Editing MP3 Files?

[Drooling Dog]

Once in a while I like to edit my MP3 files using Cool Edit, Acid Pro, or something like that. Usually just cropping parts of songs out.

My question: When I do this on an MP3 file, does it re-compress the file (like re-saving a JPG), thus causing a quality loss? Would it be better to rip to WAV, make my edits, then save to MP3?

Thanks.

[InvisableMan]

i know that in cool edit pro it doesn't matter, but i dunno about anything else because cep is the only program i've ever needed.

[Timzone8]

As long as the file remains the same by settings, eg: 128-bit (original) 128-bit (saved)
There's also all the other settings to go with it, but you can use any MP3 editor to get the original details and just save as the same.

[Triton4]

Originally posted by Drooling Dog
Once in a while I like to edit my MP3 files using Cool Edit, Acid Pro, or something like that. Usually just cropping parts of songs out.

My question: When I do this on an MP3 file, does it re-compress the file (like re-saving a JPG), thus causing a quality loss? Would it be better to rip to WAV, make my edits, then save to MP3?

Thanks.

Yes, when you're editing MP3 files using a standard converter like Cool Edit or Audacity, there will be a loss in quality, due to expansion & recompression of the file (like editing and resaving a jpeg picture).

However, there are lossless mp3 editors which retain the quality of the original mp3, even after editing:

mp3Trim