Recommended Media Support

This document lists codecs, containers, streaming formats, and playlists, that your product should support to provide a familiar Alexa experience to your customers.

Living Document

As we learn from you and introduce compatibility with new media codecs, containers, and streaming formats, this document will be improved and updated.

Audio Codecs

Codec Bitrate Sample Rate Tags
MP3 32 - 256 kbps 44.1 kHz
48 kHz		 ID3v2
AAC 32 - 256 kbps 44.1 kHz
48 kHz		  
WAV/PCM N/A 44.1 kHz
48 kHz		  
Vorbis VBR 8 kHz - 192 kHz  
Opus 6 kbps - 510 kbps, CBR, VBR 8 kHz - 48 kHz  

Audio Containers

Container Payload Codec
OGG Vorbis
OGG Opus
MP4/M4A AAC
MPEG-TS MP1, MP2, MPEG4 Audio
ADTS AAC

Audio Streaming Formats

Streaming Format Version Codec
SHOUTcast/Icecast N/A MP3, AAC
HLS Live - See Section 6.3.4 of the HLS Spec. 7 MPEG-TS, ADTS, MP3

Audio Playlists

Playlist Payload Encryption Adaptive Bitrate
HLS (VOD) MPEG-TS, ADTS, MP3 N N
PLS Supported Codecs, SHOUTcast, M3U/M3U8 N/A N/A
M3U/M3U8 Supported Codecs, SHOUTcast, M3U/M3U8 N/A N/A

Music Service Provider (MSP) Audio Formats

The following audio formats are supported by Music Service Providers (MSPs).

MSP Streaming Format Playlist Extension Container Codec Bit Rate(s)
Amazon Music¹ HLSv4 (Muxed with MPEG-TS) M3U8 MPEG-TS with ADTS AAC LC, HE-AAC 256 Kbps (AAC)
Amazon Music² Progressive N/A MP4 AAC Up to 256 kbps
Amazon Music³ Progressive N/A MP3 MP3 (VBR), MP3 (CBR) Up to 320 kbps
iHeartRadio HLSv1 M3U8, PLSv2 N/A AAC, AAC LC, HE-AAC Up to 320 kbps
SiriusXM HLS M3U8 ADTS AAC LC, HE-AAC 256 kbps (AAC LC), 23/64/96 kbps (HE-AAC)

¹ - Prime and Unlimited music will be provided in this audio format.
² - Music owned by the customer, either purchased or uploaded Amazon's Cloud Locker Service, may be streamed in this audio format.
³ - Music owned by the customer, either purchased or uploaded Amazon's Cloud Locker Service, may be streamed in this audio format.

Disclaimer

Implementation of the media codecs, containers, and formats described herein may practice one or more audio and/or visual standards (e.g., MPEG-4, AVC, AAC, etc.). AVS developers, and not Amazon, are solely responsible for procuring any patent rights covering such standards on their AVS products.

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Last updated: Nov 27, 2023