Re: [ARSCLIST] Lossy compression losing quality (was Re: [ARSCLIST] Pristine Audio and the Milllennials . . .)

[Scott Phillips <scottp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Howard,

..not to butt in, but the answer to your questions is generally yes,
yes, and yes. The lower the sample rate of the mp3 the more data gets
tossed into the trash. Below about (just my opinion) 256kb/s sample rate
mp3 the effects range from slightly noticeable to just horrible
sounding. No matter how you slice it, an mp3 of any sample rate is a
reduced quality version of the original wav file or the original CD-DA
you ripped it from. Very low sample rate mp3's can sound 'pinched' in
dynamic range or 'thin', with the deadly 'digi-swish' sounds that have
been commented on before. Likely everyone on the list has their own
particular way of describing the change in the sound quality. It isn't
as simple as a cut in the bass or treble, although that does come into
it. It isn't pretty. Common sense will tell you if you throw away 90% of
all the data in an audio file, something is going to suffer badly. The
data was in the original CD for a reason. It may not matter to you
because of your particular listening conditions, the state of your
hearing, or other factors in your case, but the loss is there. What
might sound ok on a set of cheap computer speakers might sound horrible
on a good amp and speakers, or on good headphones. In the end, as long
as it is for your personal use only, you are the one that has to be
satisfied. For me, I never want to rip a CD twice, so I always do
16/44.1 wav files. That way, even if the CD becomes scratched later (I
DO have kids..) I can burn a near perfect copy of the original CD again,
no problem. That is just the way I do it... your mileage may vary !!

Some people feel that lower rate mp3's made from 78's don't suffer as
much because they don't have as much very low or very high frequency
information coming off the disc when it is transferred to a computer
file, but there I can't comment... I have no experience with 78's. 

In any case, if you have the space, rip to a wav file. You can always
take that wav file later and make an mp3 copy of it at any time, and try
different sample rates. Listen to each one, perhaps starting at 96kb/s
and work your way up to 320kb/s. If you are making the mp3 files for
your own use, you can just start using the lowest mp3 sample rate that
sounds as good to you as you need it to be. I think Richard was right,
Media player does do 128kb/s as a default, but you can change that from
the pull down menu in the program.

Scott


-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Howard Friedman
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 10:59 PM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Lossy compression losing quality (was Re:
[ARSCLIST] Pristine Audio and the Milllennials . . .)

Hello, Richard,

My God, the WAV file is more than 10 times larger than the MP3 file!
Where does the loss occur, treble or bass or both?  How much?  Can I
hear the difference?

Howard