Converting Quality flac to mp3

[jannetje]

Hello,
what mp3-quality do I set when I convert from flac to mp3?
do I need to set something and what with dps?

thanks for your help! :D

[xoas]

Re: Converting Quality flac to mp3

You can use whatever quality you want.
FLAC is lossless which means that it retains all of the audio quality (or audio information) that was in the original source.
Mp3 is lossy which means that it does NOT retain all of the audio quality (or audio information) of the original source.

The highest quality available through mp3 would be alt-preset insane or 320 kbs cbr (for constant bitrate). This also results in the largest file size.

Theoretically, there is a bitrate setting at which your mp3 file (or any other file in a lossy format) will not sound any different from your source. This is known as the transparency point. It will vary depending on the music you are listening to, your listening environment, your audio equipment, your state of mind, and your own hearing abilities. So looked at flexibly, you might want to spend some time comparing different bitrate settings and looking at different uses. For example, if I want to convert to mp3 for use on my computer and stereo, I have found that I cannot distinguish differences beyond alt-preset-extreme (which is a variable bitrate setting around 220-240 kbs-this is my rough estimate). If I make an mp3 disk for my car cd/mp3 player, I will use 192 kbs cbr (which is probably a little bit of overkill-I suspect 160 kbs would do as well).

I find that most users are content somewhere between 128 kbs cbr, and 320 kbs cbr.
Popular settings are 128 kbs cbr, 160 kbs cbr, 192 kbs cbr, alt-preset standard (a vbr setting around 160 kbs, I believe), alt-preset extreme (already explained), and alt-preset insane.

So try convertiong some sample tracks to different settings and see what you find best for your use and your ears and your music.

Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Bill

[jannetje]

Re: Converting Quality flac to mp3

Hello Bill,

Thanks for explaining.
I always thought that 192 was the average best to burn into audio :o
My ears are not so absolute...

So when I convert to 320 or to 192, it makes no difference?
What do I need to do whith the dsp button?

Thanks,
Jannetje

[xoas]

Re: Converting Quality flac to mp3

So when I convert to 320 or to 192, it makes no difference?

In an absolute sense there is a difference (320 kbs will be a larger file which has less loss of the audio information from the source file).
In a practical sense the smaller bitrate will always result in a smaller file size but more audio information will be lost from the source file.
If you are equally happy with 192 kbs and 320 kbs, then smaller file size is generally better.

The DSP effects are effects you can choose to add. I generally do not use any. The most used DSP is probably the Volume Normalization (which helps quiet tracks sound louder-it will not make loud tracks more quiet). If you find some tracks sounding quite a bit less loud than others, you might want to consider that.

You can find out more from the Help files for dBpowerAMP Music Converter (accessed either through the ? icon in most dMC windows or through Start>All Programs>dBpowerAMP Music COnverter>Help).

Best wishes,
Bill