What bitrate do you encode your music (mp3's or wma's) at?

bradpatton · 10-30-04, 01:33 PM

What bitrate does everyone encode their music (mp3's or wma's)? Disk space is so cheap now, is there any reason to encode at low bitrates like 128kbps?

I've found that WMP10 will play back the lossless codec. Are there any drawbacks to using that? I've found that the lower bitrates don't sound quite cd-quality to me, but everyone's hearing is different.

10-30-04, 01:37 PM

I have all my music encoded to .wma at 64kbs. I use WME9 to encode them. The sound quality is excellent:approve:

-jcll2002

10-30-04, 02:30 PM

For MP3 format, I encode at 128kbps.

I converted my entire CD collection to this format.

Prior to my conversion, I experimented with higher and lower rates, and 128kbps seems like the perfect balance of high quality sound, with minimal storage space used.

Some people feel they need absolute perfection in their MP3s, so they will only go with 192 or even 320.

But I have a difficult time noticing any real difference between 128 and 192.

So to me 128 was my preference.

And if I want pefection, I can always listen to the original CD instead of my MP3.

If I want to listen to an audio book on my PDA, I go with a very low 16kbps mono. The sound quality is still fair, and the files are only 1/10th the size of a typical 128kbps MP3 and around 1/100th the size of the original file.

I may eventually play with WMA and OGG formats which have high quality at lower rates than MP3.

Maced · 10-30-04, 02:44 PM

On my axim I convert my computer MP3's to 96kbps for a small filesize..

On my computer most of my music is at either 256 or 320kbps..

**Frenchy** · 10-30-04, 02:46 PM

Mp3 128Kpbs for me.

10-30-04, 02:55 PM

128 kbps, but lately when I rip I use higher up 192 in Mp3 or AAC

Zkronk · 10-30-04, 03:00 PM

192kbps MP3...

tschan · 11-24-04, 03:45 AM

I choose variable bit rate 85 - 145 Kbps. It gives you a better quality and smaller file size.

Adrian Knack · 11-24-04, 03:52 AM

I think it depends on the quality of speakers you are using as to the difference in sound quality. If you are using cheaper headphones then MP3 at 128kbps is fine you will not notice the difference. If you have good quality headphones or a nice speaker system then I would go at least to 192kbps otherwise you lose your bass and high treble tones IMHO.