11 replies · 277 views
Just curious to everyone's preferences with their mp3s, or if you're of a camp that will purchase a drive for all uncompressed tracks. Just general discussion on what you prefer, if you prefer, or if you could care less.
For my own likes, anything that I just grab to have a random mix on the server will get encoded to 192. Anything I feel needs better encoding than others (classical, electronic, well loved groups) gets the 320 quality embued on it.
In general I am with you on that. 192 for most, and 320 for anything important...or anything of my own. Interestingly Cubase refers to 320 as ....um...words are gone, but something like "pro mpeg" or something that implies it's as good as lossless. The encoder you use can play quite a part. particuarly if you are creating lower bandwidth files for the web. that "slghtlynarrow sampler" ias posted on here a wheil back, everything on it was at 96 and sounded pretty fookin shit hot.
Low bitrate mp3's...the new version of trying your mix on the little transistor radio speaker (after you have rightly given the NS10's one barrel each)
I encode all my MP3s at:
VBR 192-224 (Min=192, Max=224) VBR Quality Level 2 Joint Stereo
I use the freeware Exact Audio Copy and LAME MP3 Encoder DLL (v3.96.1) combination. The EAC/LAME combo works a treat and ensures there's never any skips in yer tunes. Is a little tricky to set up at first but really powerful and easy to use once it is. Absolutely the best MP3 encoder out there (and free!).
Oh, and this is a great article on Joint Stereo vs. "Regular" Stereo if anyone's ever wondered exactly what Joint Stereo is. I did a bit of research on this when I bought my first iPod, I was searching for the best possible bitrate/format to encode music with so did my homework. I chose MP3 over AAC because a) AAC's benefits are massively overhyped and b) MP3s are easier to share with your mates.
Alistair wrote: I encode all my MP3s at:
VBR 192-224 (Min=192, Max=224) VBR Quality Level 2 Joint Stereo
I use the freeware Exact Audio Copy and LAME MP3 Encoder DLL (v3.96.1) combination, that works a treat and ensures there's never any skips in yer tunes. Is a little tricky to set up at first but really powerful and easy to use once it is. Absolutely the best combo out there (and free!).
LAME is cool bladeenc is good too tho I dunno if there's a win32 version. Do you find any bother with vbr files. I stopped using it after I had a few go "fatboy slim" on me. A lotof standalone players don;t suport it too, if that is at all relevent to you.
I've not seen a glorious return on anything I VBR'ed but I'm sure it has it's use elsewhere form my homebrew factory of music.
Lot of the streams I listen to are at 64, and that's alright because I'm dialing in, not speeding by, on the internet. Usually just listening to get exposure to new stuff and locate elsewhere, anyways.
edit to add: I've been using db Power Amp for years, but they just recently started doing this silly thing where the mp3 encoder dies after 30 days. Some nonsense about the licensing. Hence, I just reverted back to an older copy, and proceed as usual. Will give your program a try there.
Steve Campbell wrote: LAME is cool bladeenc is good too tho I dunno if there's a win32 version. Do you find any bother with vbr files. I stopped using it after I had a few go "fatboy slim" on me. A lotof standalone players don;t suport it too, if that is at all relevent to you.
That was an issue (VBR compatibility) when I did my research but the iPod (mine's a 3rd gen) and most other current MP3 players support them with no problems at all. I've had no serious issues so far and I'm pretty confident my files won't run into any. At least I fcuking hope not, there's 36 gig of them and I'm not re-encoding until the next really 'big' audio format arrives 
I encoded the bulk of that 36 gig in 2004.
For the moment I think the only possible problems I'd have with VBR MP3s would be with much older MP3 players.
I think alot of VBR (and indeed Joint Stereo) glitches can be traced back to which encoder you originally used. I've found LAME to be fantastic at what it does once you master it and those tricky command line/switch statements! Although in EAC with the LAME DLL you don't need to know them.
melly wrote: Will give your program a try there.
It can be a little daunting to set up at first but if you need a hand just drop me an email or say hello over MSN. I can't stand MP3 progs that say "You have x days left" 
EAC's really the best way forward and won't shut down on you randomly!
I've had wavelab spit steaming gibberish to disk using the feckin sony or frauenhoffer(sp?) codecs (subase uses steinberg's own and it works, but never found how to reason with wavelab), and ended up having to render as wave and then encode with Lame. I tried a gui for Lame and baffled myself. I'm content with lame -b 192 ./*.wav
or for cd's...the most annoying perl script in the universe if u have to install it by hand (i didn,t thank fook) rip -S 192 -S is for superlazy...it does the lot rip, cddb, encode same as any of yer flash gui programs.
The Linux equiv of winamp, XMMS is abandonware more or less, and as such has become a stroppy and tempremental fooker. great way to check files for compatibility. If it can play them, they're legal :D
320 for me also...just in case something bad happens to the original cd I'll have a high quality copy to fall back on. Plus I tend to go for the best whenever possible...beer, wine, cars, electronics, etc....
MP3S SUCK
Yet that damn Sony mp3 walkman is so fuckin' convenient. I use the highest setting possible. but if I burn an audio cd it is not mp3.
twist wrote: MP3S SUCK
Yet that damn Sony mp3 walkman is so fuckin' convenient. I use the highest setting possible. but if I burn an audio cd it is not mp3.
Well f you know another way to get lord of the rings unabridged or NO's entire catalogue on a single CD, ring it on :D
Bet you need some hell of a size of ipod with uncompressed 24/96 split channel on it.
