I ask only because I am putting together an experiment. I am going to take 3 different music tracks and do the following to each of them:
1. AIFF reference sample
2. encode to MP3 at 100-ish kb/s, vbr
3. encode to MP3 at 100 kb/s vbr, convert back to AIFF, repeat 30x
4. encode to MP3 18 kb/s vbr
So each parent track will have 4 child versions derived directly from the parent.
Then I am going to rip them all to CD (AIFF format), play them on my decent stereo system, and see if I can hear anything obvious. I like low distortion, full-balanced frequency spectrum, and good dynamics. So while I'm not anal about my sound, I am moderately discerning. If it sounds like an old tape cassette, I *will* notice.
The first track I have already started work on is a Hip-hop/R&B sort of track from Genuwine's Bachelor CD. The 2nd track will be classical music- I'm thinking of the Nutcracker Suite off of a Telarc CD. The 3rd track will be some mainstream pop with lots of high frequency articulation.
So I am eager to see how this works out in the end. The only thing I would like to get more feedback on is the #4 version. Is 18 kb/s still not low enough? Is it essential to get to single digit kb/s, or is 18 typically low enough to cause most people hesitation over potential SQ.
<strong>The only thing I would like to get more feedback on is the #4 version. Is 18 kb/s still not low enough? Is it essential to get to single digit kb/s, or is 18 typically low enough to cause most people hesitation over potential SQ.
the vorbis site has a <a href="http://www.xiph.org/ogg/vorbis/listen.html" target="_blank"> comparison page</a> of low bitrate samples at 64 and 40 kbps in a range of formats. I would say these are cassette tape or AM radio quality. If you want it real ugly then you'll have to go lower.
Well, if 40-64 is a low enough value to get "tape cassette ugly", I'd say 18 ought to be ugly enough for my test. <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
Comments
1. AIFF reference sample
2. encode to MP3 at 100-ish kb/s, vbr
3. encode to MP3 at 100 kb/s vbr, convert back to AIFF, repeat 30x
4. encode to MP3 18 kb/s vbr
So each parent track will have 4 child versions derived directly from the parent.
Then I am going to rip them all to CD (AIFF format), play them on my decent stereo system, and see if I can hear anything obvious. I like low distortion, full-balanced frequency spectrum, and good dynamics. So while I'm not anal about my sound, I am moderately discerning. If it sounds like an old tape cassette, I *will* notice.
The first track I have already started work on is a Hip-hop/R&B sort of track from Genuwine's Bachelor CD. The 2nd track will be classical music- I'm thinking of the Nutcracker Suite off of a Telarc CD. The 3rd track will be some mainstream pop with lots of high frequency articulation.
So I am eager to see how this works out in the end. The only thing I would like to get more feedback on is the #4 version. Is 18 kb/s still not low enough? Is it essential to get to single digit kb/s, or is 18 typically low enough to cause most people hesitation over potential SQ.
[ 08-29-2002: Message edited by: Randycat99 ]</p>
<strong>The only thing I would like to get more feedback on is the #4 version. Is 18 kb/s still not low enough? Is it essential to get to single digit kb/s, or is 18 typically low enough to cause most people hesitation over potential SQ.
[ 08-29-2002: Message edited by: Randycat99 ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
the vorbis site has a <a href="http://www.xiph.org/ogg/vorbis/listen.html" target="_blank"> comparison page</a> of low bitrate samples at 64 and 40 kbps in a range of formats. I would say these are cassette tape or AM radio quality. If you want it real ugly then you'll have to go lower.