Transparency (data compression)

Transparency, also referred to audibility, in the signal processing, the properties of a method that guarantees indistinguishability of the processed signal from the original.

Electroacoustics

In terms of methods of audio data compression is "Transparency " is the term for a quality standard in which the process itself (that is, regardless of the equipment) does not adversely affect the quality of the audio signal.

If an audio compression method can provide transparency, therefore exists in the data rate range a transparency threshold above which a quality degree is reached at which the signal for the human listener is indistinguishable from the starting material.

This value typically depends on the type of input signal. Thus, a higher data rate is required than for a piece in which only very few instruments or voices are involved for the transparent reproduction of a complex piece of music for an orchestra with many instruments.