Ripping Music

[krazeyeyez]

I was wondering if someone more familiar with the tech behind the music could explain in simple terms, what effect Bitrates, sample rates, etc... play on the final outcome of music.

I know there are both non-compressed and lossless modes to rip with, but when size is an issue and the speakers (in my car) well ... suck an Mp3 cuts it, but their are so many options to effect, that i was curious as to what bitrates, sample rates, etc... actually do, so when i feel the need to go the Mp3 route i am getting the most out of it, and just to expand my knowledge in the area.

Google returned stuff that lost me after sentence one, way to tech for me to understand.

[Hammie]

In the easiest of terms, the higher the bitrate, the more accurate the music will be.

Since digital cannot be a perfect curve, you need to sample at higher bitrates. a 128kbps MP3 will be sampled less than a 320kbps MP3.

The other thing is compression algorithms. MP3 has one of the highest compression factors and results in some of the worst sounding music files. However, as you mentioned many car stereos, MP3 "boom" boxes, or MP3 player headphones, cannot show the differences between these files very well. You need a system that can show the differences.

Not sure if this helped or not. I thought there was a sticky somewhere but I could not locate it.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

In the easiest of terms, the higher the bitrate, the more accurate the music will be.

Since digital cannot be a perfect curve, you need to sample at higher bitrates. a 128kbps MP3 will be sampled less than a 320kbps MP3.

The other thing is compression algorithms. MP3 has one of the highest compression factors and results in some of the worst sounding music files. However, as you mentioned many car stereos, MP3 "boom" boxes, or MP3 player headphones, cannot show the differences between these files very well. You need a system that can show the differences.

Not sure if this helped or not. I thought there was a sticky somewhere but I could not locate it.

And to add what Lou said...the higher the Bitrate...the larger the file size.

John

[krazeyeyez]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

In the easiest of terms, the higher the bitrate, the more accurate the music will be.

Since digital cannot be a perfect curve, you need to sample at higher bitrates. a 128kbps MP3 will be sampled less than a 320kbps MP3.

The other thing is compression algorithms. MP3 has one of the highest compression factors and results in some of the worst sounding music files. However, as you mentioned many car stereos, MP3 "boom" boxes, or MP3 player headphones, cannot show the differences between these files very well. You need a system that can show the differences.

Not sure if this helped or not. I thought there was a sticky somewhere but I could not locate it.

Definitely did as i am planning to rip my entire collection again, both lossless and Mp3 for different purposes since i was relatively new to the whole thing when i got my first IPOD about a year ago and had no idea what i was doing.... one other thing i am curious about is this variable bitrate stuff, does that just set an average and do it's best to hit it or what?

Also if i am understanding correctly the higher the bitrate i set, and the higher sampling rate i set, the better quality of the MP3 file?

Apologies to the mods if their was a sticky or previous thread covering this stuff because i didn't see one, but i also didn't search to long as MP3 tech usually doesn't get covered around here

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by krazeyeyez

Definitely did as i am planning to rip my entire collection again, both lossless and Mp3 for different purposes since i was relatively new to the whole thing when i got my first IPOD about a year ago and had no idea what i was doing.... one other thing i am curious about is this variable bitrate stuff, does that just set an average and do it's best to hit it or what?

Also if i am understanding correctly the higher the bitrate i set, and the higher sampling rate i set, the better quality of the MP3 file?

Apologies to the mods if their was a sticky or previous thread covering this stuff because i didn't see one, but i also didn't search to long as MP3 tech usually doesn't get covered around here

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, because I haven't ripped a CD to my computer in a very long time.

You CANNOT set the sampling rate from a ripping program. You can only choose the bitrate parameter.

John

[krazeyeyez]

Originally Posted by John72953

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, because I haven't ripped a CD to my computer in a very long time.

You CANNOT set the sampling rate from a ripping program. You can only choose the bitrate parameter.

John

I-tunes apparently allows both, under custom options of the mp3 and aac settings, obviously with the lossless codecs you cannot change that stuff though

So what exactly does the sampling rate effect? the rip itself, playback, or both?

[dobyblue]

If you must go lossy, try and use a variable bit rate with high quality over a constant bit rate.
.mp4 is more efficient than .mp3, so that would be even better.
I use .mp4 at the highest bitrate for files I'm adding to PS3 games for custom soundtracks.

[krazeyeyez]

Yeah before i start this mission i actually fully plan on exploring what free programs are out their for ripping and what options and file types they actually give you, just trying to get a slight grasp on what effect some of these terms actually have on the final product.

I only use my IPOD in the car and i change it up frequently as it only holds 2 GB, right now i only have 5 CD's or less on it atm as they are all lossless. I am sure a high quality MP3 if their is such a thing will be more then adequate for my needs there, and i will have all the lossless files for my at home listening when i don't want to be limited by one cd and instead want to set it up more a pandora type radio station

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

If you must go lossy, try and use a variable bit rate with high quality over a constant bit rate.
.mp4 is more efficient than .mp3, so that would be even better.
I use .mp4 at the highest bitrate for files I'm adding to PS3 games for custom soundtracks.

Hi Steve,

Can you set the sampling rate as well? I never thought that one could.

John

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by John72953

Hi Steve,

Can you set the sampling rate as well? I never thought that one could.

John

You can use programs like Audacity to change the sampling rate, but I wouldn't think it would be a very good idea - playback devices may balk.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

You can use programs like Audacity to change the sampling rate, but I wouldn't think it would be a very good idea - playback devices may balk.

That would seem to make sense. Thanks!

John

[krazeyeyez]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

You can use programs like Audacity to change the sampling rate, but I wouldn't think it would be a very good idea - playback devices may balk.

What would be the purpose of them including this as an option in I-tunes? What would be the application of it, if it could make it incompatible with other components in your system.

[Brandon]

Originally Posted by John72953

Hi Steve,

Can you set the sampling rate as well? I never thought that one could.

John

You can use a higher sampling rate to achieve higher sound quality when ripping audio files, yes. Sampling rate and bit rate both have an effect on the quality. However CDs are only produced at 44.100 khz so changing the sample rate to 48.000 kHz to copy the CD will not result in higher sound quality.

If you are ripping a CD as an mp3 though, going with the higher sample rate will result in better quality.

[Rocky59]

I have all the equipment I need to rip music from my collection of vinyl LPs and 45s. I have sucessfully used audacity to record music from the turn table to the computer. However, after I have done the recording, I have to manually divide the LP side up into its songs and write all the information about the song (title, artist, album, etc) myself. This is very time consuming.

Therefore the question - Is there a software program that will divide the LP into the songs, and then using a database, identify the songs?

If not, is there a faster process that someone knows of instead of doing what I am currently doing?

Thanks.

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[blu_world]

Originally Posted by Rocky59

I have all the equipment I need to rip music from my collection of vinyl LPs and 45s. I have sucessfully used audacity to record music from the turn table to the computer. However, after I have done the recording, I have to manually divide the LP side up into its songs and write all the information about the song (title, artist, album, etc) myself. This is very time consuming.

Therefore the question - Is there a software program that will divide the LP into the songs, and then using a database, identify the songs?

If not, is there a faster process that someone knows of instead of doing what I am currently doing?

Thanks.

currently,i don't think there is a program to help you out..
so you have to do everything manually.

[dobyblue]

I agree with Blu World, I'm not familiar with any program like that for vinyl.
Are you using 24/96 with Audacity to back up your vinyl, then dithering to 16/44.1 for CD burns?

[Icedburden]

I just re-ripped some of my favorite CD's in lossless format and the sound quality is amazing over what I had before. Thanks for the suggestions here guys.

[Clark Kent]

With the massive amount of space available cheaply now in the forms of hard drives and storage, there is no reason for people to rip anything but in lossless form. MP3's were really a stopgap format from when broadband was not widely available and our portable devices had limited space. FLAC is your friend...

[krazeyeyez]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

With the massive amount of space available cheaply now in the forms of hard drives and storage, there is no reason for people to rip anything but in lossless form. MP3's were really a stopgap format from when broadband was not widely available and our portable devices had limited space. FLAC is your friend...

2 GB Ipod *cough* Only reason i need lossy at the moment, and my car speakers for which i use my IPOD do not warrant the investment of a more expensive IPOD

But yes i have all my CD's backed up lossless and had most stuff on my computer that gets listened to often is lossless, although i have recently busted out my old CD player and it gives a better listening experience then just hooking up my computer. That however has more to do with the inner components, power settings, etc...

But when i want to hook up a playlist and use I-tunes as a radio station for a party or whatever, i make sure everything is lossless.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Icedburden

I just re-ripped some of my favorite CD's in lossless format and the sound quality is amazing over what I had before. Thanks for the suggestions here guys.

That is good to hear!