MP3 compression

shopbot

I would like to put music onto my MP3 player at a much higher quality than the usual MP3 file size. I have adjusted the settings on Mediaplayer so it records at the best quality. It still sounds poor compared to listening to a CD.
I realise that is the nature of using a highly compressed format like MP3 however is there any software that allows a less compressed MP3 or WMA file to be created? The issue of less tracks on my MP3 player is not an issue.

wolfman

Ah now you're talking. I always preach for people to encode their music at a higher quality. Firstly, stay away from Windows Media Player, and AAC if you want to encode at a higher quality.

Look up a program called CDex. It comes with the LAME encoder which is arguably the best around for higher bit rates.

It's usually best to use the LAME pre-settings. I currently use --alt -preset extreme, which variably encodes my tracks at around 225kbps. You could be really extreme and use the insane preset which will encode at a fixed rate of 320kbps, which is about as close to cd quality as you can get.

Once you've got used to CDex, a slight step up from that is Exact Audio Copy. It is usually around 99.9% accurate when reading a cd (note the two proccesses involved, reading the cd, then encoding what you've read). Other rippers just aren't that accurate.

Beninio88

I use EAC with Lame to create MP3s. A bit fiddley to set up at first but creates good sounding mp3s.
VBR mp3s will sound better then CBR ones if you convert them correctly.
A guide can be found here:
http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/mydeneaclame.cfm

If you want to learn more about encoding into the different formats I highly recomend that you go to https://www.hydrogenaudio.org . Lots to read here.

shopbot

From your replies it looks like I am going to have to learn a whole new language of audio jargon. I spent ages perfecting my Hi-Fi set up (filling speaker stands with sand, HQ interconnects) and the music sounds fantastic. When I loaded up my MP3 it really struck me how great the storage capacity is but the sound is a bit dull and flat. I will now able to indulge my audiophile streak!

Wolfman - I am downloading CDEX now - thanks
Beninio88 - Great link!

SB

ohreally

shopbot wrote:

I will now able to indulge my audiophile streak!

By compressing?

shopbot

ohreally wrote:

By compressing?

No offence intended but you have'nt suggested an alternative

Audiophile was probably the wrong word to use but I'm sure you get the gist of my post?! It was all about doing the best I can out of the format I have......

muddyfox470

OGG (Vorbis) one of the best quality for audio (at decent file sizes), however not many mp3 players support the format.

Ian

pealy

Don't forget that the sound quality is dependent on the quality of the player, not just the MP3 bit-rate.

I have a PC playing MP3's through a decent Terratec soundcard into a sperate hifi DAC and then into my Naim HiFi Setup. I started off encoding at a very high bit rate (using EAC which is unbeatable, and Lame in 'insane' mode). I found that even with the expesnsive soundcard the quality the PC was able to deliver was nowhere near that of my CD player and the difference between different bitrate MP3's was minimal.

I've ended up encoding at around 192 and I dig out the original CD if I really want to hear top quality.