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View Full Version : Extra "lead-in" fraction of a sec. converting FLAC to MP3



GiacomoGo
03-02-2010, 02:54 PM
I have my CD collection backed up to FLAC files, and create/re-encode my MP3 collection from these. Part of MP3 management includes merging separate tracks into logical "medleys" -- think last half of Abbey Road, where I'll combine source FLACs into a single MP3 so I can listen to Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, ... uninterrupted.

I use dbMC to rip the FLACs and convert them to MP3. I'm using Audacity to merge tracks, since dbMC still has not "merge" function.

What I find strange is that the convert-to-MP3 adds some sort of "lead-in" of a fraction of a second, which does not appear in the FLAC (see screenshot, below, with this extra mp3 "lead-in" highlighted).

http://images2.rapidshare.com/thumbnails/3579/357996364-462452705633.jpghttp://rapidshare.com/files/357996364/MP3_lead_in.png

The result, when I combine the MP3 tracks is an audible disruption, which I do not get, obviously, if I combine the FLAC versions instead.

Where's this MP3 lead-in coming from? Can I avoid it through some setting that I don't see?

Just curious. Seems like I'm missing something.

Spoon
03-02-2010, 03:06 PM
That is mp3 for you, unless your decoder knows of the encoder used and compensates you will get a small section of silence at the beginning of mp3. You can use dbpoweramp to convert the mp3 >> wave, then look at it, dbpoweramp decodes mp3 sample perfect.

GiacomoGo
03-02-2010, 03:17 PM
That is mp3 for you, unless your decoder knows of the encoder used and compensates you will get a small section of silence at the beginning of mp3. You can use dbpoweramp to convert the mp3 >> wave, then look at it, dbpoweramp decodes mp3 sample perfect.

Thanks, Spoon. I've viewed the .wav from mp3 -- it's exactly as you explained and back to looking like the FLAC. Curious mp3 trivia, that little nugget. Thanks for explaining.