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Joined: Dec 2004
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Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2004
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In trying to study up on audio compression, I have found some web pages claiming that WMA sound quality is equivalent to roughly twice the bitrate of an MP3. In other words a WMA encoded at 160 kbps is said to sound about as good as an MP3 of 320 kbps. Similar freedom from audible "artifacts" and such.
Is this anywhere nearly true? The internet houses a certain amount of horse manure. This could be more of it. At the least, would some knowledgeable person please recommend an authoritative source to read about such matters?
Edit: Some trials I've made since posting the question make me think a 128 WMA of a piano solo probably sounds about as good as an MP3 in the ~256 range (while staying half the size). An MP3 at ~128 (same file size as the WMA 128) sounds slightly pinched off and duller. But in fact all 3 seem to be acceptable for general purposes, so maybe it's illusion after all.
I'll be grateful for any thoughts on the matter.
Last edited by allis; 04/21/10 04:25 AM.
Larry
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It may be true if they were using an older codec for the mp3.
It may also be true that whatever you read is somewhat dated.
Fraunhaufer codec stopped development long ago in computing time terms.
The LAME encoder, however, remains in development, or at least remained longer, and is free and a very fine codec, I use it and recommend it.
--Mac
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I find that one works better than the other on certain things.
Sometimes I hear the artifacts in mp3 and sometimes in wma at the same bit rates.. not much help, but your ear will usually tell you which is better in a given instance.
Often the piano or hihat is the deciding factor here.
Just another opinion. Both are freely available.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Journeyman
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Thanks, fellas. Those are helpful reflections.
LAME still seems to be updated, Mac. I suppose it doesn't need too much attention nowadays. Commercial and freeware encoder programs are using it now in good numbers, so somebody is likely to keep it going.
The WMA 9 codec proves to be startlingly good, now that I try it. The test piano solo encoded at VBR quality 50 (halfway) proves to sound nicer than I am used to, while still staying much smaller than an equivalent MP3. This started out of idle curiosity, but I may start using WMA a lot more, now that I see it's come along quite a bit since early days. As Bob says, it's at least a good idea to have it available for those times when it does the job better.
Many codecs sound pretty decent, but only MP3 and WMA seem widely compatible enough to be generallly useful. Few things are more discouraging than to find your bandmate has sent you some obscure .GOBB file that she swears is the best thing out. Maybe it is, but it's a drag setting up for it, and then you may never hear of the rotten thing again.
Larry
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