Encoding Music - Which Codec - What settings?? (N95-2)

[AngusG]

Originally Posted by trialsrider1985

I use MP3 CBR at either 192kbps, 256kbps, or 320kbps depending on my source.. Never below 192kbps though..

I always rip CDs at 320kbps to keep the quality there.

But I use MP3 mainly because it's compatable with all programs & devices I use..

My only argument with this is how much of a difference will it actually make?? On high fedility audio components yes, but on the majority of home stereos and household mp3 players, not much at all...

[gordonshowers]

Originally Posted by AngusG

My only argument with this is how much of a difference will it actually make?? On high fedility audio components yes, but on the majority of home stereos and household mp3 players, not much at all...

I quite agree, and with walking down the road to work, none at all!

I have some good quality music playback equipment at home, and I wouldn't have it any other way. But I have the luxury of my entire vinyl and CD collection at my fingertips.

I'm far more interested in variety of music when travelling with my mp3 player (i.e. more quantity of music rather than quality) but HE-AAC v2 really is the business.

For the sake of an hour or so it really is worth the effort of ripping your favourite track in HE-AAC v2 format and comparing it yourself.

Because with all of these "which is the best format/quality" arguments there is only ONE person that knows the answer. And that is yourself.

Just take the time to try some different suggestions as have already been described.

[serious]

I've been converting to HE-AAC v2 at 64 kbps. Does this mean it doesn't have PS? Because the info tool that came with dbpoweramp says the files are both PS and the other three lettered acronym.

[sturgeon]

To quote from Menneisyys original text;

"Make sure you double-check you set “Channel mode” to Parametric Stereo so that version 2 of HE-AAC will be used, not just the plain version 1. Also, instead of 32 kbps, you might also want to go for 48 kbps for slightly increased sound quality. But no more: over 48 kbps, HE-AAC v2 will revert to v1 (Parametric Stereo won’t be used any more)."

And this from Hydrogenaudio forum - concerning Nero (Jan 2006 post);

If I follow the test procedure, the Nero files will be 64kbps LC-AAC, not HE-AAC. In their very detailed description, they simply didn't enable HE-AAC in the settings dialog. You can easily verify this with Nero 7 (even the free demo version should work)"..........

"Concerning HE-AAC v2 (HE-AAC + Parametric Stereo) - it was also introduced in November, and for sure there is no way to activate it in the GUI at 64 kbps - as it was not even designed for such bit rate.

So there could be a problem with some versions of Nero software?

s.

[serious]

Originally Posted by sturgeon

To quote from Menneisyys original text;

"Make sure you double-check you set “Channel mode” to Parametric Stereo so that version 2 of HE-AAC will be used, not just the plain version 1. Also, instead of 32 kbps, you might also want to go for 48 kbps for slightly increased sound quality. But no more: over 48 kbps, HE-AAC v2 will revert to v1 (Parametric Stereo won’t be used any more)."

And this from Hydrogenaudio forum - concerning Nero (Jan 2006 post);

If I follow the test procedure, the Nero files will be 64kbps LC-AAC, not HE-AAC. In their very detailed description, they simply didn't enable HE-AAC in the settings dialog. You can easily verify this with Nero 7 (even the free demo version should work)"..........

"Concerning HE-AAC v2 (HE-AAC + Parametric Stereo) - it was also introduced in November, and for sure there is no way to activate it in the GUI at 64 kbps - as it was not even designed for such bit rate.

So there could be a problem with some versions of Nero software?

s.

Thanks, that cleared it up. I'll convert everything again then with 48 kbps and enjoy a lot of music on my phone. :)

[Doc Tran]

I did a fresh install of XP last month and found some of my music missing.

Thus, I had to install Exact Audio Copy again, but I forgot the settings

I followed this guide:
Exact Audio Copy Guide

Its a little old, but it's got the settings to rip scratched up CDs.

[NZtechfreak]

Is there really any point in using a loss-less encoding format anyway? At the end of the day the N95 itself will just be the limiting factor in sound quality if you use a loss-less format - I suspect you gain nothing by going over 192kbps on an N95 (and probably even 160).

[sturgeon]

HE-AAC v2 is the way to get maximum bang for your buck. Menneisyys thinks it is the state of the art and he has done the research.

Sounds **** good to me too.

s.