MP3's: opinions on settings for size/quality

[Squirrel702]

I've tried to scan all the forums for opinions, but it seems every model owner has a different opinion. What do you guys think is the best setting for Quality vs. Quantity. I have a 128m Lexar stick that I want to fill up, but before I rip everything in the wrong setting, I thought I'd ask you guys with more experience. I'm a Clie veteran but an MP3 newbie. Just upped from T615 to SJ33.

Freeware software suggestions appreciated also. I'm using Audiograbber right now, but will happily switch to anything better before I get too used to it.

Thanks in advance.

Squirrel

P.S. For some reason, if I change the settings on Audiograbber from 128bit to anything else, when I try to MSexport, is says that the file is not MSaudio and warns me not to install. (Remember:MP3 newbie) am I being a moron, I thought that's how I fit more on a stick?

[Tshorter]

Hey Squirrel - general CD audio quality is 128bit, and for all intense and purposes it is darn tough to distinguish between 96, 112, and 128 unless it is a poor recording. I still like 128bit just so I know I'll have great sound.

I would dump the audiograbber and just stick with Windows Media Player to convert CD music to MP3 format...you can specify whatever bit rate quality you want...just use the Copy from CD feature in WMP 9.0 (if you don't have it you can download it for free from Microsoft). From there just use the file transfer by using MS Import from the Clie and drag and drop your files from your desktop from your file manager. You can get a couple of hours+ of music onto a 128Meg Media Stick.

Cheers

[SYSDmg]

I personally will settle for nothing less than 192kbps, and for my personal fav program I use the hardcore lame encoder and exact audio copy to copy them from the cd, this ensures a perfect rip of the song with crystal clear sound that will keep you jammin all night long ;)

[Tshorter]

Needless to say - if you plan on ripping MP3s at 196kbps you will run out of room fast. A 3 minute song recorded at 128kbps will generally result in a 3MB file. Hence, if you were ripping all 3 minute length songs at that rate you would get about 42 songs on a 128MB media stick. More likely you'll average about 25 songs on a 128MB stick with a good mix of tunes over 3 minutes. Ripping them at 196kbps will only yield you about 15 songs.

The human ear has a hard time distinguishing the quality differences between a 128 vs 196. If the source for the audio track is clean (i.e. directly from a CD) you'll never notice the difference. MP3's can't really be ripped below 128kbps without a noticeable quality drop, but I would bet you can't tell the difference a 128 file and anything greater.

Keep in mind, when tracks get compressed then rerecorded to lower bit rates aural defects can occur (commonly referred to as high-freqs). When you hear a squeak or sharp piercing noise in a track you've got a bad rip with "high-freqs." All of this to say, if you rip an MP3 from a CD, it is best to only go down to a 128kbps. If you get music from "other" sources lower than that, they will be prone to having quality problems.

Later -

[SYSDmg]

i can hear the difference between them...mainly cuase im your god but other than that yeah they do take up a lot more space

[Tshorter]

I guarantee you in a blind listen test you would pick no more than 4 out of 10 196bit songs out versus 128bit ones. It's been proven by every audio magazine on the planet!

Again, this is a moot point if you want to have a bunch of music to listen to.

Oh by the way, sorry, my God is the God of the universe and he is the ONLY God. He created the heavens and the earth, then sent his Son, Jesus to die for us.

Wouldn't want to be claiming "godship" when the day of reckoning comes.

[halo_gps]

Maybe I'm kinda strange but I prefere 96kb so I can fit more MP3 in a MS.
BTW I'm using AudioGrabber and WM9

[Tshorter]

Knock yourself! I agree, 96kbps is fine by most accounts - especially if you rip MP3s from a CD to 96bit - all is good!

[Squirrel702]

Thanks, you guys. I don't know, why Audiograbber ruins the file when I drop to 96bit, but I tried DBpowerAMP and I could change to whatever I want. I think I will stick with 96, to get more files. As Tshorter said I have recently read numerous audio articles stating the extremely minute audible difference from 128 and up. I will also try MediaPlayer9 as suggested, that's one I overlooked.

P.S. Hey halo_gps, why Audiograbber AND WP9? Different features?

[Rich_watsham]

i can only get my win media player to rip wma why cant i get mp3's????(it is the newest version (9)). wma is usless when you have a clie, curently using real one player at 96kbs. Thanks :)