Apply VSTPlugins to mp3 (i.e. lossy) files

[iano]

Hi,

I love using the VSTplugin dst in the converter, both batch and otherwise. For example, I currently use it to reduce a certain frequency range (via a VST eq plugin) which seems to be uncomfortable for my ears (soprano range actually), and it makes an enormous difference. I normally use it on lossless files (typically flac files), in which case applying the flac conversion again should not reduce the overall audio quality. I was doing a similar thing to madify the frequency response for specific headphones (headfi.org has several interesting threads on that).

My question is...how can I apply that same change to source mp3 files (or any lossy codec for that matter)? For example, can I just use the 'Arrange Audio' plugin with the VSTplugin DST (I tried once, and it processed so quickly that I suspected the VST plugin had not been applied)? or do I need to use the mp3 conversion option, with the VSTplugin in place? (But wouldn't that actually reduce the quality of the source file by actually re-converting the original mp3 file again?).

Thanks, this is a great family of products....use it all the time...really looking forward to the MAC OSX port also....Ian

[Spoon]

Re: Apply VSTPlugins to mp3 (i.e. lossy) files

No, only by reconverting the file from mp3 to mp3 can a dsp alteration be applied.

[iano]

Re: Apply VSTPlugins to mp3 (i.e. lossy) files

Thanks for the quick answer.

I guess my other fallback position for files where I ONLY have the lossy file format, is to convert to 'FLAC', a lossless conversion, in which case the VSTPlugin can be applied, at the expense of the greater space taken up by the flac file format (although I realize the audio quality will still be that of the original mp3) - at least that avoids a double lossy conversion step.