what bitrate do you encode MP3s at?

[NTB]

Now that I've got plenty of space to work with, I might re-encode my MP3s. Most of them sound ok, but there are some that I think would benefit from a higher bitrate. I'm thinking 192 or 256. No VBR though, because my RIO Volt doesn't like Lame-encoded VBRs for some reason.

Nate

 

[Digobick]

192. Anything less sounds terrible with good speakers.

 

[PrincessGuard]

I use LAME VBR. Not that I can tell the difference between that and 192kbps CBR, but at least I can score lots of geek points when my friends ask why the bitrate keeps changing in Winamp

It's hard to believe that the Rio Volt doesn't work with VBR. Even my original Rio PMP300 plays them fine (though the time display isn't accurate).

 

[Ultima]

I try for at least 192, preferably VBR for downloaded mp3s, I use Ogg Vorbis for ripped CD's.

 

[Siva]

VBR w/lame

 

[Aves]

192kbps/CBR with LAME

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: PrincessGuard
It's hard to believe that the Rio Volt doesn't work with VBR. Even my original Rio PMP300 plays them fine (though the time display isn't accurate).

I think it's something to do with LAME specifically. I have tried other VBRs (that I've downloaded, so probably Fraunhoffer or *shudder* Xing) and they do work. The Lame ones work - they will play - but they sound terrible. Breaking up, all kinds of static, etc.

Nate

 

[Evadman]

256 only. I don't really notice a difference on my crappy stero when it is @ 192, but hey. do it once and done.

 

[MikeO]

lame --r3mix

 

[pillage2001]

320kbps.

 

[yakko]

16kbps. Saves a lot of space.

 

[Pabster]

LAME high-VBR (250k/s). Awesome archival quality. No problems with playback on my portable devices.

 

[Nefrodite]

something else must be wrong, my original rio pnp300 ran lame vbr just fine.

 

[Priit]

256kbit with LAME... 320kbit for songs recorded from vinys at 48Khz

 

[wolf550e]

if it's not important: "lame --alt-preset 128"
if it's something important: "lame --alt-preset normal"

--r3mix is also good, but normal gives higher quality (albeit at expense of bitrate)

the abr128 preset gives great results for the bitrate, though I think orbis might better. but my rio only plays mp3s (who would use wma???)

 

[NewSc2]

I don't even encode my mp3's, i rip my CD's straight to wav format. (you can imagine a good 80GB chunk has been taken out of my hard drive)

If i don't wanna bother buying the CD, i try to dl 320kbps, or if i come across a CD i don't really care for, i encode in MPC or 320kbps/lame mp3's.

 

[skace]

256VBR via LAME.

 

[dionx]

Originally posted by: skace
256VBR via LAME.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Originally posted by: mto81
lame --r3mix

LAME'S --r3mix switch was made obsolete by --alt-preset standard
I use --alt-preset extreme with my MP3s

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Originally posted by: NewSc2
I don't even encode my mp3's, i rip my CD's straight to wav format. (you can imagine a good 80GB chunk has been taken out of my hard drive)

If i don't wanna bother buying the CD, i try to dl 320kbps, or if i come across a CD i don't really care for, i encode in MPC or 320kbps/lame mp3's.

encode with monkey's audio www.monkeysaudio.com it's fast as all hell and totally lossless, so there is no sound difference between it and the original wav. It's usually about 50% of the original size

 

[TheCorm]

VBR @ Approx 128kbps, I am tempted to jump this to 160kbps but I prefer to spend time listening to the tracks than trying to tell the difference between quality....I think it's noticable but not so much that it sounds rubbish.....96kbps and lower is definately a no-no for music but I encode various sound clips to 64kbps.

 

[db]

Originally posted by: NewSc2
I don't even encode my mp3's, i rip my CD's straight to wav format....

.shn cuts storage space almost in half with no loss whatsoever.
And there is a shn plugin for WinAmp.

 

[dude]

I don't see the phonograph option there. Can you add it?

 

[Cyco]

Originally posted by: aves2k
192kbps/CBR with LAME

 

[mk]

Back in my mp3 days I used LAME --alt-preset standard (~200 kbps) for my own CD's.

I don't have enough disk space for lossless compression (Monkey's Audio, LPAC, FLAC etc.) so I use mpc for high quality lossy encoding.