c.d. or download?

[coils]

can someone explain the technical difference between an original 44.1 khz cd and downloaded audio? or point me to a source of info?

I can hear a difference from vinyl to cd to download, but i don't understand why the quality of playback is so different.

a sincere thanks in advance.

[Glowbug]

Downloaded MP3 audio is going to have a significantly reduced bitrate...normal CD audio is somewhere around 1140 kb/s, but MP3's are usually found at 320 kb/s or lower. Most of numbers quoted by Apple and such for Ipods - the "get 10,000 songs on this player!" type thing - is assuming you're using really low bitrate material. Now, there are MP3's out there ripped off the CD in what's called VBR - variable bitrate - that provides higher quality than the standard way of ripping. But it's still a step down from the original recording.

Another forum I'm on had a neat graph showing the frequency loss as you go down in bitrate, but the URL's escaped my mind right now...

Hope this helps.

~ Jim

[EC8010]

I think you were dyslexic there, you meant 1410kb/s, not 1140!

[anatech]

MP3 uses lossy compression.

-Chris

[Glowbug]

Originally posted by EC8010
I think you were dyslexic there, you meant 1410kb/s, not 1140!

Numbers and me don't have a great relationship...just ask my calc prof. last semester!

[tomtt]

Originally posted by EC8010
I think you were dyslexic there, you meant 1410kb/s, not 1140!
````````````````````````````````````````````````

perhaps the true efects of 'lossy compression',

are now being revealed!

[Glowbug]

Maybe my brain just needs to be defragmented...happens every now and then.

But, here's the thread I was referring to...graphs are always nice.

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114272

[davidlzimmer]

If you Google "MP3" then search within results for "bit rate" , you'll find that many agree that if a CD is ripped at 1410kbps (EAC) and compressed to MP3 at 256kbps or higher, that no one could tell, by blind test, which was CD or MP3.

Try it yourself. Numbers are important for designing, but the truth is what you hear. If the ultimate goal is to keep as much information as possible forever then by all means rip it at 1410kbps and leave it as a wave. If you are downloading from a pay site, then 256,320, kbps will not dissapoint you.

My dumb ears can't tell at 196kbps. Go below that and I hear subtile differences.

Don't be RULED by the numbers. Try it on your own. Get a copy of "Exact Audio Copy" and a good converter, both free, and try it yourself.

[cogsncogs]

@coils

Here's a good place to start.

Hydrogenaudio FAQ

Wayne

[b-square]

Originally posted by davidlzimmer
If you Google "MP3" then search within results for "bit rate" , you'll find that many agree that if a CD is ripped at 1410kbps (EAC) and compressed to MP3 at 256kbps or higher, that no one could tell, by blind test, which was CD or MP3.

Try it yourself. Numbers are important for designing, but the truth is what you hear. If the ultimate goal is to keep as much information as possible forever then by all means rip it at 1410kbps and leave it as a wave. If you are downloading from a pay site, then 256,320, kbps will not dissapoint you.

My dumb ears can't tell at 196kbps. Go below that and I hear subtile differences.

Don't be RULED by the numbers. Try it on your own. Get a copy of "Exact Audio Copy" and a good converter, both free, and try it yourself.

just fyi, most music from the itunes music store is 128kbps. it's not mp3, but it might as well be at that bit rate.

i rip my cds to flac. storage is cheap, squeezebox is sizzlin'.


bb