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#152655 03/07/12 11:27 AM
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vzudell Offline OP
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I'm looking for a solution to the problem of having an MP3 that sounds like it was made in a barrel. This is a song that I wrote many years ago and am just now getting around to record it. If you have any suggestions after listening would appreciate your posting them. You can listen to this song here. http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11489797

vzudell #152656 03/07/12 11:47 AM
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Hi vzudell,

Pretty melody.

What equipment are you using and how do you go about recording right now?

Tim

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Hi Tim,
Thanks for taking a listen. I have the simplest of setups at this point. At my age I can't justify a large investment in additional equipment, especially since I will have to replace my computer monitor shortly as it is getting all "squiggely". (Is that a word?)
I have HP Compaq Pressario w/AMD, Windows 7 Professional, Band-In-A Box 2012.
I use a small Evolution Keyboard Controller to input melodies into Coyote Forte DXI and the Piano Solo Series from RealTracks #70. Everything is done right in BIAB. Once I am satisfied with the arrangement, I use the button for making a wave file and then directly within that screen to "save in MP3 format".
Been using BIAB since way back in 1996 and have watched it grow and develop and am completely in love with it.

Val

vzudell #152658 03/08/12 11:06 AM
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Val,
What a beautiful melody! Nice job. While on your SC page, I listened to a few other songs. You have a nice and easy country style.
I heard the problem you're having with the .mp3 rendition. I'll defer to the real experts but to my tin-ear, it sounds like the .mp3 compression is too high. I heard the same thing on some of your other songs too. Should be a simple fix.
SD

vzudell #152659 03/08/12 11:56 AM
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Val,

I'm for sure no expert on mp3 recording. Below is the setting I use when converting .wav to mp3 using Goldwave.

Layer-3, 44100 Hz, 128 kbps, stereo
I get decent results with this setting.
This is the setting I use when I'm gonna upload the file to Soundclick.
I hope this helps.

Tim

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Space Dog,
Appreciate your taking the time to listen and respond. Yes, I love melodies that have something I can remember. Have a difficult time with the current trend to mono-note or non-existant melodies. I wonder if the reason for all the vocal gymnastics that are so popular today is that they are searching for a melody that isn't there.

Tim,
I'm wondering if the problem is in my soundcard. Since I am using only the prescribed compression (MP3,44100Hz, 128 kbps, stereo)I'm wondering if it would help to reduce the volume. It does sound a little too "hot" to me.

Val

vzudell #152661 03/09/12 04:49 AM
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You would probably get more responses to your problem in off topic forum and re-title it mp3 problems.

Tommyc #152662 03/09/12 03:30 PM
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What a beautiful song and lovely flowing melody. SUPER job on that.

I agree with Tim and SD about the high MP3 compression. How old is your Goldwave (older programs do not have the latest and greatest MP3 converters) and is it easy to adjust the compression on it? Does it have effects like EQ and reverb? If so they would help.

Note that not all MP3 conversion programs are equal, even at the same compression level.

Personally I use the free Audacity program with Lame. For Lame click on “Plug-ins and Libraries” and scroll down to Libraries MP3 format. Both programs are very easy to install. I use the 192 kbps setting and I get excellent results. Also the 128 kbps setting is one of the best IMHO.

You would save your BiaB song as a wav. Open the wav in Audacity and either add effects then convert to a MP3 or just convert to an MP3.

I hope this helps.

An afterthought - how is the sound prior to convertion? Is it the way you like it or is does it sound very similar to the MP3. I'm just trying to isolate where the problem may be, in the song or in the conversion of the song.

Last edited by MarioD; 03/09/12 03:33 PM.

I got banned from Weight Watchers for dropping a bag of M&Ms on the floor.
It was the best game of Hungry Hippos I've ever seen!


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MarioD #152663 03/09/12 11:44 PM
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I wanted to thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I just recently wrote a long and involved post here and thought I had posted it properly but it disappeared into cyber space so I went back to my BIAB and went through the whole procedure of making a new wave file and MP3, which for some reason sounds a whole lot better. I don't know what I did differently except that I may have accidently clicked on the 128 kbps mono instead of stereo the first time I made the MP3. Anyway it sounds way better and have reposted the new one to Soundclick. Thanks again for all the help offered.

vzudell #152664 03/10/12 12:01 AM
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Forgot to post the new link for listening at Soundclick. Here it is..... http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11496005

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