Can a mix be accurately critiqued in MP3 format?

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werewolf831

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I notice a lot of people asking and giving advice on mixes that are in MP3. I was just wondering if an MP3 can be accurately assesed as opposed to hearing the actual waveform. I think my mixes sound great on my computer, just using pc speakers. And after I convert to MP3 I think they sound good as well, has a nice processed sound. It's not untl I burn to cd and listen on other systems that I can actually hear the nuances in the mix, ie. sibilance, volume levels and so forth.

So again, can A mix really be assed by hearing an MP3? Anyone care to express their thoughts on this one?

werewolf
 
i think you mentioned a few things.

first, a lot of people here probably have monitors hooked up to their computers .....so they are not listening on computer speakers.

second, although mp3s are not wavs, i think they are definately good enough to tell most things about the mix. Sure, sometimes either the high or low end get chopped up by mp3s (or both!), but i think most people take that into consideration. they dont really change vocal volumes in the mix - you know?
 
I think you can evaluate a mix but evaluating the sonic quality is a different matter.
 
TexRoadkill said:
I think you can evaluate a mix but evaluating the sonic quality is a different matter.
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Bingo.

I gave out a few CD's to people on this BBS who have helped me out by suffering through my postings in the mp3 clinic, and almost without exception, everyone who got one went out of their way to comment on the fact that the CD just sounded a whole lot better than the mp3's they'd all listened to.

Who knows...it's all voodoo anyway.
 
Chris I would be curious to hear your stuff on CD. Maybe all my smart ass comments about your cheap, phasey sound is all just the MP3 conversion, lol.

ps- If I didn't think your performances were strong I wouldn't be such a dick about the sonics. Your music deserves a better engineer/studio, lol.
 
TexRoadkill said:
ps- If I didn't think your performances were strong I wouldn't be such a dick about the sonics. Your music deserves a better engineer/studio, lol.
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Look, Tex. If you wanna' CD, just ask; you don't have to flirt with me. :D :D

Dude, I actually appreciate the crits more than you probably know. You're right; I need a better engineer, and since I'm pretty much it, lol...I'm ALWAYS reading and listening. :D

PM me your addy and I'll mail you a CD. I'd appreciate the feedback a ton.
 
The answer to the queston is a firm NO
For a start, there are many programs available for converting red book, wave or other files to the MP3 format. Few are good, most are downright dreadfull.
In order to judge anything in an MP3 format the first thing you would need to know is how the material had been converted.
Apart from the above, MP3 is a low quality format - period
 
Tex, I see what you mean about sonic quality. This is probably what I wasn't hearing in MP3 formatted music. Good feedback from everyone, thanks!
 
MP3 LOL!!
Its sad how fidelity in music has stooped to this.
I will add it is a good format to stream and post/mail your material, but I think the
"consumer" is the only one to gain from this. And here we are trying to make our music
as food as possible. for what to down grade to MP3. Its' so sad;(
But I confess I have enjoyed the format for hearing ya'lls tunages and such...

Jeez.


T
 
MP3 is a completely useless format for judging ANYTHING.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
no waaaaaaaay

I gotta disagree...I think people CAN help a mix based on mp3 files. Especially when the first mix is usually as bad as mine!!! My mixing abilities (although not stellar) have gotten 100 times better because of all the helpful comments here. If you make a high quality mp3...you should definately be able to tell if there is too much vocals...or too little...or not enough bass drum...or too much reverb...etc...Not many people here are professional sound engineers...so they often make obvious mix mistakes that people can CLEARLY hear in mp3 format......For anyone who says you can't judge a mix from an mp3...just ask all the people in the mp3 clinic...Just post the question: Has anyone ever made a better mix resulting from input from the listeners here? I mean c'mon...thats what keeps that place alive and well. Unless I'm the only sorry chap that has been helped in there!!!
 
Re: no waaaaaaaay

kormaniac said:
.....For anyone who says you can't judge a mix from an mp3...just ask all the people in the mp3 clinic...Just post the question:
Click to expand...

bingo!!... and I think a few of the nay-sayers have posted mp3's themselves.. maybe not for mix critique...but...what the hell...who cares??

too many people say you CAN'T do this..you MUST do this... seems at homerecording.com there only seems to be ONE way to do things around here much of the time.:rolleyes:
 
For the level of critique in the clinic a 128Kbps mp3 is more than adequate. Don't listen to the naysayers.

Sure there are issues that will involve stuff thrown away by the encode- not often invoked as criticism here in the cave.
 
Here is your answer:

Encode some professional recording that you really think sounds great. Then encode one of your own recordings. Play and evaluate them both.

Does your mix suddenly sound sonically equivalent to the professional recording simply because it was converted to MP3? When you listen to the MP3 of the professional recording do you say, "man, this mix sounds like ass?"

Slackmaster 2000
 
of course not, they both sound nearly identical to their original recordings.


the only thing that really noticably changes is the super-high-end on cymbals.
but i always encode my stuff with LAME on the second-highest VBR mode from 128-256K/s, Joint Stereo, so aside from a slightly diminished stereo field, i'm really happy with how mp3's can sound.
IMO, most of the people complaining about mp3's sound are not using LAME and/or VBR.
 
...for me, the listens/critiques in the clinic are somewhat comparative anyway. I always listen to posts there on one of two systems that i know pretty well. One is the shit computer at work, the other.... my shit computer at home ......w/ headphones:D

...the fidelity might not be as "true" listening to an mp3, but if youve listened to enough tunes in the clinic, you know what sounds decent on your stuff. ....it might not be at the mastering engineers level of clarity, ......but for the purpose of getting a good representation of your stuff heard......... mp3's work fine.
 
drstawl said:
For the level of critique in the clinic a 128Kbps mp3 is more than adequate. Don't listen to the naysayers.

Sure there are issues that will involve stuff thrown away by the encode- not often invoked as criticism here in the cave.
Click to expand...
I have gotten crits that were right on as far as my tunes go...it does help those of us who ask for it. Post them tunes!

Of course, my CDs sound MUCH better than any MP3 I make.
 
If you can't judge a mix on mp3, then what about if it's...
on the radio?
:rolleyes:
Wayne
 
sure you're gonna miss out on some freqencies, but overall you'll get a good idea of what the song sounds like. the levels will come through just fine, the tone of each instrument should remain pretty much the same. aside from that, most of us listen to music in the car or through computer speakers, and sometimes through a nice system. unless you're always using that good system, you're bound to lose some sonic qualities. overall mp3 gives the listener a 95% quality listen - since most of us are far from 95% engineers this format should serve us well for a while.
 
mixsit said:
If you can't judge a mix on mp3, then what about if it's...
on the radio?
:rolleyes:
Wayne
Click to expand...

Or vinyl, or casette tape or 1/4" or...

I feel that all mix critiques should be postponed until 2007 when everyone will finally have 24bit 192khz systems. Until then we are just kidding ourselves :rolleyes:

The whole point of a good mix is that it TRANSLATES to inferior formats.
 
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