whjr15
New member
hey guys.. just a quick question... when im all done recording/mixing a single song, should i export to WAV or MP3?? is there any loss of quality converting it to MP3??
thanks a lot
thanks a lot
Massive Master
www.massivemastering.com
There is a *HUGE* data loss with MP3. Up to *90%* depending on the target bit rate and algorithm.
bennychico11
...
if you're putting it on a CD and/or worried about quality loss....WAV
if you're putting it on the internet, your iPod or anything else that has space constraints, MP3.
if you're putting it on the internet, your iPod or anything else that has space constraints, MP3.
tourettes5139
New member
I would say go ahead and export to .wav either way, because you never know when you may want a higher-quality copy of that particular mix. Then take the .wav, and make an .mp3 out of it. That way, you don't paint yourself into a lossy-format corner.
whjr15
New member
Thanks a lot guys... this is my first post on this site, and WOW were those replies quick!! i will definitely be posting here more often haha.
rayc
retroreprobate
whjr15,
As recommended by all the above, fine & caring folk all,
export to wave then make an MP3 compression of the wave file then compare the difference. Even with MP3 player inear plugs you'll hear the diff.
Then look at the size of the files. 40meg become 4. A whole lots of supposedly unheard sound is skivved off. Gone with it is all the stuff of sympathetics, weirdoid harmonics, etc etc - the things that make music so MUSICAL.
There's a whole generation out there hooking their iPods up to stereo systems or even buying special MP3 sound systems & totally unaware of the true beauty of sound.
A carefully & well recorded good quality cassette is so much closer to CD quality (which in turn isn't near to the quality of a good NR'd reel to reel or as attractive as the sound of flat plastic) than an MP3. Even the ripper that claims NEAR CD QUALITY isn't anywhere near it.
If you can, use wave files on you iPod, (it'll reduce your # of "files" by 90% but you'll enjoy 'em more) & regardless use REAL headphones - things that have actual speakers in them - even the lightweight $9 Digitors are 1000 times better than the earplugs.
Use the MP3 where needs must, but to show off your stuff use wave files where & when you can.
Sorry to rant.
SOOOO many people tell me about their great MP3 players & then when I hear 'em I weep. (Well almost)
Cheers & good luck
rayC
As recommended by all the above, fine & caring folk all,
export to wave then make an MP3 compression of the wave file then compare the difference. Even with MP3 player inear plugs you'll hear the diff.
Then look at the size of the files. 40meg become 4. A whole lots of supposedly unheard sound is skivved off. Gone with it is all the stuff of sympathetics, weirdoid harmonics, etc etc - the things that make music so MUSICAL.
There's a whole generation out there hooking their iPods up to stereo systems or even buying special MP3 sound systems & totally unaware of the true beauty of sound.
A carefully & well recorded good quality cassette is so much closer to CD quality (which in turn isn't near to the quality of a good NR'd reel to reel or as attractive as the sound of flat plastic) than an MP3. Even the ripper that claims NEAR CD QUALITY isn't anywhere near it.
If you can, use wave files on you iPod, (it'll reduce your # of "files" by 90% but you'll enjoy 'em more) & regardless use REAL headphones - things that have actual speakers in them - even the lightweight $9 Digitors are 1000 times better than the earplugs.
Use the MP3 where needs must, but to show off your stuff use wave files where & when you can.
Sorry to rant.
SOOOO many people tell me about their great MP3 players & then when I hear 'em I weep. (Well almost)
Cheers & good luck
rayC
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M
mithra6
New member
Basically the way MP3s work is they chop off the bottom and top frequencies. In theory these frequencies are in the bottom and top limits of human hearing, but in reality those limits are very important to how we perceive sound.
I tried recording some CDs from some MP3s I ripped from some of my CDs as an experiment and you can really tell the difference.
I tried recording some CDs from some MP3s I ripped from some of my CDs as an experiment and you can really tell the difference.
sile2001
_|_
There are some things you can do to mitigate the loss, but there will always be some.
Whatever idiot decided to term 128kbps bitrate as "CD quality" should be shot here and now. I used 128kbps for all of 3 days. Then I re-encoded everything in 192kbps VBR. This was better, but the VBR didn't handle cymbal transients very well. I switched over to 224 CBR and it is at least tolerable. Instead of songs being 3-4 megs, they are now about 8-10, but the quality is significantly better.
Whatever idiot decided to term 128kbps bitrate as "CD quality" should be shot here and now. I used 128kbps for all of 3 days. Then I re-encoded everything in 192kbps VBR. This was better, but the VBR didn't handle cymbal transients very well. I switched over to 224 CBR and it is at least tolerable. Instead of songs being 3-4 megs, they are now about 8-10, but the quality is significantly better.
Doc Holiday
New member
You've got it right. The digital revolution is making things more convenient, but it is killing the music.rayc said:
peopleperson
I'm so sorry.
Doc Holiday said:
I don't know if I'd take it that far. Boring unoriginal music is what kills music. I don't think the formats have much to do with it. They also said that home taping was killing music. I do agree that the overall sound quality standards have dropped because convenience always wins.....so yeah, never ever mix down to mp3, but if you wanna slam some Zeppelin in your ipod, go for it.
X
XLR
______
Try both and listen to the difference for yourself.whjr15 said:
Personally, I archive to the highest resolution that I can hear a difference with, and mp3's always sound slightly veiled to me in comparison to even just a 16 bit wav.
Tim
rayc
retroreprobate
Peopleperson,
In saying "...killing the music." I think, & hope I'm accurate in assuming that in the context of this thread, the good Doc was referring to the physical effect of MP3 compression on a piece of music rather than the bus., the development, the uptake of performance or just plain purchasing. These being a totally other MEGA discussion.
Kids are thoroughly taken with the cuteness of the MP3 playing ITEM & the peer pressure to possess it rather than as a means to playing music. & the promotion of the item & the infinetly salable peripherrals, (Q & Uncut, previuously near peerless pommy music mags now have pages dedicated to the newest potential MP3 peripheral purchases), has become all consuming for the POWERS.
Think back to CD & tape "walkmen" - beyond a cheap set of external speakers - & I mean $20 buck max., & adding Dolby the hype was on the format & music for it. Jog delay was about the biggest sellable upgrade reason. Quality of the music & a bit of argy bargy about headphones v earbuds aside that is.
If you're on a noisey train or bus MP3 is "acceptable" but at your leisure it's not even convenient.
Cheers
rayC
WaRNING ANALOGY COMING
I'm amused by MP3 obscurity collectors through nap type portals. I can't understand why collect inferior versions of stuff & then it came to me...
"Collecting MP3s is like collecting photocopies of autographs."
In saying "...killing the music." I think, & hope I'm accurate in assuming that in the context of this thread, the good Doc was referring to the physical effect of MP3 compression on a piece of music rather than the bus., the development, the uptake of performance or just plain purchasing. These being a totally other MEGA discussion.
Kids are thoroughly taken with the cuteness of the MP3 playing ITEM & the peer pressure to possess it rather than as a means to playing music. & the promotion of the item & the infinetly salable peripherrals, (Q & Uncut, previuously near peerless pommy music mags now have pages dedicated to the newest potential MP3 peripheral purchases), has become all consuming for the POWERS.
Think back to CD & tape "walkmen" - beyond a cheap set of external speakers - & I mean $20 buck max., & adding Dolby the hype was on the format & music for it. Jog delay was about the biggest sellable upgrade reason. Quality of the music & a bit of argy bargy about headphones v earbuds aside that is.
If you're on a noisey train or bus MP3 is "acceptable" but at your leisure it's not even convenient.
Cheers
rayC
WaRNING ANALOGY COMING
I'm amused by MP3 obscurity collectors through nap type portals. I can't understand why collect inferior versions of stuff & then it came to me...
"Collecting MP3s is like collecting photocopies of autographs."
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