MAD Decoder

[KingAsh]

Because I don't see one up and I just LOVE this decoder (not a plug-in, a replacement for the Winamp .dll) I thought I'd post the link again. I don't have time to go into everything with it, so please just write your thoughts back and I'd like to respond to questions.

http://www.mars.org/home/rob/proj/mpeg/mad-plugin/

Link to download
http://www.mars.org/home/rob/proj/mp...%200.14.2b.exe

[Kalervo Manni]

It's good but it lacks one important feature, when mp3 not found, it stops playback. I like in_mp3 style, when mp3 not found, it just skips the track. But in_mad is nice, CPU usage is even a bit smaller than in_mp3 and audio quality is good.

[Rocker]

the standard nullsoft/fraunhoffer decoder is still the best...

you can enhance the sound by using a DSP plug-in (if you have a shitty speaker setup)

[KingAsh]

Originally posted by Winamprocker
the standard nullsoft/fraunhoffer decoder is still the best...

you can enhance the sound by using a DSP plug-in (if you have a shitty speaker setup)

I actually have a big problem with the concept of "enhancing" sound. The difference between a decoder of high accuracy and a DSP "enhancer" is that the accurate decoder produces sound more closely resembling the original recording. A DSP takes what is most likely less accurate sound and attempts to change it to something that might sound better. It might sound worse too.

I guess I've never experienced that problem with MAD not continuing on, mine will actually skip non-existent MP3's in my list just fine and move on to the next one.

Anyone own an Audigy yet? The thought of finally being able to decode MP3's in 24 bit is quite in******ting. I'd love to hear about how MAD works with an Audigy.

-KingAsh

[Somebody]

KING ASH.
This is you know who from Cruiser :P

(NO PEOPLE I DON'T WANT TO USE THE PRIVATE MESSAGE THING)

Originally posted by Kalervo Manni
It's good but it lacks one important feature, when mp3 not found, it stops playback. I like in_mp3 style, when mp3 not found, it just skips the track. But in_mad is nice, CPU usage is even a bit smaller than in_mp3 and audio quality is good.

What else is is susposed to do? If the file doesn't exist it cannot be played. Besides, that is not controled by the decoder.

[fwgx]

I used MAD back in the days before winamp used the frauenhoffer decoder, then it was a lot better, now i find it slightly worse for sound quality.

yes, because back in the day Nitrane sucked ass. Now thge only real reason to use MAD is if you have a 24 or 32 bit soundcard

[Curi0us_George]

Well, except for the whole Huffman BIG_VALUE thing, was there anything wrong with Nitrane?

Regardless, on a 16 bit sound card, the output from MAD should be identical to that of Winamp's default plugin. The tests I saw showed that Winamp's (2.7) decoder was accurate to 16 + 1 bits. The '1' is the 17th bit, distorted, that carries through thanks to dithering. MAD, in 16bit output mode, showed the same result, 16 + 1. They should sound the same, in theory.

I can't tell a difference.

[KingAsh]

Originally posted by Somebody
KING ASH.
This is you know who from Cruiser :P

(NO PEOPLE I DON'T WANT TO USE THE PRIVATE MESSAGE THING)

Well, hello You Know Who!

Besides, I know you'll disagree with me that MAD is just screaming for a Audigy to decode in 24 bit sound. What was your card you were looking after again, like the Yamaha Audiophile or something? I forget which brand you had said.

-KingAsh

[PliotronX]

Originally posted by KingAsh
Besides, I know you'll disagree with me that MAD is just screaming for a Audigy to decode in 24 bit sound. What was your card you were looking after again, like the Yamaha Audiophile or something? I forget which brand you had said.

You mean the Audiophile 2496?

[Wish]

Audigy isn't a true 24bit soundcard. So you won't get any benefits from it. Only from a true 24bit card like the Audiophile2496 or Terratec EWX 24/96 can give you true 24bit output.

The link below has a Creative Labs employee admitting that the Audigy is not capable of 24bit playback.

http://www.mars.org/mailman/public/m...er/000258.html

Pretty lame of Creative, considering how they hyped it to be 24bit.

[NeoRenegade]

MAD dithers the sound. This, I do not like, however, oddly, the people at http://www.r3mix.com/ seem to prefer MAD even to the current IN_MP3.DLL

I too find MAD to be a bit worse than the current IN_MP3.DLL, but what really turns me off is the fact that even the latest version doesn't support ID3v2.

[Rocker]

24 bit sound.....


99.9% of mp3's are encoded in 16 bits anyway so why play them back in 24 bits if no increase in quality in sound is possibe


where can you get a 24 bit cd?
u can't


u have to wait for SACD or DVD-A

[Curi0us_George]

I'm going to be so pissed if SACD comes out and it costs even more than regular CDs. CDs are ~$20 at the larger stores now. I refuse to pay as much for the soundtrack for a movie as I do for the movie itself. That's BS. (I'm not even paying $20 for most fo my DVDs . . . )

[KingAsh]

Originally posted by NeoRenegade
I too find MAD to be a bit worse than the current IN_MP3.DLL, but what really turns me off is the fact that even the latest version doesn't support ID3v2.

ID3v2 is on its way, soon... But I hate ID3v2 so it doesn't sway me one way or the other.

Auto Attenuate ON!

-KingAsh

[ReDVsion]

Don't forget the Echo Mia card:
http://www.pcrecording.com/mia.htm

WinampRocker - get a 24/32bit soundcard. It... will... just... sound... BETTER. The difference with a high-fidelity audio card is just incredible. I can't explain why (although I have heard it explained before - search the forums); maybe someone with more experience will post and tell you.