The great metaphyscical question: MP3 encoding quality
 

In the computer world, few things can cause as intensive discussion as MP3 bit rates, and MP3 rippers/encoders.
I would like to know the following things:
How do YOU encode MP3:s (bitrate, channel mode, encoder, ripper)? When a buddy gives his favourite alums rippeded with WinMediaPlayer or RealONE to WMA or MP3 @ 128 kbps, do you give him a 10 min lesson in EAC? Or when your flipped out audiophile-friend gives you 324 kbps CBR normal stereo? Do you have a name for people just ARE STUPID in these things.
I use CDex and LAME @ VBR 112-224 kbps with quality factor 3. Encoding quality 2 & Joint Stereo.
Please, C'mon say what you think. Am I an idiot in your eyes? 'Cos you are in mine. ;)

I WOULD use OGG, but I have an MP3-CDplayer in very frequent use and i want to have a long playlist in the GTA-MP3radio. Does anybody by the way know if there's an MP3cdplayer that supports OGG or MP4???

MP3 - 128kbps suits me fine, ripped on MusicMatch.

I don't care what people say, I can hardly distinguish it from a CD.

No, I don't either hear any difference from a CD on 128 kbps on 20 €/$ multimedia "speakers", BUT i use my music collection to burn compilation albums on CD-R(W) that I listen to in HIFI:s, in cars or whatever. You WILL hear reduced quality with good speakers or headphones. I can hear difference even on my computer, I have 2 Labtec-speakers & Audigy 2.

Can someone tell me if MP4 is compatable with mp3? I never got the chance to try MP4 in portable media players and such.

*cough* vbr sucks *cough*

192kbps ripped with enc_lame at the highest quality.

No it doesnt.

Depends on what it sucks...

..oh god.

vbr at 192kbps quality would be between 128-160 average bitrate, there's spots in almost all music where a high bitrate is not needed for the same quality. (read: silence at 32kbps)

I rip my CDs with EAC secure mode, and encode them to Ogg q6.

In Windows:
I use CDex to rip and to encode using the LAME codec at 192kbps.

In Linux.
I use Grip to rip and to encode also using the LAME codec at 192kbps.

What? VBR is fantastic as a technology.
(I have't seen a single DVD without VBR video...). Non VBR musicfiles are WASTE OF SPACE. Same with Joint-Stereo. It's STUPID to not use it.
The only thing that sucks within VBR is the compability with some software and hardware, but I would say it's the incompatible hard/software that sucks.

What is joint stereo?

Its mono with atitude.

its the same signal out of both channels.

i use Altec Lansing 251 Varsatile 5.1 with an audigy gamer and i notice the difference between 128 kbps 160 kbps quite easily

Joint stereo is not two channels of mono. That would still make it mono. Here is an explination on what joint stereo is.

I stand corrected.

nah, you can sit corrected, too, if you want. ;)

Thanks, my feet were killing me...

one reefer on each side of your mouth


:D

128kbps is the best for converting my songs.