(Very) Quick question about MP3 bitrates

[Jeffry]

What bitrates do you convert your MP3s into? 96kbps? Any significant loss of quality compared to 128 or 192?

Thanks!

[DazalC]

I tryed with 64 KB, and it was horrible.... it lost a lot os sound queality..
but I didn't tryed 96K yet..
Bye!

[revmike]

I would think so, but you have to let your own ears decide. I use 160, because I put my mp3's on my Ipod, that rate works for me.

[the_iceman]

The general population will tell you that 128kbps is the standard 'cd-quality' rate. I spent a few years working with ripping MP3s at 128kbps. Since I've migrated up to 192kbps.

There are differences. Basically it is a compression issue. Take a nice bit-map and convert it to a .jpg. The higher the compression.. the crappier the picture.

Same is true with MP3s. The lower the bitrate... the more is 'lost'.

Many will say there isn't a difference between 128kbps and 192kbps, but I beg to differ.

If you listen to music with Acoustic guitars..... you can definately hear a quality difference between 128kbps and 192kbps. You can hear the nice finger-slides on the 192kbps, where they are a but more 'muddled' at 128kbps. Definately more crisp on the 192kbps.

The downside.... The Higher the KBPS you chose when ripping MP3s... the larger the files are.

If you take a rip of a tune at 128kbps and it is 4mb in size.... count on the 192kbps rip of the same tune to be around 4.8mb or higher.

what's 800+k??? not very much... until you have over 10,000 MP3s like I have .... you can do the math ... but that would be about 8+gb extra storage for 192kbps MP3s compared to the same MP3s all ripped at 128kbps.

Places like mIRC have tons of MP3s at 128kbps... where I've seen a lot in newsgroups at 192kbps. Seems to be differences of opinions.... as to what people like.

me.... I'll stick with 192kbps .. and lose a little extra space on my HDs.

[hafu]

128 is a good rate to use for listining on a Clie. It is a good balance between sound quality and file size. If you appreciate sound quality, I wouldn't reccomend going any lower than that. A higher rate will definitely give you better sound on a real mp3 player, but you probably won't notice much of a difference on the Clie.

[timw_de]

128 is a good rate to use for listening on a Clie.

I agree entirely, 128 doesn't take up too much space while retaining quality. However, on my PC I prefer a higher bitrate
(at least 192) because space is not a problem

[SamuraiCatJB]

mathematically mp3s are stored as a discreet cosine function.... in other words you are trying to fit the sound to a series of curves. Your bit rate determines the "response time" of adjusting the curve. If you have music with a rapid change in rhythm, or a sudden drum solo, you'll notice the drum beats are "shallow" from real CD. And in actuality that is why they are trying to move to super CD (music on DVD media) to get even more sound. It all depends on how sensitive your ear is, and how picky you are about your music. :)

[Mastervtec]

Also, most clie's won't accept bit rates below 96kbs, the clie simply says the file is corrupted.

[PCMaven]

I use MusicMatch VBR. Great compromise method for space and quality.

[Jeffry]

Thanks for the advice... I'll convert my MP3s to 128kbps then...

[ballistic]

I listen to 192kbps on my iPod and find 160kbps the lowest acceptable. Since file size really isn't an issue on the iPod and I do little if any MP3 listening on my NX70V, you may find a lower bitrate acceptable as a compromise between file size and quality.

I think 128kbps would be the best compromise if you want to carry a lot of MP3's on your stick. As the MS Pros drop (significantly!) in price, this won't be as much of an issue.

Why spend $279 for a Sony 512MB MS Pro when you can get a 5 GB iPod for $299? Granted, it's an extra device to carry around but you should really consider cost per megabyte, especially if you listen to a lot of MP3's.

512MB MS Pro $279 Cost/Megabyte $ .55
1GB MS Pro $499 Cost/Megabyte $ .50
5GB iPod $299 Cost/Megabyte $ .06
10GB iPod $399 Cost/Megabyte $.04
20GB iPod $499 Cost/Megabyte $.02

[rob_squared]

I convert to 96kbps for my clie but that's because I'm usually on a train when listening and therefore don't notice the difference. As for my pc, whatever bitrate I download is what I keep.