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Converting MP3s


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pimpincavy 
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Posted: December 14, 2004 at 6:54 PM / IP Logged  
If I download a MP3 at 128 kbps (often times the only kbps avalibe for a paticular song) and use dBpowerAMP Music Converter to convert it to 256 or 320kbps will it make the recording sound any better? I dont like the sound of MP3s compared to CDs, but I dont have money to buy a CD everytime I like a song, so I have to resort to downloading. I dont want to waste time and space upping the quality of all the songs I want on the MP3 if its not going to result in notably better sound.
auex 
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Posted: December 14, 2004 at 7:01 PM / IP Logged  
I don't think converting from low to high will help. Unless it is coverted from cd to mp3 at a high rate there is nothing that you can do.
What I wouldn't mind knowing is if the windows media player lossless rip is worth it?
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Ravendarat 
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Posted: December 14, 2004 at 7:08 PM / IP Logged  
Ya, simple programs arent gonna help you take a poor source and make it better. The only hope is to find someone who has ripped a song from CD at a high quality and download that. We had this conversation before but you arent gonna DL a song and get CD quality using the MP3 format anyways.
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kfr01 
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Posted: December 14, 2004 at 7:24 PM / IP Logged  

mp3 is a lossy format.  Once you've lost that resolution, it's gone for good.

auex:  I think lossless compression is a great way to go.  Whether it is worth it or not is a value judgment based on your equipment, storage goals, etc. I'm all for using the original CD, I think nothing sounds better, but frankly I can only actively pick out the difference between 320kbps mp3 and lossless/actual CD on nice headphones.  I cannot actively pick out the difference on my home or car system.  I stress actively, because after listening to a regular CD for a while I usually get the feeling that there's something extra there, even though I couldn't pick it out.  On the other hand, maybe it's my imagination.  That said, neither my car system nor my home system is exactly hi-fi.  Perhaps on a better system I could hear the difference like I can with the headphones.

Below 320kbps here are my observations:  In my car / home system I can easily hear a difference between CD and MP3 at 128kbps.  Start losing the difference at 192kbps if the original recording is sub par.  Almost always lose the difference at 256kbps variable bitrate.  Again, on everything but cans, I completely lose the difference at 320kbps.

Pinpin:  Look for ~256kbps variable bitrate encodings.  They seem to both be popular and have an acceptable size/quality tradeoff for most uses.

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auex 
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Posted: December 14, 2004 at 7:30 PM / IP Logged  
All I know is that when I run my laptop through a fm modulator and into my car stereo there is a hell of difference between lossless ripped mp3 and lower quality mp3. This would be a good test for the fm mod vs. aux input adapters.
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pimpincavy 
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Posted: December 14, 2004 at 7:49 PM / IP Logged  
I download the highest quality I can find, but some songs can only be found in 128kbps version, like some rap songs that have really good bass but were never hits in the mainstream. Higher quality versions of popular songs are easier to find. I use Area for all my downloading need, are there any other P2P services out there that offer better quality?
kfr01 
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Posted: December 14, 2004 at 8:10 PM / IP Logged  
I never use P2P services. The consistency in the quality is horrid and you could get in trouble if your name happens to be on the next RIAA sue list.
If I was FORCED to P2P, for some independent CD, of course, then I'd take care NOT to share my personal copyrighted music. RIAA and Co. aren't necessarily that concerned about leeches, they're more concerned with the distributors.
The best thing to do is to trade CD's with friends and family, and rip any you can get your hands on with your own system. This way you always have great quality and complete CDs.
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haemphyst 
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Posted: December 14, 2004 at 8:22 PM / IP Logged  
As far as "lossless" conversion, the only one I have ever seen that really works, and still sounds good, is FLAC. Also, FLAC, when you install it, installs the CODEC into WinAmp, whic I also use in place of WMP, as it is smaller, faster, and uses FAR less system resources than the M$ product does.
It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
stevdart 
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Posted: December 14, 2004 at 8:52 PM / IP Logged  

I've used the windows media player lossless once so far to copy a CD for my son (Rolling Stones Black and Blue).  Then I listened to both, one after the other, on my home system and couldn't hear a difference.  I was impressed with it.


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