Music Fans: Bitrate discussion

Adzzz

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Considering the usual debate of 128 vs 320kbs bitrates in use by MP3, how many of you now opt for 320KBS instead? Likewise, is it worth starting to use FLAC for lossless audio?

I've noticed at lower volume levels it's virtually impossible to tell between 128 and 320, but when you start turning stuff up and playing it via loud speakers, 320 just about edges it out.

I've started trying to use 240kbs upwards now, it's not as if space is at a premium anymore with modern HDD's so it's best to have Higher quality available I feel.

For those of you with large music collections - how have you stored it?

128?
320?
FLAC?

I'm interested to start considering using FLAC when I can now.
 
Lance Uppercut said:
I don't understand a goddamn word you just said.
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This is a thread for music snobs to complain about mp3 quality audio. Basically, 128kbs is crap so when you burn a disc onto iTunes if you don't change the settings you're not really getting the quality you paid for if you bought the CD.
 
VBR is better than 320, and more practical than FLAC. Its not got the lossless audio that FLAC has, but its damn well near to it...
 
rotherham_red said:
VBR is better than 320, and more practical than FLAC. Its not got the lossless audio that FLAC has, but its damn well near to it...
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Interesting, I have some VBR mp3's which state they are 111kbs (which is terrible quality anyway) and yet's it VBR. I'm guessing you mean VBR @ 320KBS or something else completely?
 
Ever since I picked up with my 64gig mp3 player (32gig + 32 gig SD card) I've started to store quite a bit of my music in FLAC. In all honesty I can't really tell the difference between it and 320kbs files. I can however distinguish 320kbs from 256kbs.

I'd say it depends on two things:

1) Your headphones - top of the range headphones will distinguish superior sound files a lot more, but at the same time they can be too sensitive and can make low-quality sound files sound shoddy.

2) Your ears! Most people won't tell the difference between 256kb and FLAC, if you are an audiophile however you might notice and exaggerate the subtle differences.

But don't forget that FLAC files are HUGE! I have some FLAC songs that are 20mb...so bear that in mind if you have a large music library.

I'd say if you're an audiophile with great headphones then go ahead and store in FLAC, providing you have the space for it that is. If space is an issue then just stick to 256/320kbs, personally I don't find the difference that significant to justify the much larger files.
 
AdZzUtd said:
Interesting, I have some VBR mp3's which state they are 111kbs (which is terrible quality anyway) and yet's it VBR. I'm guessing you mean VBR @ 320KBS or something else completely?
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When encoding you can specify the the minimum and maximum bitrate.
 
RedKaos said:
Ever since I picked up with my 64gig mp3 player (32gig + 32 gig SD card) I've started to store quite a bit of my music in FLAC. In all honesty I can't really tell the difference between it and 320kbs files. I can however distinguish 320kbs from 256kbs.

I'd say it depends on two things:

1) Your headphones - top of the range headphones will distinguish superior sound files a lot more, but at the same time they can be too sensitive and can make low-quality sound files sound shoddy.

2) Your ears! Most people won't tell the difference between 256kb and FLAC, if you are an audiophile however you might notice and exaggerate the subtle differences.

But don't forget that FLAC files are HUGE! I have some FLAC songs that are 20mb...so bear that in mind if you have a large music library.

I'd say if you're an audiophile with great headphones then go ahead and store in FLAC, providing you have the space for it that is. If space is an issue then just stick to 256/320kbs, personally I don't find the difference that significant to justify the much larger files.
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I'm actually looking into some new headphones, have for ages just used my Fatal1ty gaming ones, but considering I don't game anymore I think I can probably get some higher quality audio ones rather than ones with a microphone socket etc.

Yeah, space isn't really an issue for me (1.5tb hdd) so I can store in FLAC - I think I'm going to store my favourites in FLAC but most others in 320.

girish said:
When encoding you can specify the the minimum and maximum bitrate.
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Can this be done after being imported? I'm guessing not.
 
I used to be a VBR champion back in the day but as internet speeds improved, the switch to FLAC, WV, TTA et al seemed the only choice. Some of the collection is still in VBR/320 CBR but that is because I haven't gotten around to updating them.
 
girish said:
It can be done when you're ripping a CD, to mp3. Or a from any high bitrate format to a lower one(or to vbr).
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I see thanks mate.

What do you guys consider a 'collection' then? Over how many songs?
 
i upload quite a ot of stuff on a private music tracker, if i upload three versions of the same album, flac,320CBR or the V0 version, the V0 version is downloaded far more than the other two (320CBR comes in 2nd and flac 3rd)


i tend not to upload V1 or V2.
 
From what I've read and heard with my own ears, V0 is generally the best option. I can hardly distinguish it from lossless with my any of my Shure headsets, which are the best I've got and overall are pretty decent, even compared to the best stuff I've tried (Bose QC15 I'd say).
 
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