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Hello all -
First post for this newbie. I liken working with computers and software to learning to drive an 18-wheel rig: it's cumbersome, it's slow, I'm lumbering, there's a lot of gears to navigate, a lot of mistakes, etc. etc.
So I'm muddling thru Windows BIAB 2016 w/ 2017 upgraded RTs.
I created a song on my laptop (Windows 10), converted it to .mp3 and e-mailed it to my PC (Windows 7) to play on iTunes, but it sounds faint and dull on the PC.
The mp3 version sounds great on the laptop, tho the file is identified as .WAV and not mp3 as I had specified at file conversion. What gives?
Thanks. The point is: if you are converting at too low of a mbps the conversion process will remove/destroy too much data in order to make the file that small. That's the likely re4ason your are hearing a muddled sound. the original .WAV file contains "all" (we might say) of the data and sounds clear and full. Converting a .WAV file to a .MP3 file removes a certain amount of data, and hopefully not so much that most human ears can tell a significant difference, in order to make the file smaller so we can safe storage space, email it, etc... What we are attempting to explain are ways you can convert the .WAV to .MP3 without going so small that it sounds dull. BTW, if you right click on the file, it should open a menu, then click "Properties" in that menu you will see the 3 letter file extension which is the file type. Ex; MySong.mp3 or MySong.wav. I say this because if you have a file that is designated .WAV and sound good that's because it is not the converted .mp3 file. Try the conversion again but this time during the save process change the file name to MySongMP3Format. Now look at the line below the file saving dialog;... click on the drop-down arrow at the end of that line and see if that allows you to choose what type of file it will be and/or what the kbps will be. It will be 128kbps, 192kbps, 256kbps, 320kbps, etc. Anything below 128 (for music) will not sound good at all. I think 128 is approximately 10% the size of the original .wav. A removal of 90% of the data while attempting to keep the sonic fidelity. 256 usually sounds good to me and makes my song files small enough to email and store a whole bunch of them. Would you like to tell us what program you used as your mp3 converter? Or, would you like to try installing Audacity and the LAME codec?
Does the noise in your head bother me ?
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Hi Tobias -
I'm just using the dropdown on the BIAB program and selecting mp3 there - not using a separate program.
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I'm just using the dropdown on the BIAB program and selecting mp3 there - not using a separate program. Right, but back to my original comment... BIAB uses the CODECs installed on your Windows system, which by default are limited to 56kbps. That is never going to sound good, except maybe for voice only applications. In order to get higher bit rates, you need to either install or enable those higher bit rates within Windows. This means installing the ACM version of the CODEC (CODEC means COder/DECoder, by the way). You can install LAME, both as a standalone CODEC, and also using the ACM version (which installs it into the Windows registry). Just make sure you download the correct version and follow the text file instructions carefully. There is also a registry hack to enable the Fraunhofer CODEC already found in Windows, but you'll have to find that on your own and decide whether to use it or not. Or, as has been suggested here, just use a different application that uses an external CODEC (most seem to use LAME) to convert your files. The Audacity website, for example, has pretty good instructions on how to enable it within Audacity. And this is a question that has been asked by many over the years, so you're not the only one.
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Doesn't the US patent on mp3 end in a few months? Can we has native mp3 yet? To support my statement on the 16kHz ceiling for MP3 .. "There is no scale factor band 21 (sfb21) for frequencies above approx 16 kHz, forcing the encoder to choose between less accurate representation in band 21 or less efficient storage in all bands below band 21, the latter resulting in wasted bitrate in VBR encoding" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3It's just not there. I see it in spectrum analyzers. Even PGRTA will show it. I have a few MP3 codecs (including a registered Fraunhofer Pro, LAME, etc) and they all do this. To OP, have you tried converting to wma and see if it sounds any better? That may be a quick way to narrow down the codec.
Last edited by rharv; 02/03/17 02:08 PM.
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If I can has hearing over 16 KHz again, I can has very happy! Is there anyone on this forum who can hear above that? MP3 strips it out anyway. I can still hear up to 14 KHz though, and I still use the Fraunhofer encoding at 320kbps. It's not CD quality but it's close. Here's a good, understandable description of hearing and audio compression. http://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=High-frequency_content_in_MP3sThis is the first substantive paragraph, which gives a summary: Why MP3s omit high-frequency content
MP3 encoders typically "lowpass" their input, cutting off the highest frequencies. There are several reasons for this:
Human hearing tends to drop off sharply somewhere between 16 and 20 KHz, usually toward the low end of that range.
The input to the encoder is unlikely to have much, if any, audible, musical (non-noise-like) high-frequency content.
Even if the source does have audible musical content above 16 KHz, preserving it would take away valuable space that could be used by the lower, more important frequency bands.
The MP3 format has difficulty storing content above 16 KHz without sacrificing quality and increasing the bitrate requirements of the lower frequency bands.
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Well I know a few years ago I could hear above 16kHz, when I had an extensive hearing test done (it was a job app requirement; I passed this but failed the color test! 84 hues?? from pink to purple you want me to put them in order .. my wife witnessed it and said she'd have probably failed too, but apparently I was way off).
Anyway, I had a small dip just below 15kHz and a larger one at around 5 kHz. I think years of being around saws caused the latter.
I notice this range most on certain instruments. Ride cymbal is the most obvious, but the whole mix can lose 'shine' so that's what made me think of this as a possible cause for the 'dull' sound mentioned in the OP.
If other mp3's on his system sound fine to him, then it is probably a codec issue.. common in PGProducts.
Last edited by rharv; 02/03/17 02:42 PM.
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BIAB uses the CODECs installed on your Windows system, which by default are limited to 56kbps. That is never going to sound good, except maybe for voice only applications.
I did not know that. Since Sonar didn't come with a converter..... well, it had a 30 day free trial then you could buy the converter..... I never bought the converter and chose to go third party external, so when I started using BB/RB.... I never even considered using the built in..... and since I export to Sonar anyway.......
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.
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Why does mp3 version sound dull...ahem,,,excuse me
That's because the original song sounds dull..
It isn't nothing to do with the format guys.
Wake up listen and hear .
That's the trick.
Do you listen to your fav artist whoever that may be .
And then do a check on things as they seem.
Do you think you are doing well for others on the forum.
C'mon the forum is a joke on the net.
Be real the programme is good and yes there aint anything yet as good ..apart from loops .
And we all know how annoying they can be .
All am saying is you are not doing the programme any good.
Its all over the net about the wee closed shop..who tell each other how good that was.
Try posting your song on another forum.
Stop the killing of this one.
Yknow why I post is because this could be something BIG ...
BUT go on the way you do ..check google
for your forum then you will see what peeps are saying...
unless pg...have doctored google/...well you will never know...
Keep talking them songs guys ...or go listen to other forums were peepes sing.
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Why does mp3 version sound dull...ahem,,,excuse me
That's because the original song sounds dull..
It isn't nothing to do with the format guys.
Wake up listen and hear
Did you read my first post in this thread on page 1?
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.
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Yes my Friend that is why I posted my point..
Be good...take care ..
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No Probs also listened to your songs .
They are not bad .as you know. How good would they be.
If you posted to another forum and got good critique.
Or Not but we will never know guitar hacker..is that right..do not want to offend anyone.
My regards
biab 2017 everything all add ons ,win 7 i7 16gb, akai eie pro..,rode NT 1000, sonar pro,izo 7, lurssen mastering, Warm WA12 single channel microphone preamp, all waves bundle
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I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Listen to your fav artist on cd then mp3 ..
Simple...even the meerkats get it..
Although the song has got to be half decent ..Hacker...Sung But Not Spoken...
well some are not in that league .
you take care my friend.
You do sound like PAUL MACCA ...
biab 2017 everything all add ons ,win 7 i7 16gb, akai eie pro..,rode NT 1000, sonar pro,izo 7, lurssen mastering, Warm WA12 single channel microphone preamp, all waves bundle
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Ivan?...
WELL WHAT DID YOU EXPECT Rharv .
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too much I guess
welcome back, I'll miss u
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Not much my friend you do real good on this forum.
And keep on But it needs to change,
Good posts bro.
Take care keep posting.
Please
biab 2017 everything all add ons ,win 7 i7 16gb, akai eie pro..,rode NT 1000, sonar pro,izo 7, lurssen mastering, Warm WA12 single channel microphone preamp, all waves bundle
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Hi Tobias -
I'm just using the dropdown on the BIAB program and selecting mp3 there - not using a separate program. Well, I and others think you need to convert at a better rate. As jford said, you could install the LAME CODEC into your windows computer system. But, you express being new to computers like learning to drive a 10 gear 18 wheeler. So, my and other's suggestion is to install Audacity then install the LAME CODEC inside the Audacity's MP3 Export Library aka: libraries in the Preferences Menu. Audacity is a very stable and handy program to have and it's easy to learn how to do basic things with it. Once that's done you will drag-drop your song to BIABs WAV quadrant and convert it to WAV. You will rename and save that .WAV file to you desktop or a folder, either one, on your computer. Then open Audacity, FILE | OPEN | navigate to your .WAV | double click on it | It will import to Audacity | Once it's in Audacity; FILE | Export Audio | and that will take you to the Export Audio Dialog. At the bottom will be a long dropdown box with your file name and a long dropdown box with the type of file. All the way to the right; click on the drop down arrow and choose the type of file you want it to become after conversion. Choose "MP3 File". Below that will appear the choices for the bit rate, Choose "Average" and the quality, Choose 256 kbps. Before you click save take a look at where the file will be saved so you can navigate to it (find it) after it's done. Okay, click "SAVE". It will process. Now go find it where you saved it. Right click and look at the properties. Is it an MP3? Now double click on it and see if your media player will play it. Find a safe version of Audacity here http://www.audacityteam.org/download/
Does the noise in your head bother me ?
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Thanks, Tobias: that's the kind of literal instruction I need at this point.
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Thanks, Tobias: that's the kind of literal instruction I need at this point.
I use the free Wavepad. Just get the program from NCH and load it. Then simply open your saved wave file from Wavepad. No need to load the LAME codec. Wavepad is a one stop shop. WAVEPAD download link When the free fully open demo time runs out you can simply opt to "Run in demo mode" and it still does everything you need it to do.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 02/05/17 04:01 AM.
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.
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