MP3 Surround was yet another attempt (like MP3pro and mp3HD) by Fraunhofer and friends to extend the lifespan of the MP3 format (and by lifespan, I mean "the period of time we can extract licensing fees from users").

It is worth stressing this is not the MPEG Multichannel extension defined in the MPEG2 standard. MP3 Surround is not standardized, it is a proprietary extension created by FhG.

The idea here is to generate a standard stereo MP3 file with an ancillary track of surround information (which takes about 16kbps) bolted to it. In other words, MP3pro for surround instead of high frequencies.

That way special surround decoders can decode the extra information, and normal decoders can decode the standard stereo track, providing backwards compatibility.

The GUI encoder only accepts 5.1 wav files. Version 1.1.5 expired on 2013-12-31 (version 1.1.4 expired on 2007-12-31), so set your PC clock to before that date if you want to use it. You can also use the command line encoders (for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X) which, as far as I can tell, do not expire (and accept six mono WAVs besides multichannel files).

I am also hosting the MP3 SX Converter, a tool that takes stereo MP3 files and attempts to add surround sound information conjured out of thin air. Reviews around the Internet say it was not really good.

Just like MP3pro, MP3 Surround failed to get any traction anywhere (although, surprisingly, it was supported on the PlayStation 3) and was quietly abandoned by FhG. But as usual, the Internet Archive comes to the rescue and you can check their pages, with technical information and marketing blurbs, here and here.


Date: 2008-01-17
Version: 1.1.5 (encoder)
Interface: Graphical
Platform: Win32
Download: MP3sGuiEnc_v1.1.5.exe - 2.112kB

Date: 2008-01-17
Version: 1.1.5 (encoder)
Interface: Graphical
Platform: Mac OS X (universal)
Download: MP3sGuiEnc_v1.1.5.dmg - 5.874kB

Date: 2007-05-25
Version: 1.1.4 (encoder)
Interface: Graphical
Platform: Win32
Download: MP3sGuiEnc_v1.1.4.exe - 2.418kB
Kindly contributed by Zachary Jelesoff.

Date: 2007-05-25
Version: 1.1.4 (encoder)
Interface: Graphical
Platform: Mac OS X (universal)
Download: MP3sGuiEnc_v1.1.4.dmg - 6.481kB

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Date: 2010-02-04
Version: 4.0.0 (player)
Interface: Graphical
Platform: Win32
Download: MP3sPlayerv400.exe - 2.973kB
Kindly contributed by Zachary Jelesoff.

Date: 2009-01-20
Version: 3.0.2 (player)
Interface: Graphical
Platform: Mac OS X (universal)
Download: MP3sPlayer3.0.2.dmg - 7.360kB

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Date: 2006-04-10
Version: 1.1.0
Interface: Graphical/Command line
Platform: Win32
Download: MP3SXConverterv1.1.0.exe - 2.103kB

Date: 2006-04-28
Version: 1.1.0
Interface: Graphical/Command line
Platform: Mac OS X (universal)
Download: MP3SXConverter1.1.0uni.dmg - 6.101kB

Date: 2006-04-13
Version: 1.1.0
Interface: Graphical/Command line
Platform: Linux
Download: MP3SXConverterV1.1.0.tar - 2.660kB

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Date: 2008-05-30
Version: 1.5
Interface: Command line
Platform: Win32/Linux/Mac OS X
Download: mp3sconsv15.zip - 2.427kB
Kindly contributed by Zachary Jelesoff.

Date: 2008-05-30
Version: 1.4
Interface: Command line
Platform: Win32/Linux/Mac OS X
Download: mp3sconsv14.zip - 1.528kB
Kindly contributed by Zachary Jelesoff.

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Date: 2006-02-07
Version: 2.0
Interface: Winamp plugin
Platform: Win32
Download: IIS_MP3s_Winamp_Plugin.exe - 949kB


I also have tools to use MP3 Surround with Shoutcast servers. If you have any use for them, feel free to get in touch!