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Bill Roberts · Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 1:00 am Post subject:

Wow, I have been using 128K for quite some time. Time to kick it up to 160K...Thanks for the heads up!

"Compression artifacts" does this mean the artistic use of compressors?
If I were a computer scientist, I would have called it “digital occlusion particulates”.
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ricevoice · Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 6:28 am Post subject:

georgethetech · Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 12:59 am Post subject:

As long as your MP3 encoder is set to Best Quality, I find no issues with 128kbps Mono using TwistedWave's encoder. I can't hear improvement beyond this bitrate.
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

I think another relevant issue is that so many people are used to hearing 128kbps mp3s (or lower) on consumer gear or through their laptops/iPads, etc. that going for what sounds best in our fancy-schmancy flat-response headphones and monitors doesn't really matter.

The only feedback I get on my recordings from non-broadcast clients is "Wow! That sounds great!!!" which says a lot about what most people hear. You all probably get the same feedback too, right? Why worry! Whatever the client wants, that's what they get. Smile

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D Voice · Been Here Awhile Joined: 26 Jun 2010 Posts: 232

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Yeah, I wouldn't do that...but if the client doesn't care and if that's their workflow and that's what they want, then that's what they get.
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Ed Gambill · Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 1:02 pm Post subject:

Regarding file conversion and what rate to use, I am doing something altogether different. I do it different because the broadcast station I deal with is a NPR station and they have a protocol for internet delivery of programming.

I convert the program (that is recorded and mixed in Wav44.1/16 to MP2 LayerII at 256kbit/s then put that file into a wave wrapper for direct input to their Audio Vault on air server. Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS) set the requirement for the file type and sampling rate I use.

The file is in the same format sent from one ISDN codec to the other. It sounds great and the software to do the conversion (Awave Audio V.11) only cost $49.00 from http://www.fmjsoft.com/. The software that put the MP2 into the wave wrapper was free ware.

The latest version of Sound Forge will also convert and save as MP2 Layer II.
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JTVG · Backstage Pass Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 433

It's always seemed to me that the more shrill or sibilant the talent is, the more you will notice the difference from 128k, vs 256k. The high frequencies are what seem to suffer the most. I've noticed a deep ballsey VO guy can get away with saving at 128k a lot easier than someone like me. Also depends on the mic, I think. Some of the really bright cheap Chinese condensers seem more susceptible to sounding swimmy at a low bitrate setting like 128k.
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scottreyns · Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 5:34 pm Post subject:

I do the same as bransom. Recording is one thing, exporting for delivery for whatever given production context is another. Kinda like brewing coffee or tea: Better to brew stronger than you need and then just add water if needed, as opposed to brewing too weak in which case you need throw out the pot and then start over.

When I'm on sessions where I'm either being directed via phone patch else self-directing, I record all the way up at 96 kHz. If VOIP (Skype or Source-Connect) is involved however, I stick to 48 because that's as high as VOIP can handle.

As for exporting, whatever clients need. Typically I find folks want (mono) AIF/WAV, 48 or 44.1 kHz, and respectively 24 or 16 for the bitrate. I don't usually get asked to deliver MP3s but it occasionally happens. In those cases I still do the same thing; just ask folks to be specific. If they don't know I give them the highest quality I can.

Demos on one's site or otherwise, those are different. There's always some production involved there where stereo matters, and for the MP3s themselves 128 is what I use on my demo player because it's old school and that's as high as it can handle. I have noticed though that nowadays just about anything seems to be able to play 320 just fine.

All that said, I try not to over-think a lot of this stuff. As long as minimum requirements are being met and files aren't taking a long-ass time to play or be transferred, fine (and giving the right performance takes care of all else).
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