Can I set a default conversion?

[xanother]

Not sure how to word this, but can I set the program to convert to all the same parameters as the original file? (cos you can't improve the quality beyond the original)

[ChristinaS]

Re: Can I set a default conversion?

Not sure how to word this, but can I set the program to convert to all the same parameters as the original file? (cos you can't improve the quality beyond the original)

What exactly do you mean?

The way you worded it it suggests that you want to convert a file to exactly what it is? I don't think this is what you mean.

Do you mean that you always want to convert to a particular format which should remain fixed for all your conversions? If this is what you mean, then dMC remembers the last selection of conversion parameters.

[xanother]

Re: Can I set a default conversion?

No I meant set it to convert to the same parameters but in a different format i.e wma to mp3.
If I recorded at 16bit 22hz 1 channel it would make much sense to convert at 32 bit.
What I am trying to avoid is having to set parameters every time I convert a file.

[ChristinaS]

Re: Can I set a default conversion?

No I meant set it to convert to the same parameters but in a different format i.e wma to mp3.

Oh, I think I see. You want for instance dMC to figure out that your wma 44.1KHz Stereo @ 64kbps CBR should be converted to mp3 44.1KHz Stereo CBR @64kbps.

Well, it depends on what exactly your wma file is really like. I think only the Channels and Frequency can be preserved without respecifying them from the original file.

If you are going from wma to mp3, then select Channels= As Source and Frequency=As Source and that takes care of these 2 parameters. The encoding type (i.e. Constant bitrate, Average bitrate, Variable bitrate) comes from the Advanced Options. If you use presets there they override other settings. You set the bitrate itself using the green slider.

If you're converting to uncompressed wav, you also have Bits as source that may be retained from other formats.

It's hard to generalize. It really all depends on what you convert and to what. dMC remembers for each file type to which you convert what the last settings were.

[Unregistered]

Re: Can I set a default conversion?

Thanks for that info Christina!

[ChristinaS]

Re: Can I set a default conversion?

My pleasure :smile2:

[xoas]

Re: Can I set a default conversion?

Not sure how to word this, but can I set the program to convert to all the same parameters as the original file? (cos you can't improve the quality beyond the original)

Bitrate would be a parameter that you might NOT want to have same as source since a low bitrate wma file (say 64 kbs) will be quite superior to an mp3 file of the same audio at the same low bitrate. But keeping frequency, channels and bit setting (where applicable) does make fairly good sense unless there are over-riding circumstances (like if you are creating an mp3 disk for your car and your car player will only play 44.1 khz.). The big advantage of keeping these parameters the same is to reduce the possibility of a failed conversion.
Still, an mp3 created from a wma file will only be an imperfect copy of the wma file in the same way that an mp3 file ripped from a cd is an imperfect copy of the cd. So the better a copy you can make, in theory, the better off you would be. Whether, in practice, this would make a discernable difference is something you can determine only through a certain amount of trial and error.

Best wishes,
Bill Mikkelsen