Now that Wavpack 4.0 is final, I'd like to ask what are the "recommended" settings for the hybrid mode. I'd like to keep the lossy files as small as possible, so I still can share them with a couple of friends. The Speek's Wavpack frontend default seems to be 320 kb/s, but I still consider that a very high bitrate for my purposes, so I'm wondering what are the consequences of lowering this bitrate (if any).
And to avoid starting a new thread, despite the fact that is a little bit offtopic, is there a way to create a perfect 1:1 copy of an audio cd without using cuesheets? I won't be needing them anymore since wavpack, as all lossless codecs, is gapless (even though i'm using hybrid mode, right?).
Thanks in advance
I'd like to keep the lossy files as small as possible, so I still can share them with a couple of friends. The Speek's Wavpack frontend default seems to be 320 kb/s, but I still consider that a very high bitrate for my purposes, so I'm wondering what are the consequences of lowering this bitrate (if any).
Please have a look at http://www.wavpack.com/wavpack_doc.htm (http://www.wavpack.com/wavpack_doc.htm)
The lowest bitrate that I recommend for WavPack lossy is 256 kbps which can provide transparent reproduction for most non-critical listening situations and is roughly equivalent to MP3 at 160 kbps. Above 256 kbps the quality of WavPack's lossy mode increases rapidly, with added quantization noise (which is the only artifact) dropping by about 1 dB for every 15 kbps. At 320 kbps the quality is difficult for even critical listeners to distinguish from the original, and at 384 kbps WavPack becomes essentially transparent.
Since I use WavPack for hybrid archiving on DVD-R media (with even added error correction files (PAR2)), the lossy encoded files will have only to be copied/opened for listening. I therefore chose the 320 kbps option, which most often produces bigger .wv than .wvc files for classical music and to me, is indistinguishable from the original.
For distribution you should think about lossy compression, such as MP3, MusePack or Vorbis. If your friends really like what you give them, you could still create a lossless copy for their pleasure.
ed: typo
Thanks for the clarification, iehova. I missed that part from the wavpack docs
For distribution you should think about lossy compression, such as MP3, MusePack or Vorbis. If your friends really like what you give them, you could still create a lossless copy for their pleasure.
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Well, actually i'm giving access (via ftp) to my albums. This way visitors can download only the lossy files and, if they like what they hear, i'll provide them the whole album in whatever format they want (i'm a nice guy).
emtee, regarding your side question (avoid cuesheet), you can read this thread (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=25146)
BTW, I also have another side question. When the .wvc and .wv file are at the same place, is there a way to read them as lossless? The reason is that I'd like to have redundant back-ups of my CD using 3 Hds:
HD1 (big one, on the media library PC): lossless version
HD2 (smaller, on another PC): correction files
HD3 (smaller, USB drive that I can bring to work) : lossy files
It would be easier for synchronisation matter that lossless version on HD1 is actually (lossy+correction) seen as lossless...
When the .wvc and .wv file are at the same place, is there a way to read them as lossless?
Foobar reads the .wv as lossless if there is a corresponding .wvc file in the same directory. Just remember to only load the .wv files into the playlist and leave the .wvc files out -- Foobar will find the .wvc if it's there.
If the correction files are in the same folder, all the bundled plugins will use the correction files (foobar, winamp, etc..)
The Speek's Wavpack frontend default seems to be 320 kb/s, but I still consider that a very high bitrate for my purposes, so I'm wondering what are the consequences of lowering this bitrate (if any).
The 320k setting was the minimum recommendation for wavpack 3.97. I believe that 4.0 needs about 60k less to achieve similar quality i.e. 320=256k
It comes down to what you find acceptable really. I personally find that in an ABX situation I can hear noise which bothers me @ 256, so something closer to 320 kbit makes more sense. If I listen to 256 kbit by itself, without any reference to the original, it actually sounds excellent is most cases. It is only when I compare it back to back with the original that it becomes noticeable.
For what you want to do though, 256 kbit would be better due to file size reasons. Your friends can always download the rest if they like the "preview" version.
You might want to do some tests with the music yourself, and determine what sounds best, or acceptable to your ears, and that of your friends.
Den.