Change the Bit Rate (Quality) of an MP3?

[evil jose]

Any good programs to change the quality of an MP3? I want to change all of my MP3's to 128 Bit but MusicMatch doesn't give an option for that unless I burn it to a CD. Any suggestions?

[FastFord19]

what bit rate are most mp3's?

[trey85stang]

are you wanting to change the bitrate of an already made mp3???

if so.. you cant really change the bitrate to improve quality.

[AbecX]

You have to rerip a cd to upgrade quality of a mp3.

[DarkWolf]

I use Goldwave. It's technically free (150 actions limited, but it resets after 150, to give you another 150 ... and I just overwrite the config file, and registry keys when I start it up, so it always starts at 0 :) )

It also has a batch conversion feature so you can do all files in a folder at once.

If you're trying to increase quality, best way is to re-rip. But if you want to go from something like 192Kbps to 128Kbps, that'd be the way to go.

You could also use CDex to convert it to a wave, and then back to a 128Kbps mp3. I think you can only do one at a time, but might prove to be faster than Goldwave, if you have the space to hold the wave's.

[Poisond281]

Why would you want to switch it to 128? It'll will lose alot of sound quality.

[evil jose]

I'm not looking to increase the bit rate of the MP3's but rather to bring all of them uniformly to 128-bit as I have some that are over 128 and I want to make everything even. Thanks for the info, I'll check out Goldwave Jay.

[AbecX]

I'm all about the 256+ Quality mp3's, 128's sound like ass on real stereo's

[chambers]

Originally posted by evil jose
I'm not looking to increase the bit rate of the MP3's but rather to bring all of them uniformly to 128-bit as I have some that are over 128 and I want to make everything even. Thanks for the info, I'll check out Goldwave Jay.


Yikes! Are you sure you want to do that? It really doesn't save you all that much space..

[FastFord19]

Originally posted by AbecX
I'm all about the 256+ Quality mp3's, 128's sound like ass on real stereo's


Does it sound that much better?

[Poisond281]

Originally posted by FastFord19
Does it sound that much better?

There is a helluva difference between 128 and 192. So, I'd say probably going to 256k, would make a slight difference. I just cant justify the file size of 256k bitrate songs. 192 is CD quality anways..

[DarkWolf]

I have yet to hear a difference between 256, 192, and 128 (ripped some songs, 3 times, once at each bitrate), and listened to them back to back, and randomly without knowing which was which, each on various stereo systems, both home and car.

Only my friend who apparently has superhuman hearing says he can hear a difference. No one else I know can tell any difference. Personally, I feel anything over 192 is a waste of space, and even that is a waste to me, because it's the difference between 100 songs on a CD, and 150 songs on a CD.

[evil jose]

Originally posted by DarkWolf
I have yet to hear a difference between 256, 192, and 128 (ripped some songs, 3 times, once at each bitrate), and listened to them back to back, and randomly without knowing which was which, each on various stereo systems, both home and car.

Only my friend who apparently has superhuman hearing says he can hear a difference. No one else I know can tell any difference. Personally, I feel anything over 192 is a waste of space, and even that is a waste to me, because it's the difference between 100 songs on a CD, and 150 songs on a CD.

That's what I'm saying, I can't tell the difference between 128, 192, and 256 so I figure I might as well get things uniform in size.

[chambers]

Originally posted by evil jose
That's what I'm saying, I can't tell the difference between 128, 192, and 256 so I figure I might as well get things uniform in size.

I can personally tell the difference between 128 and 160. The differences are typically on the high end of the spectrum. You'll definitly be able to hear the difference on acoustic tracks.

Another thing that makes a HUGE difference is the codec that is used to encode the songs. Use a crappy encoder, and you get crappy output of course.

[evil jose]

Originally posted by chambers
I can personally tell the difference between 128 and 160. The differences are typically on the high end of the spectrum. You'll definitly be able to hear the difference on acoustic tracks.

Another thing that makes a HUGE difference is the codec that is used to encode the songs. Use a crappy encoder, and you get crappy output of course.

Guess I'll have to rip a couple of songs and see if I can tell the difference back to back. But most of the stuff I download anyway is 128 Bit anyway.

[AbecX]

listen to a song with hi hats or cymbols at 128 then at 256. I have mad storage space anyway so I'm not one to worry about a few megs here nor there.