MP3 players fussy about bit & sampling rates?

[Muse]

I've been recording some MP3s and I've downloaded some too. I'm wondering if the portable MP3 players will play them all or are they fussy about their files. I know that the "standard" is 128 kbps and 44,000 Hz, but what if I record at 128 kbps and 32,000 joint stereo? I haven't done much homework on this yet, but I'm considering two different kinds of players - the ones that use stick memory (do they all use stick memory?) and the ones that play MP3s that are burned onto CDRs. I presume that these last will also play CDs. I'm also curious about the amount of memory you can put in the stick players. Thanks for help on this stuff.

 

[merlocka]

This issue nags me as well, and I have never really resolved it.

I have an older mp3 player made by RaveMP. I also have a Compaq iPaq 3635.

I like to listed to audio books, and there are many free (uncopyrighted) stories available. Great way to kill time while driving.

Problem is, various bitrates and sampling rates don't always work in either device. It's not consistant though!!! Some 32kbps files work and some don't. If I open them and save them again, they work. Even if I save them as the same sampling rate.

I'm wondering if it's an ID tag issue or something.

In general though, I've had no problems with 128kbps files in either device. Mainly very low bitrate files.

 

[Muse]

I emailed the Bantamusa folks to try to find out if the BA350 will play my files, but they haven't answered my emails. Sent the first late last week to their tech people, resent it on Monday along with a similar inquiry to their marketing folks. No answers.

 

[Soccerman]

why reduce your sample frequency??

all I can say is that the RioVolt/iRiver series has pretty much gotten rid of any bitrate problems.. as to different sampling frequencies, I barely ever encounter them (I try to go for archival quality MP3s but I stick with 44100 becuase 48khz isn't much better (only provides you with 2 more khz headroom in actual audio).

I simply encode my MP3s using LAME with the --r3mix setting, because thats the best you get without using extra high bitrates which take up more space than I need.

so in other words, you'll find it pretty hard to confuse these players. why? because they have had alot of time to update their firmware (they pretty much got it right with the original SP100/iMP-100) and used that as their base for the rest.

 

[AndyHui]

I've got a Creative Nomad IIc, and I don't have any problems with VBR, high or low bit rate MP3s.

I also watch the newsgroups and forums for the entire Creative Nomad range and haven't seen any problems.

 

[Soccerman]

oh btw I just checked the forums and websites I have bookmarked about the RioVolt/Iriver line of products, and they DO support odd frequencies (I guess 32khz is a standard, I didn't know) such as 22khz, 32khz, 44khz (of course) and 48 khz. VBR isn't a problem even if you don't force LAME to be ISO compliant (I know I have used alot of non-compliant MP3's on both my SP-100 and SP-250 (god I wish I could get an iMP-350).

and I found out that Rio just released a couple of firmware updates for the SP-250 adding a couple of features (though I haven't seen any mention of the Tetris game being on it like it was on the iMP250). I can't wait to test it out.. stupid recharging!

oh and btw, I highly recommend discharging the NI-CD and Ni-Mh batteries before charging them. it simply helps their lifespan.

 

[Muse]

I've never had an MP3 player but am looking at them now. Recommendations sincerely appreciated !!! I probably have less than 25 MP3 files. I have nothing against it, I just haven't gotten into downloading them and never got into Napster and the subsequent sharing systems. Again, I'm not against it, I just haven't gotten into that. I'm a DJ at a college radio station (KALX, we stream) and I have a 2.5 hour show (Sat. afternoons at 3:00) and have been recording my shows as MP3s using LAME encoder, 128 kbps bitrate and 32,000 Hz sampling rate. I could go up to 44,000 but the point has been made that since I record off of FM, 32,000 Hz is sufficient to capture all the treble that FM is capable of, and I would just increase the size of my files, already about 145 MB. The 145 MB files are larger than will fit on most MP3 players, which is why I'm looking for a player that will accommodate the files. I think the Bantam 350 takes an extra MMC card, but I don't know the specs and like I say, the Bantam people aren't returning my emails. I'm guessing that I can put in an extra 128 MB RAM for a total of 256 MB, and I can easily get my 145 MB files on there, but I'd like some confirmation before springing for this, and I'm thinking that there may well be better alternatives to the Bantam. The Bantam comes with a car kit, which I'd definitely use. I typically listen to my shows when I work out at the gym, but I would like as much flexibility as possible, of course. Right now, I use a cassette player, and I have an ungodly amount of cassette tapes! Like I say, any recommendations, etc. very much appreciated.

 

[Soccerman]

I'm not so sure that it's possible to have an MP3 file saved over two different memories: ie, the internal memory + memory card.

I don't know for sure, though, so I'll let someone with experience with solid state MP3 players confirm or deny this..

and as for the appropriate player, well the appropriate TYPE anyway, I'd go for a CD-MP3 player, so you can fit a couple shows on each disk (maybe 4 or so). the best CD-MP3 player out there AFAIK is the iRiver iMP-350, aka the SlimX. they also make what I consider to be the second best player, the iMP-250..

 

[TheCorm]

I have an Archos Jukebox 6000....I have put all kinds of bitrates onto it:

64, 96, 112, 128, 160, 192, 256, 128VBR...All play smashingly 😉 Although VBR sometimes doesn't display the correct track length but then Windows Media Player 7 doesn't do this either.

It evens skips through the 7 second silence that you get at the start of tracks when playing RealJukebox encoded MP3's with other programs than RealJukebox.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Soccerman
I'm not so sure that it's possible to have an MP3 file saved over two different memories: ie, the internal memory + memory card.

I don't know for sure, though, so I'll let someone with experience with solid state MP3 players confirm or deny this..

and as for the appropriate player, well the appropriate TYPE anyway, I'd go for a CD-MP3 player, so you can fit a couple shows on each disk (maybe 4 or so). the best CD-MP3 player out there AFAIK is the iRiver iMP-350, aka the SlimX. they also make what I consider to be the second best player, the iMP-250..

That RIO iMP-350 looks like a good idea. I wonder if I can get a car kit somewhere for it.

I like the CD Text feature since I make copies of all my CDs with CD Text. I guess that's different from ID3 tags. What are ID3 tags? Ah, I guess it's the MP3 version of CD-Text, where you can associate some words with a file for display when you listen to MP3s.

I like that Hold Switch, too. My cassette player is always going into FM mode by accident when it should be off - a battery killer. NiMH supplied battery power is very cool. It weighs about 30% less and is 30% slimmer than my old RCA CD portable made in July 1994, which lacks any kind of anti-skipping. I like the idea of writing my huge MP3s to CD, anyway, as a backup feature. I probably can put 4 shows on one CD. I won't have to keep fumbling around with my cassettes. Eureka! Now with a car kit I will have CDs and MP3s in my car. I suppose they are available as accessories at places like Circuit City...

I probably wouldn't listen with the supplied ear buds, though, in spite of the inline remote, because I have killer Etymotics Research ER-4S hifi noise-killing ear buds.

Another question: Will the Rio iMP-350 play my 128 kbps 32,000 Hz constant bitrate LAME 3.92 recorded (Total Recorder) files? I suppose. If not, I'll start recording at 44,000 Hz.

 

[Soccerman]

well the iMP-350 is only made by iRiver, they are the ones who actually design most of Rio's CD/MP3 players (if not all). iRiver recently opened up shop in the states so AFAIK they're the sole distributers of these players now, so Rio is left with no -350 model (but plenty of 250s, 100s, and 150s.

will it play those files? it says it will (at least, those sampling frequencies and bitrates are supported), and I believe it. I've NEVER had my RioVolt SP-250 not recognize a file, and the iMP-350 shouldn't be any different. in fact the only difference I know that the iMP-350 has over the 250 (besides shape/size, and a better remote), is the FM Tuner.

oh btw, the remote can be used with any headphones. all you do is plug it into the player, and plug your headphones into it.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Soccerman
well the iMP-350 is only made by iRiver, they are the ones who actually design most of Rio's CD/MP3 players (if not all). iRiver recently opened up shop in the states so AFAIK they're the sole distributers of these players now, so Rio is left with no -350 model (but plenty of 250s, 100s, and 150s.

will it play those files? it says it will (at least, those sampling frequencies and bitrates are supported), and I believe it. I've NEVER had my RioVolt SP-250 not recognize a file, and the iMP-350 shouldn't be any different. in fact the only difference I know that the iMP-350 has over the 250 (besides shape/size, and a better remote), is the FM Tuner.

oh btw, the remote can be used with any headphones. all you do is plug it into the player, and plug your headphones into it.

I'm about to click the button called "Place your order" at Amazon.com for this:

iRiver SlimX iMP-350 CD/MP3 Player with 8 minutes ASP and Upgradeable Firmware iRiver;
$179.99 - Quantity : 1 - Usually ships in 24 hours

Appears they are in stock. Whatcha think? I'm clicking. Done. That includes shipping.

 

[Muse]

oh and btw, I highly recommend discharging the NI-CD and Ni-Mh batteries before charging them. it simply helps their lifespan.

I assume you mean to run them down in the unit naturally before you try to charge them the first time?

 

[zzzz]

Originally posted by: Muse

oh and btw, I highly recommend discharging the NI-CD and Ni-Mh batteries before charging them. it simply helps their lifespan.

I assume you mean to run them down in the unit naturally before you try to charge them the first time?

He proabably means not to charge it unless it is completely discharged.

 

[Soccerman]

ya the SlimX I think has the ability to charge the batteries while they're in the player (so long as you have a strip of the label of the battery cut off in the proper spot). I know my SP250 does it, so I don't see why they'd remove it from the SlimX.

anywho, there are a couple of options when charging batteries (you'll need it to be plugged in to do this). 1 is to discharge and then charge your batteries (discharging probably uses a resistor setup to go further than the player itself can while playing, because it cannot operate once the batteries get to a certain point, while resistors will just keep going and going).

then you could also do the straight charge, which doesn't do the discharge first meaning after a while the batteries will lose some life. and then I think there's a discharge only option (I don't remember).

the player charges the batteries at a fairly slow rate. the better your NI-Mh batteries are (ie, their milliamp rating) the longer it will take to charge them (due to them being able to store more power). my 1600mAh NiMH batteries take about 7 hours to discharge and charge, assuming I've run them down with the player to the point that it won't play anymore.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Soccerman
ya the SlimX I think has the ability to charge the batteries while they're in the player (so long as you have a strip of the label of the battery cut off in the proper spot). I know my SP250 does it, so I don't see why they'd remove it from the SlimX.

anywho, there are a couple of options when charging batteries (you'll need it to be plugged in to do this). 1 is to discharge and then charge your batteries (discharging probably uses a resistor setup to go further than the player itself can while playing, because it cannot operate once the batteries get to a certain point, while resistors will just keep going and going).

then you could also do the straight charge, which doesn't do the discharge first meaning after a while the batteries will lose some life. and then I think there's a discharge only option (I don't remember).

the player charges the batteries at a fairly slow rate. the better your NI-Mh batteries are (ie, their milliamp rating) the longer it will take to charge them (due to them being able to store more power). my 1600mAh NiMH batteries take about 7 hours to discharge and charge, assuming I've run them down with the player to the point that it won't play anymore.

I printed out the manual from their website (5 hours to print the 42 page manual on my 8 ppm printer with a DSL connection!! Must be a slooooooow server) and have been studying it. The manual says you should use the discharge fully/charge setting at least once a month to get the best life out of the NiMH batteries. Generally NiMH, at least the newest ones, don't have memory but there's still evidently a benefit to at least an occasional complete discharge, at least for _these_ batteries. The functions of this device are incredible. It looks as though they've really thought things out. I think the people responsible for programming the firmware have used it extensively, and of course, the upgradable firmware feature means that they aren't shy about making improvements. The manual's beautiful. The people who wrote it had pretty good English, but you can tell that English is not their first language (probably Korean). I've seen FAR worse. I don't think I'll have trouble figuring out how it works and why for the most part. Of course, it will help to have the thing in my hand.