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MP3 bit rate conversion?
nick205 - 22/1/10 at 11:22 PM

OT, but I have a large number of MP3s ripped at high bitrate (320kbps) which are obviously quite large files.

Is there are reliable and simple way of converting them to say 192kbps to get the files smaller?

(I know the sound quality issues, but for personal MP3 player/car use I'm not so fussed)

NigeEss - 23/1/10 at 12:21 AM

MP3

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Sorry...can't help with a solution...don't do compressed audio for the reasons you state

greenwood03 - 23/1/10 at 12:22 AM

i'd say depends what you are using to burn them to cd, most s/ware has a setting that you can change. as for changing that in terms of your mp3 player - i'm sure whatever you use will also have a setting to transfer ripped music at. but unless its a small mp3 player then i'd have thought that it could cope with 320kbs? 10000 songs is only about 70gb or so.....

UncleFista - 23/1/10 at 12:42 AM

I use DBpowerAmp, it does batch conversions and you tell it what bitrate you want.

I convert all my MP3s on my phone to 160kbps and leave the originals on the PC, good enough for me on crappy headphones


[Edited on 23/1/10 by UncleFista]

gazza285 - 23/1/10 at 12:45 AM

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
which are obviously quite large files.


Five years ago 120Gb was a large hard drive, now its a very small one. Now is not the time to think about downgrading your music as 320kbs is already slow.

Humbug - 23/1/10 at 08:00 AM

quote:
Originally posted by gazza285
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
which are obviously quite large files.


Five years ago 120Gb was a large hard drive, now its a very small one. Now is not the time to think about downgrading your music as 320kbs is already slow.


Slow? It's not a transfer rate but a recording density, i.e. 320kb of disck space per second of music. Think about it: if you play back an MP3 recorded at 320kbps the song doesn't sound any faster or slower than the same song recorded at 192kbps

rgrs - 23/1/10 at 10:06 AM

Www.mediamonkey.com

this will convert your playlists on the fly to a lower bit rate as necessary.

Roger

gazza285 - 23/1/10 at 01:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Humbug
quote:
Originally posted by gazza285
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
which are obviously quite large files.


Five years ago 120Gb was a large hard drive, now its a very small one. Now is not the time to think about downgrading your music as 320kbs is already slow.


Slow? It's not a transfer rate but a recording density, i.e. 320kb of disck space per second of music. Think about it: if you play back an MP3 recorded at 320kbps the song doesn't sound any faster or slower than the same song recorded at 192kbps


Of course its a transfer rate, or else why would it be per second? The speed of the song remains the same, but a faster rate of transfer allows for more information per second, hence better quality.

Jasper - 23/1/10 at 04:45 PM

quote:
Originally posted by NigeEss
MP3

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Sorry...can't help with a solution...don't do compressed audio for the reasons you state


You clearly didn't see the test they did on the gadget show then ......

And how else would you carry around your entire music collection?

[Edited on 23/1/10 by Jasper]

SteveWalker - 23/1/10 at 07:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Jasper
quote:
Originally posted by NigeEss
MP3

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Sorry...can't help with a solution...don't do compressed audio for the reasons you state


You clearly didn't see the test they did on the gadget show then ......

And how else would you carry around your entire music collection?

[Edited on 23/1/10 by Jasper]


FLAC?

Personally I do use MP3, but that's for the player built into the SatNav that I use in the car and with all the compromises of playing music in the car, I don't really worry about using MP3.

Staple balls - 24/1/10 at 06:03 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Jasper
You clearly didn't see the test they did on the gadget show then ......

And how else would you carry around your entire music collection?


I didn't see that test, but I heard about it.

I can certainly hear/feel the difference between 192k, 320k MP3s, and Flac (and other lossless formats).

But then, I am using fairly decent hardware to listen.

I don't imagine I'd be able to tell the difference from an MP3 player, or most stereos or computers.

With my setup (decent PC/PS1 CD player, Custom amp/Modded Xcans V2, Sennheiser HD650) I certainly find myself appreciating higher bitrates over lower ones.

Ninehigh - 24/1/10 at 09:11 AM

I have an internet radio thing that I listen to on my phone. I put it is 64k vbr and it sounds perfectly fine to me, but it is 99% talk.. Music I prefer 256k, or maybe 192.. I use the Roxio Easy Media Something works fine for me, even converts them Flack things to something useful!

nick205 - 24/1/10 at 08:41 PM

Looking into Media Monkey now - might be a welcome change from Media Player

Cheers
Chaps