Where can I get the highest quality music ????

ignatzatsonic · Dec 18, 2010

Another thing you have to consider:

I can take a poor quality mp3 and make a WAVE file from it and upload it somewhere. Anyone listening to that WAVE file would think that WAVE files suck. So it helps to know something about the pedigree of the source file---what's the format of the original rip? In many cases, you won't know--so a random WAVE file could sound terrible.

Encoders matter also. If you are going to use mp3s, stick with recent versions of the LAME or FHG encoders.

320 mp3s tend to be 6 or 8 MB rather than maybe 4 MB for 192. I have a lot of mono files and their file size at 192 is around 2 MB--that saves a lot of space over time, but file size isn't much of an issue with drives being so cheap.

SledgeDG · Dec 18, 2010

It also matters a lot, what kind of music we're talking about. With some headbanger stuff you really can't hear a difference between mp3 192kbps and WAV/Flac. with classical music it's a completely different pair of shoes.
Reencoding is generally a bad thing (just like editing a JPG and save it again over and over).
Lost information is lost forever. Like ignazatsonic basically said garbage in == garbage out.
So there is no use in creating WAV/FLACs from MP3s.

-DG

Graemzy · Dec 18, 2010

1Bowtie said:
The file size on 192 bit is 3.5mb to 5.5mb depending on length of song, not sure what it would be on 320bit but probably alot bigger, with that said i doubt you could tell the difference of which one was being played, same song those two bit rates

you defo 110% would be able to tell the difference. it is big. for a start the 192 would be much lower! its just not the same.

for me, being a dj that plays dance music, my files tend to be about 15 - 18mb because most tunes tend to be about 6- 8 mins long. and this is at 320kb. you can tell if a tune is goin to be of poor quality before ya even check if its only 8 or 9mb.

its very hard to even mix a tune that is 192kb into a tune that is 320kb cause the sound drops off some much its terrible! i have learned that the hard way buring tunes right before a gig and not listen to or checking the bit rate before i play!

sygnus21 · Dec 18, 2010

noobvious said:
Corpsecrank said:

FLAC is the highest possible quality. WAV is great but the files are insane in size at times. MP3s at 128 are the same quality as a CD anything above that is good but generally you will find MP3s at 320 which is the highest quality you are usually going to find for that format.

FLAC is hard to work with. Most players are not going to support playback and if I remember correctly it's not easy to play them back on a PC either though I could be wrong.

Your best bet is to look for MP3s at 320 they are going to be larger in size than other MP3s because of the bit rate but they will sound much better while keeping the size within reason compared to a high quality WAV file.

Click to expand...

MP3 at 128 is not the same quality as a CD....not even with my damaged ears!

Agreed. At that rate they sound like screeching tin cans. Sorry.

Anyways I prefer Wave files but as noted they are hugely large, so I go MP3 192 for space, or 320 for better sound.

Haven't tried FLAC files as I use iTunes exclusively as my default media player.

I'm not a particular fan of MP3’s sound but I tolerate them for their convenience because of their size as it's a lot easier to carry an iPod/MP3 player then a bunch of CD's, even in a car.

cemcilfa · Dec 18, 2010

Thanks,,but from which site can I download (buy) RnB,Hip-Hop ect..
which is the best quality, itunes, amazon, Youtube-converter or any others???
Many thanks for your help

noobvious · Dec 18, 2010

sygnus21 said:
noobvious said:

Corpsecrank said:

FLAC is the highest possible quality. WAV is great but the files are insane in size at times. MP3s at 128 are the same quality as a CD anything above that is good but generally you will find MP3s at 320 which is the highest quality you are usually going to find for that format.

FLAC is hard to work with. Most players are not going to support playback and if I remember correctly it's not easy to play them back on a PC either though I could be wrong.

Your best bet is to look for MP3s at 320 they are going to be larger in size than other MP3s because of the bit rate but they will sound much better while keeping the size within reason compared to a high quality WAV file.

Click to expand...

MP3 at 128 is not the same quality as a CD....not even with my damaged ears!

Click to expand...

Agreed. At that rate they sound like screeching tin cans. Sorry.

Anyways I prefer Wave files but as noted they are hugely large, so I go MP3 192 for space, or 320 for better sound.

Haven't tried FLAC files as I use iTunes exclusively as my default media player.

Free Lossless Audio Codec - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (FLAC) is the open-source equivalent of Apple Lossless - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (ALAC) and they both should sound identical to WAV files, assuming something didn't go wrong in the encoding process. My FLACs are typically about 60% of the size of the huge WAV files, although that varies slighty due to differences in musical complexity.

sygnus21 · Dec 18, 2010

But will they play in iTunes?

Er never mind.... Apple Lossless - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (ALAC)

cemcilfa · Dec 18, 2010

which is the best quality, itunes, amazon, Youtube-converter or any others???
(and also whicj is the best player player.such as windows, winamp and itunes??????)

1Bowtie · Dec 18, 2010

There are no wrong opinions here it's all a matter of preference, it wouldn't make any difference what bit rate if your listening to it with desktop speakers, the better the sound system the better the music will sound. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

cemcilfa · Dec 18, 2010

I have a Logitech Z-5500 sound system..just need good clear track...jus dont know where from

sygnus21 · Dec 18, 2010

cemcilfa said:
which is the best quality, itunes, amazon, Youtube-converter or any others???
(and also whicj is the best player player.such as windows, winamp and itunes??????)

Since sound is relative, that is depending on who's listening to it, opinions on this will vary wildly. In the end it's your ears that will tell you what sounds best to you.

I consider myself an audiophile so MP3's to me sound dreadful. Others say they can hear no difference between the various formats, still others will say one format is superior to another, but within that format, there is no difference between the different sampling rates. Who's right?

The other thing to consider is your sound system/soundcard and speakers.

In the end it's going to be your ears determining that. Not ours.

In short, only you can answer your question.

My two cents.

ignatzatsonic · Dec 18, 2010

Cemcilfa:

The best thing you can do is take 10 bucks and buy 10 tunes from various sources in several different formats. Do some experimentation and make your own decision.

See if they offer choices other than mp3.

Then ultimately decide what file format you are going to stick with.

If they offer mp3 only, try 128 and a higher rate. See if you can tell the difference.

I'm not sure what the main sources are. Maybe Amazon, Apple I-Tunes, Rhapsody, Napster, and ?

The best quality isn't going to be You Tube.

Players aren't like to make a difference in the sound quality. Players differ mainly in their interfaces and what file formats they will play. Speakers will make a big difference as will your stereo system and sound card if they are involved.

cemcilfa · Dec 18, 2010

Is there a bitrate or format choice on iTunes??

ignatzatsonic · Dec 18, 2010

I don't know about "regular" I-Tunes, but I found this on the iTunes site:

iTunes Plus songs and music videos are encoded in our highest-quality, 256-Kbps AAC format.

I guess "Plus" is a higher quality and costs more?

Look out!!!!! You have to be sure your player will play the downloaded format----AAC in the case of iTunes Plus.

noobvious · Dec 18, 2010

I'd still say CD's. Sometimes you can get used CD's cheaper than the same album downloaded from iTunes, and as long as the CD isn't all scratched up, it's well worth the time spent to rip them yourself.

cemcilfa · Dec 18, 2010

But surely if they supply it they should do a download for the player??

ignatzatsonic · Dec 18, 2010

cemcilfa said:
But surely if they supply it they should do a download for the player??

Huh??

YOU have to be sure that AAC files will play on YOUR player, whatever it is. Otherwise, you spent money for an AAC file that you can't play.

sygnus21 · Dec 18, 2010

cemcilfa said:
Is there a bitrate or format choice on iTunes??

Quick simple answer - Yes.

This is from version 10.1.1.4

Or did you mean the song downloads? If so, I'd imagine the bit rate will be at least 360, though I don't "download" songs/CD/Movies so... As a collector I'd rather have the hard copy format.

vierasniper · Dec 18, 2010

who would want Grateful Dead music? even if it was free

sygnus21 · Dec 18, 2010

vierasniper said:
who would want Grateful Dead music? even if it was free

Huh :huh:

Where can I get the highest quality music ????

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