Convert from FLAC to what mp3 bitrate?
I just ordered the Ipod 40GB, and most of my collection is in FLAC format, which Ipod will not use. Therefore, I am going to convert to mp3 (instead of AAC), and am not sure of which bitrate to use. If I select alt-preset-extreme, I get a variable bitrate from 160 to 224.
Since I have a lot of room and can therefore afford not to compress my files too much, I am thinking of using a constant bitrate of 224, which should sound better than the alt-preset-extreme setting mentioned above. I don;t think I need to go higher than this since I doubt I can tell a difference in sound quality over 224 (I will also be listening in the car most of the time). Also, I read that Ipod has to spin up more frequently for larger files and has trouble with files encoded at 320 kbps.
I am using dbpowerconverter and LAME mp3 codecs.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Peter
[899 byte] By [
peterm1] at [2007-11-9 14:26:20]
# 1 Re: Convert from FLAC to what mp3 bitrate?
Since FLAC is a lossless audio format, there is no limit of the bitrate in MP3 you have to convert to. For example if you convert it to a 320 kbps MP3 file, then you will experience the same quality of a 320 kbps that you had ripped from an Audio CD. (Logically that's what should happen).
According to your reasonings, 224 kbps MP3 is not bad. However if I were you, I would go for 160 kbps AAC.
# 2 Re: Convert from FLAC to what mp3 bitrate?
CBR (Constant Bitrate) is inferior to VBR (Variable Bitrate).
Rip using LAME, JS (Joint Stereo) which also compresses space, and --alt-preset standard switch or --alt-preset extreme if you want overkill quality.
# 4 Re: Convert from FLAC to what mp3 bitrate?
Originally posted by Adam
Inferior??
Get your facts straight. VBR is designed to lose information.
Uhmmm... maybe I'm missing something. CBR is constant bit rate and it's been proven that CBR is not the best way to encode music. Audio (in particular, music) is incredibly transient in it's very nature. There is no way to say that, "Oh yeah, my rock music encodes better at <xxx> bitrate but I've noticed that my classical selections tend to sound better at <xxx> bitrate." That's ludicrous.
Music is music regardless of it's source. CBR can't keep up with the parts of music that actually require more bits to properly encode. Sure it's fine for stuff that requires less than the bitrate specifiec, but it's those parts that NEED more that aren't getting it. Silence needs very little data to encode while a full-on orchestral crescendo needs every bit the encoder can spare. With CBR both would be encoded at the same rate: You'd waste bits encoding silence and not have enough to encode the crescendo.
VBR, on the other hand, is designed to be vastly more efficient in encoding audio. VBR more closely resembles the nature of the audio: transient from moment to moment. While one specific moment needs more bits to encode properly the very next moment might need only a small percentage of the previous one. Hence, a VBR encoded MP3 file usually is far more efficient at encoding than a CBR of a specified bitrate would be.
Think of it this way: If you had a car that constantly put out 250 horsepower all the time (Constant Bite Rate) regardless of how far you were pushing down the accelerator, it would be a waste of energy don't you think? Backing out of your driveway would consume vastly more energy than driving the vehicle up a steep grade. If, on the other hand, you pressed down harder when you needed the power (Variable Bit Rate) you were using just what's necessary for the given job at hand.
As for the statement, "VBR is designed to lose information", it might be you that wants to check his facts. VBR uses the bits necessary at any given moment. Nothing gained, nothing wasted. Just the right amount (as required by the encoder).
I think at this point it's VERY important that I make something clear: VBR may or may not result in a smaller/larger file than the same audio encoded using CBR. The difference we're talking about here is in the QUALITY of the encoding and the resulting file. That's it.
br0adband
