High Quality Audio Files

enorjy, go for 320's if you can, but tbh 256+ is fine as long as the quality is consistent, by that i mean dont play a vbr 256 after a nice crisp 320, it will stand out like dogs balls.

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Originally Posted by enorjy

are VBR tracks ok for djing? or should i go for at least 320kps? im asking cause bandcamp offers both but from their description and what I read online, there isnt that a difference between the two in quality, just that mp3 that is not VBR is more MB.
I recently got the araab mixtape n the tracks were 192 kps but they sounded as good as wav or aiff

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A high quality VBR encode (V0) will sound exactly the same as 320kbps CBR. Does Bandcamp specify what quality of VBR they provide?

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Originally Posted by makar1

A high quality VBR encode (V0) will sound exactly the same as 320kbps CBR. Does Bandcamp specify what quality of VBR they provide?

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yes, it is VBR encode V0

get 320.

edit: if it's bandcamp, why not grab the lossless either?

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Originally Posted by Maxted

You can right-click and get info on an .mp3 in OS X, it shows bitrate.

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I'm not sure if it's an OS X preference thing, but i've noticed this is no longer the case in the last couple of versions.

If i right click on an mp3 in finder & select "get info", I get size & a couple of other bits of info. but it no longer tells me bitrate.

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Originally Posted by papo

That will show you what the file's bitrate claims to be.

For example:
You rip an track in lossless quality from a CD. Then you compress to 320kbps. You will have a true 320kbps bitrate track.

Now if some one transcodes a 192kbps (CBR) to FLAC format, it is basically a lossy to lossless transcode, which is bad.

The file will claim its, let's say 320kbps or higher, but won't really be a "high-quality" audio file. Source file was a 192kbps.

the only real way to find out, is to open the track in a application that let's you look at the spectrum analysis to see where the frequencies start falling off.

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That's all true with just a little detail. The bitrate shown is right, but it doesn't prove anything about the quality. Bitrate is merely how big the file is compared to its length.

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Originally Posted by b1sh0p

That's only for streaming.

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And i doubt its streaming at 128/192. Its most likely a ACC Codec on both sides, their streamer to their flash player with a custom codec. Streaming at a full 128 uncompressed would destroy their bandwidth. Much like DI only offers 96 to free users and 192 to paying subs

Soundcloud streams using 128kbps MP3 files. Not sure what you meant by 128 uncompressed?

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Originally Posted by johney

get 320.

edit: if it's bandcamp, why not grab the lossless either?

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cause its too big of a file? and most of the time unless you really into audio you cant tell the difference

As far as i know soundcloud streams at 128kbps reencoded from the original file. If the download of the track is available, then you're downloading the original non-reencoded file.
If it's not and you're using a service such as soundcloud downloader then it'll download the 128kbps file.