I would just like to know what people encode there MP3's at. I heard you can not tell the difference between 256 Kbs and a real CD. What is the best way to get true CD quality sound????
Well, if you want CD quality, just use 320. If you have the storage, that is. In fact, if I had the storage, I'd keep all my CDs in AIFF format, but I can't exactly do that because my iBook's hard drive is only 30GB. If I had, say, dual 250 GB drives, I might be able to do that.
There are a couple really good threads on this topic here. Do a search and you'll turn up some good discussions on sound quality vs size and different types of encoding. The consensus from those discussions was that LAME encoding is the best for mp3's but many people think that ogg vorbis is better. iTunes can play ogg files with a plugin or something, but the iPod can't. I've chosen LAME encoding for my important stuff. Other stuff I do using the iTunes encoder at 192 vbr and it's fine for me.
I encode all my MP3s using LAME's alt-preset extreme setting, which usually produces VBR files in the 230-270 Kbps range.
Overkill, maybe, but I never have to worry that they won't sound fantastic.
Older songs that I encoded using the built-in iTunes encoder at 256 Kbps CBR still sound fine, but compared the ones I've encoded with LAME, something seems a little "off." Could just be the placebo effect, though.
Comments
I almost burn my CDs at 192kb.
Originally posted by stunned
I almost burn my CDs at 192kb.
Almost burn?
Overkill, maybe, but I never have to worry that they won't sound fantastic.
Older songs that I encoded using the built-in iTunes encoder at 256 Kbps CBR still sound fine, but compared the ones I've encoded with LAME, something seems a little "off." Could just be the placebo effect, though.