Using EAC/Lame, should i make 192kbps or VBR mp3s?

[aphex]

 

[Aves]

You will not get a definitive answer here.



Edit: For the record, I make 192Kbps CBR MP3s and the sound fine to me.

 

[Vic]

In my experience, 192kbps CBR is best for storage/sound quality ratio but 256kbps ABR (average bit rate) is best for sound quality overall.

 

[aphex]

CBR?

I know what VBR and ABR are

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: aphexII
CBR?

I know what VBR and ABR are

Constant Bit Rate. Basically plain.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: aphexII
CBR?

I know what VBR and ABR are

Constant Bit Rate

edit: D'oh!

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Vic
In my experience, 192kbps CBR is best for storage/sound quality ratio but 256kbps ABR (average bit rate) is best for sound quality overall.

I agree.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: aves2k

Originally posted by: aphexII
CBR?

I know what VBR and ABR are

Constant Bit Rate. Basically plain.

Ahhh gotcha :0

Sorry for my stupidity... My roomates are smoking a bus load of the herb tonight and its all i can smell

 

[nord1899]

All of mine (25+ gigs) were encoded using VBR (the --r3mix setting). Sound great.

 

[BDawg]

He recommends 160VBR. That's what I do.

 

[manly]

Logically, VBR is better since it's a more intelligent algorithm (of course that doesn't guarantee it's better). For example, why give the same bitrate to a section of the track that's completely silent? From what I understand, LAME and other contemporary encoders (i.e. Ogg Vorbis, Real 8.0, WMA 8+) have significant R&D put into the VBR algorithms to optimize for overall quality.

However, some people have various problems with VBR, specifically for some decoders. If you don't know that you such a problem with a particular device/decoder, then I would go with VBR. Pick a desired quality level with one of the alt-preset parameters.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: manly
Logically, VBR is better since it's a more intelligent algorithm (of course that doesn't guarantee it's better). For example, why give the same bitrate to a section of the track that's completely silent? From what I understand, LAME and other contemporary encoders (i.e. Ogg Vorbis, Real 8.0, WMA 8+) have significant R&D put into the VBR algorithms to optimize for overall quality.

However, some people have various problems with VBR, specifically for some decoders. If you don't know that you such a problem with a particular device/decoder, then I would go with VBR. Pick a desired quality level with one of the alt-preset parameters.

Well i used to encounter problems burning VBR's back to cd.... Would never work correctly.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

just use --alt-preset standard and be happy.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Originally posted by: aphexII

Originally posted by: manly
Logically, VBR is better since it's a more intelligent algorithm (of course that doesn't guarantee it's better). For example, why give the same bitrate to a section of the track that's completely silent? From what I understand, LAME and other contemporary encoders (i.e. Ogg Vorbis, Real 8.0, WMA 8+) have significant R&D put into the VBR algorithms to optimize for overall quality.

However, some people have various problems with VBR, specifically for some decoders. If you don't know that you such a problem with a particular device/decoder, then I would go with VBR. Pick a desired quality level with one of the alt-preset parameters.

Well i used to encounter problems burning VBR's back to cd.... Would never work correctly.

standards compliant decoders are your friend.

 

[manly]

Originally posted by: aphexII

Well i used to encounter problems burning VBR's back to cd.... Would never work correctly.

Well since there's nothing magical about burning wave audio back to CD audio, that would suggest the MP3 decoder converting from MP3 to wave audio (or similar) was stumbling over VBR. So you fell into the "problems with decoder" camp I mentioned.

If you're an audiophile, I'm not sure you should be burning MP3 back to CD anyway (I'm just joking, but some people are *that* anal). How about 320kb CBR?

 

[Viper GTS]

alt preset extreme

I'm re-ripping my entire CD collection with that combo, they sound great.



Viper GTS

 

[aphex]

Ive gone with 256 CBR

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Vic
In my experience, 192kbps CBR is best for storage/sound quality ratio but 256kbps ABR (average bit rate) is best for sound quality overall.

Bingo. I agree and I use 256CBR for all my MP3s.

 

[manly]

Originally posted by: aphexII
Ive gone with 256 CBR

Can't afford another 64 kb?