Digital container format|container format]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://wiki.xiph.org/index.php/MIME_Types_and_File_Extensions | work =Xiph.org wiki | title = MIME Types and File Extensions |access-date=2007-10-13}}</ref> and it is therefore often referred to as '''Ogg Vorbis'''.

Version 1.0 of Vorbis was released in May 2000.<ref name="vorbis-freeze-monty">{{cite web |last=Montgomery |first=Christopher |date=2000-05-08 |title=Merge done |url=http://lists.xiph.org/pipermail/vorbis-dev/2000-May/000201.html |access-date=2009-09-03 |work=vorbis-dev}}</ref> Since 2013, the Xiph.Org Foundation has stated that the use of Vorbis should be deprecated in favor of the [[Opus (audio format)|Opus]] codec, an improved and more efficient format that has also been developed by Xiph.Org.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2013-02-03 |title=OpusFAQ - XiphWiki |url=https://wiki.xiph.org/index.php?title=OpusFAQ&oldid=13856#How_does_Opus_compare_to_other_codecs.3F |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204191733/https://wiki.xiph.org/index.php?title=OpusFAQ&oldid=13856 |archive-date=2020-12-04 |access-date=2020-12-04 |website=wiki.xiph.org}}</ref>

==Name==
Vorbis is named after the character Exquisitor [[List_of_Discworld_characters#Vorbis|Vorbis]] in the ''[[Discworld]]'' novel ''[[Small Gods]]'' by [[Terry Pratchett]]. The [[Ogg]] format is named after ''ogging'', [[jargon]] from the computer game ''[[Netrek]]''.<ref name="xiphname">{{cite web |title=naming |url=http://xiph.org/xiphname |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411164006/https://xiph.org/xiphname |archive-date=2020-04-11 |publisher=Xiph.Org Foundation}}</ref>

== Development ==
Vorbis is a continuation of audio compression development started in 1993 by [[Chris Montgomery]].<ref name="advogado">{{cite web |date=2000-04-04 |title=Interview: Christopher Montgomery of Xiphophorus |url=http://www.advogato.org/article/56.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628144125/http://www.advogato.org/article/56.html |archive-date=2017-06-28 |access-date=2009-09-02 |publisher=Advogado}}</ref><ref name="xiphname" /> Intensive development began following a September 1998 letter from the [[Fraunhofer Society]] announcing plans to charge licensing fees for the [[MP3]] audio format.<ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=http://www.xiph.org/about/ |access-date=2009-08-31 |publisher=Xiph.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Robertson |first=Michael |date=1998-09-11 |title=Fraunhofer Lowers Patent Boom on MP3 Software Developers |url=http://www.mp3.com/news/095.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816002547/http://www.mp3.com/news/095.html |archive-date=2000-08-16 |access-date=2009-08-31}}</ref> The Vorbis project started as part of the Xiphophorus company's Ogg project (also known as OggSquish multimedia project).<ref name="ogg-squish-dvorak">{{cite web |last=Zisk |first=Brian |date=2000-04-19 |title=Dvorak Interviews Monty |url=http://lists.xiph.org/pipermail/vorbis/2000-April/012573.html |access-date=2008-09-04 |work=vorbis |publisher=Xiph}}</ref><ref name="oggsquish-project">{{cite web |date=2000-05-20 |title=Ogg |url=http://xiph.org/ogg/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000520212458/http://xiph.org/ogg/ |archive-date=2000-05-20 |access-date=2008-09-02 |publisher=Xiphophorus |type=project homepage}}</ref> Chris Montgomery began work on the project and was assisted by a growing number of other developers. They continued refining the [[source code]] until the Vorbis file format was frozen for 1.0 in May 2000.<ref name="vorbis-freeze-monty" /><ref name="xiph-vorbis-freeze">{{cite web |title=Ogg Vorbis |url=http://www.xiph.org/vorbis/ |access-date=2009-09-11 |publisher=Xiph.Org Foundation}}</ref><ref name="vorbis-freeze">{{cite web |date=2000-05-11 |title=The Ogg Vorbis CODEC project |url=http://www.xiph.org/ogg/vorbis/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000610211737/http://www.xiph.org/ogg/vorbis/ |archive-date=2000-06-10 |access-date=2009-09-03 |publisher=Xiphophorus co}}</ref> Originally licensed as [[LGPL]], in 2001 the Vorbis license was changed to the [[BSD license]] to encourage adoption, with the endorsement of [[Richard Stallman]].<ref>[http://lists.xiph.org/pipermail/vorbis/2001-February/001758.html February 2001] on xiph.org ''"With the Beta 4 release, the Ogg Vorbis libraries have moved to the BSD license. The change from LGPL to BSD was made to enable the use of Ogg Vorbis in all forms of software and hardware. [[Jack Moffitt (computer scientist)|Jack Moffitt]] says, "We are changing the license in response to feedback from many parties. It has become clear to us that adoption of Ogg Vorbis will be accelerated even further by the use of a less restrictive license that is friendlier toward proprietary software and hardware systems. We want everyone to be able to use Ogg Vorbis.""''</ref><ref>[https://lwn.net/2001/0301/a/rms-ov-license.php3 RMS on license change] on lwn.net</ref> A stable version (1.0) of the reference software was released on July 19, 2002.<ref>{{cite web |date=2002-07-19 |title=OGG Vorbis 1.0 officially released |url=http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/3149.cfm |access-date=2009-06-04 |publisher=AfterDawn}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2002-07-19 |title=Ogg Vorbis official release is here |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-945228.html |access-date=2009-06-04 |work=News |publisher=CNET}}</ref><ref>{{cite mailing list |last=Montgomery |first=Christopher |title=Vorbis 1.0 released |mailing-list=vorbis |date=2002-07-19 |url=http://lists.xiph.org/pipermail/vorbis/2002-July/008330.html |access-date=2009-06-04 |author-link=Chris Montgomery}}</ref>

Since February 2013,<ref name=":0" /> Xiph.Org has stated that the use of Vorbis should be deprecated in favor of the [[Opus (audio format)|Opus]] codec, which is also a Xiph.Org Foundation project and also free and open-source. Compared to Vorbis, Opus can simultaneously achieve higher compression efficiency—per both Xiph.Org itself and third-party listening tests<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hoene |first1=Christian |last2=Valin |first2=Jean-Marc |last3=Vos |first3=Koen |last4=Skoglund |first4=Jan |date=2013-05-17 |title=Summary of Opus listening test results |url=https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-ietf-codec-results-03.html |url-status=live |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215165304/https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-ietf-codec-results-03.html |archive-date=2019-12-15 |access-date=2020-12-04 |newspaper=Ietf Datatracker}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Results of the public multiformat listening test (July 2014) |url=http://listening-test.coresv.net/results.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112035112/http://listening-test.coresv.net/results.htm |archive-date=2020-11-12 |access-date=2020-12-04 |website=listening-test.coresv.net}}</ref>—and lower encode/decode latency (in most cases, low enough for real-time applications such as [[Voice over IP|internet telephony]] or live singing, rarely possible with Vorbis).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-03 |title=OpusFAQ - XiphWiki |url=https://wiki.xiph.org/OpusFAQ#How_does_Opus_compare_to_other_codecs.3F |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117221321/https://wiki.xiph.org/OpusFAQ |archive-date=2020-11-17 |access-date=2020-12-04 |website=wiki.xiph.org}}</ref> 

==Usage==
Vorbis faces competition from other audio formats, such as MP3. Though Vorbis is technically superior (addressing many of the limitations inherent to the MP3 design), MP3 has a far higher public profile.<ref>{{cite book|title=Web-based Instruction: A Guide for Libraries|first=Susan|last=Sharpless Smith|publisher=American Library Association|page=138|year=2010|isbn=978-0-8389-1056-6}}</ref> Because Vorbis does not have financial support from large organisations, support for the format is not as widespread, though programs such as [[Audacity (audio editor)|Audacity]] can convert to more popular formats,<ref>{{cite book|title=Computers in Music Education: Amplifying Musicality|first=Andrew|last=Brown|page=[https://archive.org/details/computersinmusic0000brow/page/148 148]|publisher=Routledge|year=2007|isbn=978-0-4159-7850-7|url=https://archive.org/details/computersinmusic0000brow/page/148}}</ref> and support in games has gradually improved.<ref>{{cite book|title=Windows Mobile Game Development: Building games for the Windows Phone and other mobile devices|first=Adam|last=Dawes|publisher=Apress|page=158|year=2010|isbn=978-1-4302-2929-2}}</ref>

The Vorbis format has proven popular among supporters of [[free software]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/audio/audio.html |title=Recordings about our Philosophy | work = GNU Project | publisher = Free Software Foundation (FSF) |access-date=2008-01-12 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071126020329/https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/audio/audio.html |archive-date = 2007-11-26}}</ref> They argue that its higher fidelity and completely free nature, unencumbered by patents, make it a well-suited replacement for patented and restricted formats.

[[File:Rondo Alla Turka.ogg|thumb|200px|Low-bitrate Vorbis example]] <!-- According to wc, the previously mentioned .ogg has 1877827 bytes; mplayer -identify says its duration is 224.98 seconds; and 1877827 * 8 / (224.98 * 1000) = 66.8 [Kb/s], which is definitively a low bitrate -->
Vorbis has different uses for consumer products. Many [[video game]]s store in-game audio as Vorbis, including ''[[Amnesia: The Dark Descent]]'', ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'', ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', ''[[Minecraft]]'', and ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', among others.<ref name="xiph-wiki-games-that-use-vorbis">{{cite web|url=https://wiki.xiph.org/Games_that_use_Vorbis |title=Xiph.Org Wiki, Games that use Vorbis|date=2018-03-03|access-date=2024-01-25 }}</ref> Popular software players support Vorbis playback either natively or through an external [[Plug-in (computing)|plugin]]. A number of websites, including [[Wikipedia]], use it.<ref name ="playogg-sites">{{cite web |url=http://www.fsf.org/resources/formats/playogg/sites |title=Ogg Sites | publisher =Free Software Foundation |access-date=2009-10-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://wikip.blogspot.com/2007/04/ogg-vorbis-no-future.html |title=Ogg Vorbis — no future? |date= 2007-11-04 | access-date =2009-10-02}}</ref><ref>[[Wikipedia:WikiProject Spoken Wikipedia]], Retrieved 2009</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:First_steps/Quality_and_description#Audio_and_video | work = Wikimedia Commons | title = First steps/Quality and description |access-date=2009-10-02}}</ref> Others include [[Jamendo]] and [[Mindawn]], as well as several national radio stations<ref name="playogg-sites"/> like JazzRadio, [[Absolute Radio]], [[NPR]], [[Radio New Zealand]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/oggcasts |title=Radio New Zealand Oggcasts |access-date=2009-01-14}}</ref> and [[Deutschlandradio]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dradio.de/wir/ogg/|title=Deutschlandradio im Internet mit OGG-Vorbis-Stream|access-date=2009-10-08|archive-date=2009-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830061154/http://www.dradio.de/wir/ogg|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Spotify]] audio streaming service primarily uses Vorbis<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2019 |title=Audio Quality on Spotify |url=https://support.spotify.com/dk/article/high-quality-streaming/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203051705/https://support.spotify.com/dk/article/high-quality-streaming/ |archive-date=February 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.spotify.com/us/2009/06/25/bumping-up-the-bitrate |title=Bumping up the Bitrate |date=2009-06-25 |publisher=Spotify News |access-date=2018-03-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328164652/https://news.spotify.com/us/2009/06/25/bumping-up-the-bitrate/ |archive-date=2018-03-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> as well as [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]].<ref>{{cite web |date=June 6, 2020 |title=Audio Quality |url=https://support.spotify.com/us/article/audio-quality/ |access-date=2018-03-28}}</ref> Also, the French music site Qobuz offers its customers the possibility to download their purchased songs in Vorbis format, as does the American music site [[Bandcamp]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.qobuz.com/aide/guide-qobuz?qref=cpa#format-choice |title=Qobuz FAQ|access-date=2013-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424070217/http://www.qobuz.com/aide/guide-qobuz?qref=cpa#format-choice |archive-date=2013-04-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Technical details==
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin: 1em 0 1em 1em; width: 20em; clear: right;"
|-
|+ Vorbis nominal bitrate at quality levels for 44.1&nbsp;kHz stereo input. The new libvorbis v1.2 usually compresses better than these values (effective bitrate may vary).
|-
! Quality
!colspan="2"| Nominal bitrate
|-
!
! Official Xiph.Org Foundation Vorbis
! 
|-
| -q-1
| 45&nbsp;kbit/s
| 48&nbsp;kbit/s
|-
| -q0
|colspan="2"| 64&nbsp;kbit/s
|-
| -q1
|colspan="2"| 80&nbsp;kbit/s
|-
| -q2
|colspan="2"| 96&nbsp;kbit/s
|-
| -q3
|colspan="2"| 112&nbsp;kbit/s
|-
| -q4
|colspan="2"| 128&nbsp;kbit/s
|-
| -q5
|colspan="2"| 160&nbsp;kbit/s
|-
| -q6
|colspan="2"| 192&nbsp;kbit/s
|-
| -q7
|colspan="2"| 224&nbsp;kbit/s
|-
| -q8
|colspan="2"| 256&nbsp;kbit/s
|-
| -q9
|colspan="2"| 320&nbsp;kbit/s
|-
| -q10
|colspan="2"| 500&nbsp;kbit/s
|}

===Outline of coder algorithm===
Vorbis I is a forward-adaptive monolithic transform codec based on the [[modified discrete cosine transform]] (MDCT).<ref name="vorbis-mdct">{{cite web |author=Xiph.Org Foundation |publisher=Xiph.Org Foundation |url=http://www.xiph.org/vorbis/doc/Vorbis_I_spec.html#x1-50001.1.2 |title=Vorbis I specification - 1.1.2 Classification |date=2009-06-02 |access-date=2009-09-22}}</ref> Vorbis uses the modified discrete cosine transform for converting sound data from the [[time domain]] to the [[frequency domain]]. The resulting frequency-domain data is broken into [[noise floor]] and residue components, and then [[Quantization (signal processing)|quantized]] and [[entropy coded]] using a [[codebook]]-based [[vector quantization]] algorithm. The decompression algorithm reverses these stages. The noise-floor approach gives Vorbis its characteristic analog noise-like failure mode when the bitrate is too low to encode the audio without perceptible loss. The sound of compression artifacts at low bitrates is similar to [[Reverberation|reverberations]] in a large space.

===Container formats===
{{See also| Container format (digital)}}
Vorbis streams can be encapsulated in other media [[container format (digital)|container format]]s besides Ogg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wiki.xiph.org/index.php/Oggless|title=Oggless proposal| publisher = Xiph.Org Foundation}}</ref> A commonly used alternative is [[Matroska]]. It is also used in [[WebM]], a container format based on a subset of Matroska.<ref name= xiph-webm>{{cite web | url = http://www.xiph.org/press/2010/webm/ | title=Xiph.Org announces support for the WebM open media project| publisher = Xiph.Org | access-date = 2010-05-20 |date=2010-05-19}}</ref><ref name=webm-blog>{{cite web |url = https://webmproject.blogspot.com/2010/05/introducing-webm-open-web-media-project.html |title= Introducing WebM, an open web media project |access-date=2010-05-19 |date=2010-05-19}}</ref><ref name=faq>{{cite web | url = http://www.webmproject.org/about/faq/ | work = WebM | title = FAQ | publisher = Google | date = 2010-05-19}}</ref> Vorbis streams can also be encapsulated in an [[Real-time Transport Protocol|RTP]] payload format.<ref>{{cite IETF|rfc=5215 | title=RTP Payload Format for Vorbis Encoded Audio |date=August 2008 |access-date=2010-06-16 | publisher = IETF| last1= Barbato | first1= Luca }}</ref>

===Metadata===
Vorbis [[metadata]], called [[Vorbis comment]]s, supports metadata tags similar to those implemented in the [[ID3]] standard for MP3. The metadata is stored in a vector of [[8-bit clean|byte strings]] of arbitrary length and size. The size of the vector and the size of each string in bytes is limited to 2<sup>32</sup> − 1 (about 4.3 [[1000000000 (number)|billion]], or any positive integer that can be expressed in 32 bits). This vector is stored in the second header packet that begins a Vorbis bitstream.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.xiph.org/vorbis/doc/v-comment.html | title=Vorbis Comment Field Documentation | access-date=2007-03-14 | author=Xiph.Org Foundation}}</ref>

The strings are assumed to be encoded as [[UTF-8]]. Music tags are typically implemented as strings of the form "[TAG]=[VALUE]", for instance, "ARTIST=The John Smith Band". The tag names are case-insensitive, thus typing "ARTIST=The John Smith Band" would be the same as "artist=The John Smith Band". Like the current version of ID3, users and encoding software are free to use whichever tags are appropriate for the content. For example, an encoder could use localized tag labels, live music tracks might contain a "Venue=" tag or files could have multiple genre definitions. Most applications also support common de facto standards such as disc number and [[ReplayGain]] information.

===Variants===
'''{{va|aoTuV}}''' is a notable [[Fork (software development)|fork]] which adds support for encoding at lower bitrates.<ref name="hydrogenaudio-recommended-vorbis-encoder">{{cite web|url=https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Recommended_Ogg_Vorbis |title=Recommended Ogg Vorbis - Hydrogenaudio Knowledgebase|access-date=2022-06-30}}</ref> aoTuV's changes were intended to be merged into the reference encoder periodically, but that only happened once in libvorbis 1.1,<ref name="libvorbis-aotuv-merge-changelog">{{cite web|url=https://gitlab.xiph.org/xiph/vorbis/-/blob/84c023699cdf023a32fa4ded32019f194afcdad0/CHANGES#L163-173 |title=libvorbis 1.1 changelog |date=2004-09-22|access-date=2022-06-30}}</ref> due to future merges being a "task that requires uninterrupted time, something I [<nowiki/>[[Chris Montgomery]]] don't have a lot of."<ref name="xiph-monthly-meeting-2007-02">{{cite web|url=https://people.xiph.org/~giles/2007/200702_meeting.txt |title=Xiph.Org Monthly Meeting, 2007/02|date=2007-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930165436/https://people.xiph.org/~giles/2007/200702_meeting.txt |access-date=2022-06-30|archive-date=2008-09-30 }}</ref>

==Licensing==
Knowledge of Vorbis' specifications is in the [[public domain]].<ref name="Vorbis.com FAQ">{{cite web | publisher = Xiph.Org Foundation | title = Vorbis.com FAQ | url = http://www.vorbis.com/faq/#flic | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051001065649/http://vorbis.com/faq/#flic | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2005-10-01 | access-date = 2009-08-29 }}</ref> Concerning the specification itself, the Xiph.Org Foundation reserves the right to set the Vorbis specification and certify compliance. Its libraries are released under the revised 3-clause [[BSD License|BSD license]] and its tools are released under the [[GNU General Public License]]. The libraries were originally released under the [[GNU Lesser General Public Licence]], but a BSD license was later chosen with the endorsement of [[Richard Stallman]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://lists.xiph.org/pipermail/icecast-dev/2001-February/000005.html | title=&#91;icecast-dev&#93; Xiph.org announces Vorbis Beta 4 and the Xiph.org Foundation | access-date=2006-11-13 | author=Jack Moffitt| author-link=Jack Moffitt (computer scientist) |date=2001-02-26}}</ref> The [[Xiph.Org Foundation]] states that Vorbis, like all its developments, is completely free from the licensing or [[Software patent|patent]] issues raised by [[Proprietary software|proprietary]] formats. Although the Xiph.Org Foundation states it has conducted a patent search that supports its claims, outside parties (notably engineers working on rival formats) have expressed doubt that Vorbis is free of patented technology.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hydrogenaud.io/forums/index.php?showtopic=13531 | title=Vorbis development, status & patent issues | year=2003 | access-date=2006-11-13 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150625020659/http://www.hydrogenaud.io/forums/index.php?showtopic=13531 | archive-date=2015-06-25 | url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Original research inline|date=August 2016}}

The Xiph.Org Foundation has not released an official statement on the patent status of Vorbis, pointing out that such a statement is technically impossible due to the number and scope of patents in existence and the questionable validity of many of them. Such issues can only be resolved by a court of law.

Vorbis is supported by several large [[digital audio player]] manufacturers such as [[Samsung]], [[SanDisk]], [[Rio (digital audio players)|Rio]], [[Neuros Technology]], [[Cowon]], and [[iriver]].

==Support==

===Hardware===
''[[Tremor (software)|Tremor]]'', a version of the Vorbis decoder which uses [[fixed-point arithmetic]] (rather than [[floating point]]), was made available to the public on September 2, 2002 (also under a [[BSD License|BSD-style license]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lists.xiph.org/pipermail/vorbis-dev/2002-September/006399.html|title=&#91;vorbis-dev&#93; tremor relicensed as BSD|date=2002-09-03|access-date=2008-03-15}}</ref> Tremor, or platform-specific versions based on it, is more suited to implementation on the limited facilities available in commercial portable players. A number of versions that make adjustments for specific platforms and include customized optimizations for given embedded microprocessors have been produced. Several hardware manufacturers have expressed{{Citation needed|date=January 2008}} intentions to produce Vorbis-compliant devices and new Vorbis devices seem to be appearing at a steady rate.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}}
*[[Sailfish OS]] devices
*[[Tizen]] devices
*[[Openmoko]] Neo 1973 and Neo Freerunner
*Devices based on [[Google]]'s [[Android (operating system)|Android]] platform support Ogg Vorbis media files.<ref name="android-developers">{{cite web |url=https://android-developers.blogspot.com/2008/02/android-sdk-m5-rc14-now-available.html |title=Android SDK m5-rc14 now available |access-date=2008-12-15 |work=Android Developers' Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/media/media-formats|title=Supported media formats|website=Android Developers}}</ref>
*Digital audio players such as [[Cowon]]'s [[Cowon D2|D2]] and [[iAUDIO#iAUDIO X5|iAudio X5]] ship with Ogg Vorbis support.
*[[Samsung]] YP series of digital audio players<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wiki.xiph.org/index.php/PortablePlayers|title=PortablePlayers - XiphWiki|website=wiki.xiph.org}}</ref> ships with Ogg Vorbis support.
*The majority of [[iriver]] devices provide Ogg Vorbis support up to Q10 bitrates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iriver.co.kr/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103022042/http://www.iriver.com/product/p_detail.asp?pidx=80|url-status=dead|title=Redesign Your Life Style, IRIVER|archive-date=November 3, 2008|website=www.iriver.co.kr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iriver.co.kr/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428125637/http://www.iriver.com/product/p_detail.asp?pidx=82|url-status=dead|title=Redesign Your Life Style, IRIVER|archive-date=April 28, 2009|website=www.iriver.co.kr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iriver.co.kr/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604132109/http://www.iriver.com/product/p_detail.asp?pidx=85|url-status=dead|title=Redesign Your Life Style, IRIVER|archive-date=June 4, 2010|website=www.iriver.co.kr}}</ref> (as July 2008)
* [[Cowon]] C2 (Ogg and FLAC support)
* Some [[SanDisk portable media players]] including the Fuze and Clip
* [[Meizu]]'s [[M6 miniPlayer|M6]] and M3 Digital Audio Players
* [[S1 MP3 Player]]s also supports Ogg Vorbis since at least 2006, though this is not typically listed on the player's packaging.
* [[GamePark Holding]]'s Linux based portable gaming consoles (GP32, GP2X F100-F200, GP2X Wiz) officially support Ogg Vorbis.
* [[BlackBerry Limited|RIM]] [[BlackBerry 9800]] "Torch" and 9670 "Style"
* HP [[TouchPad]] was given support for Ogg Vorbis with the webOS 3.0.4 update
* [[Denon]] SC5000 Prime media player
* [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] players support decoding of [[4K resolution]] [[VP8]]/[[VP9]] video with Ogg Vorbis audio.

Apple's [[iPod]] does not natively support Vorbis but through the use of [[Rockbox]], an open-source firmware project, is capable of decoding Vorbis files on certain models. Similar statements apply to other devices capable of running Rockbox, as well. The Xiph.Org Foundation wiki has an up-to-date list of Vorbis-supporting hardware, such as portables, PDAs, and microchips.<ref name="VorbisHardware">{{cite web |url=http://wiki.xiph.org/VorbisHardware |title=VorbisHardware - XiphWiki |access-date=2008-01-13 |work=Xiph.Org Foundation}}</ref> Also see [[Internet radio device]] for an overview.

===Application software===
{{See also|Use of Ogg formats in HTML5}}
Software supporting Vorbis exists for many platforms. The multi-platform open-source [[VLC media player]] and [[MPlayer]] can play Ogg Vorbis files, as can [[Winamp]] and [[foobar2000]]. [[Windows Media Player]] does not natively support Vorbis; however, [[DirectShow]] filters exist to decode Vorbis in Windows Media Player and other Windows multimedia players that support DirectShow.<ref name=illiminable>{{cite web |url=http://www.xiph.org/dshow/ |title=illiminable Ogg Directshow Filters for Speex, Vorbis, Theora and FLAC |access-date=2008-06-24}}</ref> Vorbis is also supported in the multi-platform audio editing software [[Audacity (audio editor)|Audacity]], in the multi-platform [[multimedia framework]]s [[FFmpeg]], [[GStreamer]] and [[Helix (project)|Helix DNA]]. Vorbis is well-supported on the [[Linux]] platform in programs like [[XMMS]], [[xine]], [[Amarok (software)|Amarok]]. A list of Vorbis-supporting software can be found at the Xiph.Org Foundation wiki and Vorbis.com website.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wiki.xiph.org/index.php/VorbisSoftwarePlayers |title=VorbisSoftwarePlayers - XiphWiki |access-date=2008-01-13 |work=Xiph.Org Foundation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vorbis.com/software/ |title=Vorbis.com: 3rd party software |access-date=2009-10-12 |author=Xiph.Org Foundation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016094206/http://www.vorbis.com/software/ |archive-date=2009-10-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Users can test these programs using the list of Vorbis audio streams available on the same wiki.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wiki.xiph.org/index.php/VorbisStreams |title=VorbisStreams - XiphWiki |access-date=2008-01-13 |work=Xiph.Org Foundation}}</ref> For more information about support in software media players there is a [[Comparison of audio player software#Audio format ability|comparison of media players]] available. 

{{anchor|sb0}} Some newer [[Ubisoft]] games use Vorbis files renamed with the [[filename extension]] {{Not a typo|.sb0}}. It can therefore be played using a compatible player, although sometimes one must force a different [[sampling rate]] to hear it correctly. A number of tools are available for extracting sound from [[file archiver|archived files]] such as the .m4b of ''[[Myst IV: Revelation]]''.

As originally recommended by [[HTML 5]], these [[web browser]]s natively support Vorbis audio (without a plug-in) using the <code><audio></code> element: [[Mozilla Firefox 3.5]] (and later versions),<ref name="gecko191">{{citation | title = Firefox3.5/Features | date = 2009-03-18 | author = MozillaWiki | publisher = MozillaWiki | url = https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox3.5/Features | access-date = 2009-10-11}}</ref><ref name="firefox35">{{citation | title = Mozilla Firefox 3.5 Release Notes | date = 2009-06-30 | author = Mozilla Corporation | publisher = Mozilla Corporation | url = http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/3.5/releasenotes/ | access-date = 2009-10-11}}</ref> [[Google Chrome]] (from version 3.0.182.2),<ref name="chrome3">{{citation | title = Google Chrome to support HTML 5 video | date = 2009-05-28 | publisher = SoftSailor | url = http://www.softsailor.com/news/3787-3787.html | access-date = 2009-10-11 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091003194653/http://www.softsailor.com/news/3787-3787.html | archive-date = 2009-10-03 | url-status = dead }}</ref> [[SeaMonkey]] (from version 2.0).<ref name="seamonkey2">{{citation | title = What's New in SeaMonkey 2.0 Beta 2 | date = 2009-09-16 | author = Robert Kaiser | publisher = seamonkey-project.org | url = http://www.seamonkey-project.org/releases/seamonkey2.0b2/changes | access-date = 2009-10-11}}</ref> [[Opera (web browser)|Opera]] 9.5 experimental video builds released in 2007 and 2008 have only <code><video></code> support and play back Vorbis audio included in Ogg video files.<ref name="opera">{{citation | title = Experimental Opera-video build with native Ogg Theora support | date = 2007-04-25 | publisher = Opera | url = http://my.opera.com/ResearchWizard/blog/experimental-opera-video-build-with-native-ogg-theora-support | access-date = 2009-10-11}}</ref><ref name="opera-dev">{{citation | title = A call for video on the web - Opera <video> release on Labs | date = 2007-11-07 | publisher = Opera | url = http://dev.opera.com/articles/view/a-call-for-video-on-the-web-opera-vid/ | access-date = 2009-10-11}}</ref> [[Opera 10|Opera 10.5]] browser has support for Vorbis audio, [[WAV|WAVE PCM]] audio and [[Theora]] video.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://my.opera.com/core/blog/2009/12/31/re-introducing-video |title=(re-)Introducing <video> - Official blog for Core developers at Opera |author=Philip Jägenstedt |publisher=Opera |date=2009-12-31 |access-date=2010-01-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://my.opera.com/desktopteam/blog/happy-new-year |title=Happy New Year! - Official blog for Core developers at Opera |author=Arjan van Leeuwen |publisher=Opera |date=2009-12-31 |access-date=2010-01-02}}</ref>

The game design software [[RPG Maker]] MV, released in October 2015, is the first version of that program to drop MP3 support in favor of Ogg Vorbis.

In October 2017, Microsoft released support for Ogg media container, and Theora and Vorbis media formats as an optional add-on to Windows 10 and Xbox One, available for free in the [[Microsoft Store (digital)|Microsoft Store]].<ref name="Windows-WebMediaExt-Addon">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctrl.blog/entry/windows-ogg.html|title=Microsoft adds Ogg, Theora, and Vorbis media formats to Windows 10|first=Daniel|last=Aleksandersen|website=www.ctrl.blog|date=28 December 2021 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%;"
|+ Vorbis support by different operating systems
|-
! scope="row" | 
! [[Microsoft Windows]]
! [[macOS]]
! [[Linux]]
! [[Android (operating system)|Android]]
! [[iOS]]
|-
! scope="row" | Codec support
| {{yes}}<ref name="Windows-WebMediaExt-Addon" /> || {{depends|Via third-party applications}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{depends|Via third-party apps}}
|-
! scope="row" | Container support
| '''On Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (1709) with Web Media Extensions add-on''': <br> [[Ogg]] (.ogg is not recognised; requires pseudo extension){{efn|name=Supported-File-Ext|The <code>.ogg</code> filename extension is not recognised by [[Universal Windows Platform]] apps [[Groove Music]] and [[Microsoft Movies & TV]], hence a pseudo extension of another audio format (such as <code>.m4a</code>) is required instead.<ref name="Windows-Supported-File-Ext">{{Cite web|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/apps/hh986969(v=win.10)|title=Supported audio and video formats (Windows Runtime apps) - Windows app development|website=learn.microsoft.com|date=13 October 2015 }}</ref>}} <br> [[Matroska]] (.mka, .mkv) <br> '''On Windows 10 October 2018 Update (1809)''': <br> [[WebM]] (.webm is recognised officially) <br> '''On Windows 10 May 2019 Update (1903)''':<br> [[Ogg]] (.ogg is recognised officially)
| ''depends on application''
| [[Ogg]] (.ogg) <br> [[Matroska]] (.mka, .mkv) <br> [[WebM]] (.webm)
| [[Ogg]] (.ogg, .oga) <br> [[Matroska]] (.mka, .mkv) <br> [[WebM]] (.webm)
| ''depends on application''
|-
! scope="row" | Notes
| '''On [[Windows 10]]''': <br> - Requires [[Fall Creators Update]] (1709) and installation of [https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9N5TDP8VCMHS Web Media Extensions] package. <br> - On [[April 2018 Update]] (1803) with Web Media Extensions preinstalled, Microsoft Edge (EdgeHTML 17) supports Vorbis audio embedded in <audio> tags. <br> - Supported on [[Universal Windows Platform]] apps ([[Groove Music]], [[Microsoft Movies & TV]]). Unsupported on [[Windows Media Player]]. <br> - Up till October 2018 update (1809), the filename extension .ogg was not recognised. (substitute with a pseudo file extension such as .m4a)<ref name="Windows-Supported-File-Ext" /> <br><br> '''On [[Windows 8.1]] and older''': <br> - Requires installation of a third-party multimedia framework, [[LAV Filters]]. 
| No native support in the macOS native multimedia framework. <br> In versions of Mac OS X prior to 10.11 El Capitan, Vorbis support could be added to [[QuickTime]] using the [[Xiph QuickTime Components]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xiph.org/quicktime/#id2009061400 |title=13.06.2016 - XiphQT discontinued |work=Xiph.Org: QuickTime Components |access-date=2019-02-19}}</ref> 
| - 
| - 
| No native support in the iOS native multimedia framework.
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
* [[Comparison of audio coding formats]]
* [[Icecast]], streaming media server which currently supports Ogg (Vorbis and Theora), Opus and [[WebM]] streams.
* [[JUCE]], cross-platform C++ toolkit with embedded Vorbis support
* [[Ogg]] bitstream container
* [[Opus (audio format)|Opus]], audio format by Xiph that is biased towards latency
* [[Vorbis comment]], metadata format used by Vorbis
* [[XML Shareable Playlist Format]], [[playlist]] format
* [[Xiph QuickTime Components]], official QuickTime implementation

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.vorbis.com/ Vorbis site] - Xiph reference implementation
* [http://xiph.org/vorbis/ Vorbis reference implementation] by [[Xiph.Org Foundation]]
* [https://wiki.xiph.org/Vorbis_Software_Players Players]
* [http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/08/14/1034209 Christopher "Monty" Montgomery (main developer) interview, slashdot.org]
* {{cite IETF |RFC=5215 |title=RTP Payload Format for Vorbis Encoded Audio}}
* {{cite IETF |RFC=5334 |title=Ogg Media Types}}

{{Xiph.org}}
{{Compression formats}}
{{Compression Software Implementations}}

[[Category:Free audio codecs]]
[[Category:Lossy compression algorithms]]
[[Category:Xiph.Org projects]]
[[Category:Software using the BSD license]]
[[Category:Open formats]]