Encoding to mp3PRO 100 VBR
Reply #5 – 2007-04-21 18:53:13
If the end result is audio-CD's, then why are you using MP3pro in the middle? That will hurt the audio quality. Best to use PCM-WAV. I was trying to find out if mp3PRO 100 VBR is *good enough* for its size vs. quality. I simulated what-if I lost my original cd but has ripped-and-encoded it with this setting. Would this be good enough to burn again as CD audio? In short, trying to listen if it would pass as sort of *archival* (or at least *transparent*) quality for mp3PRO, since it is in its maximal setting. Actually, I just borrowed this idea from the FhG website:How do I achieve perfect audio quality using MP3? 1) A good MP3 encoder. The Fraunhofer IIS encoder is available in many current software applications, for example, the MusicMatch Jukebox, Windows Media 10 and the Magix MP3 Maker. 2) High bitrate. For the highest quality, do not use bitrates lower than 192 kbit/s. You might even want to consider using 256 kbit/s and higher although differences are rarely conceivable in that area. If you use a variable bitrate setting, choose the maximum quality setting available in the encoder interface. Initial audition of that burned CD was somewhat remarkable. So far, I haven't encountered warbling as those heard from problem 128 MP3s. Given this high compression ratio, I was inclined to back-up my CDs at this setting (hey, no violent reactions at this moment please?) I'm not capable of ABX'ing yet (haven't got good quality earphones) so I just tried it in real world listening environment. Off-topic, there was a time I also did a simple experiment (still not blinded) comparing a problem track from a Filipino band CD. I ripped it in 1) WAV; encoded it in 2) 128 CBR FhG ACM high quality, the version that came with WMP10 then; 3) 128 CBR LAME 3.97b, high quality and J-Stereo; and 4) 128 CBR WMA Standard. Then I burned the 4 tracks as CD audio, with CD-text, and tried to listen to differences in my car stereo (a Pioneer DEH-4750MP at that time), fiddling across tracks and really listening at the track's critical passage. In short, I got to find out that at this bitrate and at this particular song , FhG delivered smoothly on that critical area better than LAME. (Okay, this is just one song. No throwing of TOS #8 please?) Toast? Cheers!