Allowing For MP3 Compression?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dr. Varney
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Dr. Varney

Dr. Varney

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I posted this in the Newbs section because it sounds like one of those 'dummy' questions... Open ended and rather broad washing, I mean.

Is there anything, generally speaking, that we should take into account when mastering for MP3?

Like, what sort of things will generally be compromised? Dynamics? Interpolation between subtly different volume/tone levels?

And what subtle changes, if anything, should one normally make to a mix before exporting?

Dr. V
 
I'm not exactly sure Dr. but some MP3s sound a heck of a lot worst than others. :mad:





:cool:
 
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Make a good mix and use a good MP3 converter. I know people who boost the high end to compensate for the lack of 'real' high end in MP3 and it almost always backfires. A good mix will translate as well as it will.
 
Good question and good answer... useful to know. I had wondered the same thing myself.
 
I wouldn't even consider the mp3 outcome when mixing. I'll mix to the best of my capabilities, and for myself, I'll use a good converter and use a high bit-rate. Storage devices are getting cheaper and larger, and mp3 players are just getting larger. There's no need to squash stuff down to 96kbps anymore. At the moment I'm using VBR with a 192kbps average, and I can't tell the difference on a good set of monitors. If someone else is going to compress it the same, then the chances are that they won't either, and if they are the kind of person that would notice, then they wouldn't do it. If someone is going to compress down to low quality, then the chances are that A) They don't know/notice the difference, and/or B) They don't care. So I wouldn't worry about it.

Also: There shouldn't be a need to compensate (and probably ruin) a good mix in order to allow for "better" mp3 compression, considering that the person is doing it themselves. You've done your best work, if they want to screw it up for their own listening, then let them.

(that unintentionally sounded very angry - but it's true)
 
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