Is there a way to tell if an MP3 is recorded with constant versus variable bitrate?

[Muse]

I record a lot of my MP3s off the radio. At home I do it with Total Recorder Standard Edition and use constant bitrate because at least some of my MP3 players are at least a bit problematical with variable bitrate files. For instance, the display of the time remaining or elapsed time is sometimes not accurate with variable bitrate files.

I've taken to recording with my iRiver iHP-140 player/recorder, in MP3. I had a problem yesterday with one of my MP3 players playing one of those files (FF and REW weren't working properly) and hypothesize that maybe the iRiver recorder recorded with variable bitrate. Is there a way to tell if a given MP3 was recorded with variable versus constant bitrate? I don't see anything in Winamp or Total Recorder when I open a file.

 

[abaez]

Right click - properties?

Winamp also shows it right on the main interface.

 

[Jeff7181]

I just look at the average bitrate in whatever media player you're using. If it's not a round number like 128, 192, 256, 384 then it's variable.

 

[0roo0roo]

encspot is win.
http://www.afterdawn.com/softw.../mp3_tools/encspot.cfm
tells u everything including encoder used to encode mp3.
esp good for identifying dodgy compilations from different sources etc.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: abaez
Right click - properties?

Winamp also shows it right on the main interface.

Does Winamp show this in Winamp Classic interface? What I see for this file is 128 kbps 44 khz Stereo. There's no indication that this is average.

 

[dbarton]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: abaez
Right click - properties?

Winamp also shows it right on the main interface.

Does Winamp show this in Winamp Classic interface? What I see for this file is 128 kbps 44 khz Stereo. There's no indication that this is average.

Sounds like 128 CBR

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
encspot is win.
http://www.afterdawn.com/softw.../mp3_tools/encspot.cfm
tells u everything including encoder used to encode mp3.
esp good for identifying dodgy compilations from different sources etc.

Just installed encspot 2.0 free and it shows characteristics of all MP3s in the directory. I don't see anything about bitrate. Encoder, bitrate, frames, length, size, bad last frame (no/yes).

Edit: I found the option to include Vbr.

 

[abaez]

Originally posted by: dbarton

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: abaez
Right click - properties?

Winamp also shows it right on the main interface.

Does Winamp show this in Winamp Classic interface? What I see for this file is 128 kbps 44 khz Stereo. There's no indication that this is average.

Sounds like 128 CBR

Yes.

If it was VBR, you would see the bitrate jump around.