Phloodpants
New member
OK, there has been some debate here about the quality of an MD recording versus a lossless format like DAT.
Now, I certainly will admit that ATRAC compression is inherently NOT identical to the native 16-bit 44.1K format, but my question is...
Can you hear the difference?
I personally don't hear a difference at all. However, I am certainly open to the possibily that there is a difference! That would be very interesting to me if someone out there actually can hear it. I would tip my lead ear to them then!
So I've arranged a test. I made a direct digital rip of a song by Baden Powell called "Introdução ao Poema dos Olhos da Amada" that is exactly 1 minute long. I then recorded that same 1 minute into my Marantz PMD-650 MD recorder. Then I played the MD into the computer digitally (it's a pro unit, so it does have digi out) into an SBLive. (not the best card actually, but the digi in should be fine)
Now, once I had the recording of the MD, I had to do a little editing to make sure the tracks were exactly the same length. Also, the MD recording came out a couple db lower than the direct rip, so I had to match the levels. I was able to match them within .01db, so that should not affect the results. But keep in mind that the MD recording thus has the further disadvantage of having been manipulated digitally and subject to some dithering.
OK, here they are! You tell me which is which!
www.hoppehome.com/MDChallenge/Introducao ao Poema dos Olhos da Amada - 1.wav
www.hoppehome.com/MDChallenge/Introducao ao Poema dos Olhos da Amada - 2.wav
WARNING: These files are 10MB, so a broadband connection is recommended!
Please use the poll options to log your choice in addition to any commentary you might have.
P.S. Please don't be whippin' out any waveform analysis tools of any kind! I can confirm that it is possible to tell the difference that way, but that certainly doesn't do anyone any good! Use only your ears!
Now, I certainly will admit that ATRAC compression is inherently NOT identical to the native 16-bit 44.1K format, but my question is...
Can you hear the difference?
I personally don't hear a difference at all. However, I am certainly open to the possibily that there is a difference! That would be very interesting to me if someone out there actually can hear it. I would tip my lead ear to them then!
So I've arranged a test. I made a direct digital rip of a song by Baden Powell called "Introdução ao Poema dos Olhos da Amada" that is exactly 1 minute long. I then recorded that same 1 minute into my Marantz PMD-650 MD recorder. Then I played the MD into the computer digitally (it's a pro unit, so it does have digi out) into an SBLive. (not the best card actually, but the digi in should be fine)
Now, once I had the recording of the MD, I had to do a little editing to make sure the tracks were exactly the same length. Also, the MD recording came out a couple db lower than the direct rip, so I had to match the levels. I was able to match them within .01db, so that should not affect the results. But keep in mind that the MD recording thus has the further disadvantage of having been manipulated digitally and subject to some dithering.
OK, here they are! You tell me which is which!
www.hoppehome.com/MDChallenge/Introducao ao Poema dos Olhos da Amada - 1.wav
www.hoppehome.com/MDChallenge/Introducao ao Poema dos Olhos da Amada - 2.wav
WARNING: These files are 10MB, so a broadband connection is recommended!
Please use the poll options to log your choice in addition to any commentary you might have.
P.S. Please don't be whippin' out any waveform analysis tools of any kind! I can confirm that it is possible to tell the difference that way, but that certainly doesn't do anyone any good! Use only your ears!
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