Bitrate!

[SiameseBlue]

Hello,

I know this is probably a very simple question but seeing as I don't have any idea how to search for the answer I figure I would just post and see what happens.

I'm not well versed in technology terminoloy so forgive me for the simplistic wording of my question.

When I burn CDs of my music I know that the kbps has to be a minimum of 128 and the kHz at least 44 (now this could be totally wrong - I remember once searching the internet and getting this information).

What I want to know is if I buy the Pro version of Winamp - will the songs I rip be of this quality (in other words I want to know that I can burn WAV files without any quality issues)? I would like to know this answer before I spend the money on it - thanks!

SiameseBlue

[gaekwad2]

Originally posted by SiameseBlue
Hello,

I know this is probably a very simple question but seeing as I don't have any idea how to search for the answer I figure I would just post and see what happens.

I'm not well versed in technology terminoloy so forgive me for the simplistic wording of my question.

When I burn CDs of my music I know that the kbps has to be a minimum of 128 and the kHz at least 44 (now this could be totally wrong - I remember once searching the internet and getting this information).

Not exactly. CDs use 44.1kHz, a lower sample rate will result in loss of high frequencies.

The claim that 128kbps bitrate produce CD quality is a myth (or a marketing lie if you want to be less friendly).

Winamp's mp3 encoder features a setting called --alt-preset standard that was developed by audiophiles to sound exactly like the original (producing bitrates around 200kbps) 99.9% of the time.

What I want to know is if I buy the Pro version of Winamp - will the songs I rip be of this quality (in other words I want to know that I can burn WAV files without any quality issues)? I would like to know this answer before I spend the money on it - thanks!

SiameseBlue

You can rip to WAV without any quality loss if you choose .WAV output and don't check Convert to format, then you'll get files with 44.1kHz and a bitrate of 1411kbps.

Btw. if you have enough time you can rip to wav with the free version as well, only the speed will be limited to 2x.

[jaffoon]

Winamp's mp3 encoder features a setting called --alt-preset standard that was developed by audiophiles to sound exactly like the original (producing bitrates around 200kbps) 99.9% of the time.

So would this be the ripping choice of most of you perfectionist winamp users out there?

[theknub]

because i am "weird" i use the al-preset-insane. i figure i can always decrease the quality but never increase it.

[nybergh]

--alt preset standard is the ultimate choice for anybody who wants both somewhat small files and "transparent quality" (that means "so good quality that you can't hear the difference between the original and the copressed file")

Praise the --alt-presets!

[jaffoon]

appreciate the advice, looks like I am gonna have a fun time re-ripping my cds over the next couple of weeks!!!

Don't laugh at my 128s!!

[nybergh]

...And don't forget to tell all your friends about --alt-preset standard, becouse they are probarly using a windows-integrated Fraunhofer-codec from '98 with Joint-Stereo disabled .

I must say that the only reason to buy Winamp Pro is maybe that it is a Very easy-to-use frontend for LAME that even integrates with the WA Libary.