MP3 to WAV = Lossless?

[Lurkerguy]

If i transfer MP3 files to WAV files will they be lossless?

[Lurkerguy]

Just wondering if there's a way around paying so much for .wav files.

[rgtb]

the MP3 in itself is lossy. you can decode the MP3 and save it as a WAV. in doing so, there will be no further loss in quality. playing back the WAV will result in exactly the same audio as playing back the MP3.

so there is really no advantage to transcoding MP3 files to WAV. (nowadays, there isn't even a performance advantage to speak of as modern equipment can decode MP3 at dozens, if not hundreds of times the playback speed.)

[Xonetacular]

If i transfer MP3 files to WAV files will they be lossless?

haha

No, then you would just have a larger lossy .wav file the same exact quality as the original .mp3. It can't add bits of information that aren't in the original source file. You can convert a .wav down to an .mp3 but once it's an .mp3 then quality is already lost that can't be added back.

[Lurkerguy]

What a drag. Costs a lot more to get the wav files on beatport.

[M.Beijer]

Sorry if im being rude but this reminds of a guy asking me to turn a black/white photography to colors (original).
And I explained nicely that it's impossible but he just wouldn't take a no.

ofcourse you can add whatever colors you like through photoshop but he actually believed that you can make black/white -> color like you can make a color photo -> black/white

[M.Beijer]

@Lurkerguy

Don't worry, you'll be allright with 320kbit mp3 file.

[Lurkerguy]

You're totally being rude. I didn't press the issue. Just because I am ignorant to the processes of digital files doesn't mean I'm to be compared to someone being stubborn and foolish. Rude comments like that have no place on a forum that's here for learning.

[sss18734]

Yup, once the data is lost, it can't be returned by re-encoding it. The original data that makes it lossless just isn't there.

[Lurkerguy]

Got it. Thanks.