|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 40
Enthusiast
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 40 |
I'm a plain old muso who's love for music far exceeds my abilities. I do my tracks in BIAB keeping them as simple as possible. Then render them into MP3's to strum and sing along to. Budget equipment is the best I can do. Alto mixer and active speakers. The question is would it make that much difference rendering to WAV files rather than MP3's. In truth i can't really hear the difference, too many years of music, motorcycles and machining has done the damage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 115
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 115 |
IMHO-if all you're doing is playing along for your own benefit- mp3 is fine. It also takes up less space on your drive and as you say, you can't hear the difference.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 26,968
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 26,968 |
I concur. Of course, MP3s can be made in greatly varying quality. If you make one at 44.1K, 320 Kbps, stereo, then few people will be able to tell the difference between that and a .WAV file. If you make a mono .MP3 at 128 Kbps, you'll save space but more people will hear the difference.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 859
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 859 |
Like Matt Finley said, High quality mp3's are probably fine.
To me, 128kbps are not good enough for performing.
You can hear the difference.
Personally I use .wav files because disk storage is hardly an issue these days.
Mp3's are compressed files. Compression is lost data.
It probably doesn't matter at 320Kbps. But perhaps sometimes it does.
biab2024(Mac) Latest Build
Mac OS Sequoia 15.0.1
Apple M2 pro 32GB Ram
Logic Pro 11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 40
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 40 |
Thanks, the BIAB does the MP3 at the 320 setting which sounds great to me. It helps for the storage on the little tablet I use as well. All's well. Take Care.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,173
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,173 |
For performing I use MP3@320kbps. After all I play to folk that are eating, chatting, elderly and or hard of hearing in some other way. I play the music through a PA in buildings that have air conditioners blowing away, or a bit of 50 cycle hum and/or many other extraneous noises. I don’t think anybody even if they were listening closely could pick the difference between the MP3 or a .wav in that environment.
It is possible to find the losses and have a listen to them. In a nutshell you could pull both the .wav and 320 kbps MP3 into something like Audacity. Set (normalise) them to exactly the same level, ensure both are set exactly at the same time, invert one of them then play the song. The tracks will pretty much cancel out. The sound you are left with is the losses. @320kbps the result is not that much, usually high end sound most people struggle to hear.
@128kbps you will hear more losses.
That was my experience.
Tony
Last edited by Teunis; 05/14/19 01:25 AM.
HP i7-4770 16GB 1TB SSD, Win 10 Home,
Focusrite 2i2 3rd Gen, Launchkey 61, Maton CW80, Telecaster, Ovation Elite TX, Yamaha Pacifica 612
BB 2022(912) RB 2022(2), CakeWalk, Reaper 6, Audacity, Melodyne 5 Editor, Izotope Music Production Suite 4.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,146
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,146 |
Set (normalise) them to exactly the same level, ensure both are set exactly at the same time, invert one of them then play the song. If you ever attempt to use this method you indeed need to make sure the two are exactly in time. By 'invert' I think Teunis means to reverse the polarity of both tracks. This also means both would need to be at the same volume (Normalizing would get them close but other ways exist). The theory is that what is in one track sending a negative value would cancel out another track sending a positive value. This has been a proven technique, but understanding the mechanics can be important. Get them out of time a little and the results are wrong (usually results in a noticeable phasing). Having one a little off on volume can also skew the results .. but the science is pretty cool to know.  Interesting application of the theory Teunis! I wouldn't have thought of this.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,173
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,173 |
Yes, you need to ensure both the MP3 and the .wav are exactly the same in volume and where the play back is from or you will get the sound of phasing and volume imbalance skewing the result. The easiest way to get the start lined up is to go to the first transient on both tracks and line them up.
The term used by Audacity to reverse the “polarity” of a track is to “invert” it. That is the option under effects.
So basically what you are doing is putting the tracks 180 degrees out of phase. If both tracks were exactly the same the result will be zero output. Usually even what you are left with (assuming MP3@320kbps and .wav) you’d need to amplify a fair bit to hear.
Tony
Last edited by Teunis; 05/14/19 05:20 PM.
HP i7-4770 16GB 1TB SSD, Win 10 Home,
Focusrite 2i2 3rd Gen, Launchkey 61, Maton CW80, Telecaster, Ovation Elite TX, Yamaha Pacifica 612
BB 2022(912) RB 2022(2), CakeWalk, Reaper 6, Audacity, Melodyne 5 Editor, Izotope Music Production Suite 4.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 40
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 40 |
Thanks Guys, I'm quiet happy with what I'm hearing as I believe the old folk who I play for are happy. so I don't think I'll go looking for the bits I don't have. Even if I found them I wouldn't know what to do with them. The digital thing has passed me by a long time ago and gives me a headache. I still have my toolkit for servicing my car, feeler gauge, Timing light, Dwell meter, Exhaust gas analyser etc. But Digital came along now all I can do is oil change and top up fluids. Now I'm feeling my age. Take care from sunny Durban.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,255
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,255 |
High quality MP3 (320KBS) is very difficult to hear the difference. I have used MP3 tracks in my recordings and no one notices. A singer sent me the MP3 and later, when I got ready to mix, the wave was simply not available....
That song is In A World Without you. on my music page
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box 2025 Italian Version is Here!
Cari amici
È stata aggerate la versione in Italiano del programma più amato dagli appassionati di musica, il nostro Band-in-a-Box.
Questo è il link alla nuova versione 2025.
Di seguito i link per scaricare il pacchetti di lingua italiana aggiornati per Band-in-a-Box e RealBand, anche per chi avesse già comprato la nuova versione in inglese.
Band-in-a-Box 2025 - Italiano
RealBand 2025 - Italiano
Band-in-a-Box 2025 French Version is Here!
Bonjour à tous,
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 pour Windows est disponible en Français.
Le téléchargement se fait à partir du site PG Music
Pour ceux qui auraient déjà acheté la version 2025 de Band-in-a-Box (et qui donc ont une version anglaise), il est possible de "franciser" cette version avec les patchs suivants:
BIAB 2025 - francisation
RealBand 2025 - francisation
Voilà, enjoy!
Band-in-a-Box 2025 German Version is Here!
Update Your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 to Build 1128 for Windows Today!
Already using Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows®? Download Build 1128 now from our Support Page to enjoy the latest enhancements and improvements from our team.
Stay up to date—get the latest update now!
Update to RealBand® 2025 Build 5 Windows Today!
Already using RealBand® 2025 for Windows®? Download Build 5 now from our Support Page to ensure you have the latest enhancements and improvements from our team.
Get the latest update today!
PowerTracks Pro Audio 2025 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks Pro Audio 2025 is here! This new version introduces many features, including VST3 support, the ability to load or import a .FLAC file, a reset option for track height in the Tracks window, a taller Timeline on the Notation window toolbar, new freeze buttons in the Tracks window, three toolbar modes (two rows, single row, and none), the improved Select Patch dialog with text-based search and numeric patch display, a new button in the DirectX/VST window to copy an effects group, and more!
First-time packages start at only $49. Already a PowerTracks Pro Audio user? Upgrade for as little as $29!
www.pgmusic.com/powertracks.htm
Video: Summary of the New Band-in-a-Box® App for iOS®
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new Band-in-a-Box® app for iOS®! Designed for musicians, singer-songwriters, and educators, this powerful tool lets you create, play, and transfer songs effortlessly on your iPhone® or iPad®—anytime, anywhere.
Band-in-a-Box® for iOS® :Summary video.
Check out the forum post for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums58
Topics84,053
Posts774,982
Members39,580
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean