The world’s first industry grade live streaming encoder for the Opus audio format was unveiled on Monday.

Xeocoder allows broadcast networks to provide Opus streams, a format seen by many in the tech industry as a major threat to MP3.

The encoder is fully integrated with leading radio playout software including RCS MCXV, Zetta, BSI Simian and SPL Studio.

Xeocoder has been developed by the Singapore-based RADIOactive, which offers streaming radio services together with tools to allow broadcasters to engage, measure and monetise their streaming audiences.

The company says the encoder offers a quality that rivals codecs only available through plugins.

RADIOactive’s Managing Director Andrew Crothers said:  “Opus is one of the most promising developments in live audio streaming in a long time and we’re proud to be the first to market with a truly professional solution for the global radio industry.”

“Xeocoder offers broadcasters extraordinary Opus quality matched with flexibility and low latency in a package which any radio station can easily get up and running with.”

The Opus audio format has been standardized by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and has been accepted as the mandatory default in Web RTC (Real Time Communications), with full support added in the latest versions of the industry standard Icecast streaming server.

Giants such as Google, Skype, Mozilla and others have already adopted the Opus codec, giving millions of users the ability to listen to Opus streams across platforms, including web, mobile, hardware and Smart TV devices.

Xeocoder is available immediately at http://xeocoder.com.