Making MP3s sound better

[bennychico11]

This is a question for all you people who have done web music or anything that has needed MP3s to save space.

I know there are certain techniques that you can use to "counteract" the data and audio reduction process...such as adding EQ to the areas that are going to lose those frequencies or adding more reverb so you don't lose as much. I'd be interested in knowing what tecniques you employ to try and keep a lot of the sonic clarity of the original recording. I know you can never get it to sound perfect, but even a little bit more could help. I'm not really doing anything right now that I really need an answer for, just asking more out of curiosity. Thanks!

 

[Teacher]

the better the mix the better it translates....i think that applies when going to any medium...I personally just try to make my mix sound as good as possible then encode to mp3

 

[Massive Master]

Use really good MP3 encoders.

 

[Moonrider]

I'd be interested in knowing what tecniques you employ to try and keep a lot of the sonic clarity of the original recording. I know you can never get it to sound perfect, but even a little bit more could help.

a) Use variable bit rate if at all possible.

b) If you have to use a single bit rate, try to use something higher than 128k.

c) don't use mp3 format. Try ogg vorbis (http://www.vorbis.com/)