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Converting to mp3

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  • Snoopy66

    • Aug 2005
    • 9

    Converting to mp3

    Hello,
    I am wondering about the best way to convert to mp3 from wma files and real audio files. I convert mostly lectures that I download and usually if they are in mp3 origanally they are 32Kbps. Which is good for lectures. My question is when I download a wma or a .ra or .rm file they all have different bit rates, compresion, and frequency. If I convert to mp3 with the installed lame mp3 with dbpowerAMP and use the default settings, sometimes the quality is not so good when converted. Like the voice sounds a little bit squeaky for the lack of a better explination. Is it better to put frequency to (as source) or voice, or any of the others to choose from, and choose a bit rate, or just leave the default settings. Lets say, all the wma files I am going to convert are 16 bits. I notice most of them have different compression. What is the best way to convert to mp3 then? Also using the same situation for real audio files, what is they best way for those? Does the same apply for higher bit rates such as 32 or higher? From reading some of your topics here already. I think I have read that converting 'up' to a larger bit rate is really not going to help for the smaller bit rate files I have. My 30 trial is about half up and I really like your product so far. Will the powerpack help me for these situations?
  • xoas
    dBpoweramp Guru

    • Apr 2002
    • 2662

    #2
    Re: Converting to mp3

    You will need to hold on to Power Pack to convert to mp3.

    One tip you will probably benefit from if you are dealing with files of different frequencies and especially if you are changing from one frequency to another, is to enable Professional Frequency Conversion in your dBpowerAMP Music Converter (dMC) Configuration Window (Start>All Programs>dBpowerAMP Music Converter>Configuration>dBpowerAMP Music Converter Configuration).

    As far as whether you should leave files in their original frequencies/settings is more a practical matter since you will not be able to improve the quality of a file recorded at 11,025 Hz by converting it to 44,100 Hz.

    The primary determination as to whether to change frequency or other variables boils down to where you plan to use these files and the constraints of the situation. Say you want to convert some lectures to mp3, burn these to an mp3 disc and listen to them in your car. The key variable is the bits, frequency and bitrates supported by your car's mp3 player (which will probably be nowhere near as versatile as your computer mp3 player). If you are considering playback on a portable audio player, again checking the specifications for that player will be essential.

    The capabilty of various formats may also be a factor. In particular, at very low bitrates wma will have the quality of an mp3 file encoded from the same source at about 150% of the wma bitrate. So a wma file encoded at 64 kbs is likely to be equivalent to an mp3 file encoded at 96 kbs. and when converting between the two I would probably encode to 96 kbs mp3. Also, not all codecs/formats will allow the same degree of options as to frequency, channels, bits and bitrate settings.

    Apart from these considerations it is usually advisable to try to keep settings as similar as possible when doing conversions.

    If unsure, then I would probably advocate using a standard group of settings such as 16 bits, 44.1 kHz, joint stereo, 96 or 128 kbs (for spoken voice this will probably be adequate, even 64 kbs might be ok), constant bit rate. Please run a few trials regarding the bitrate settings for files starting out at higher bitrates to make sure that these will still come out with appropriate quality for your purposes.

    Hope this helps.
    Best wishes,
    Bill
    Last edited by xoas; August 22, 2005, 11:36 AM. Reason: Add content

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    • Snoopy66

      • Aug 2005
      • 9

      #3
      Re: Converting to mp3

      Ok thanks a lot for the help. That all makes sense. I primarally use a mp3 player at work to listen to. It is a Sony, I will have to check out the specs on that. So the best thing for me now would be to buy the dbpowerAmp to get the powerpack to help out for best conversions then?

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      • LtData
        dBpoweramp Guru

        • May 2004
        • 8288

        #4
        Re: Converting to mp3

        To convert to mp3, you HAVE to have the PowerPack. Right now, your probably still in the 30-day trial, which is why you can convert to mp3. But when the trial runs out, you will only be able to read mp3, not convert to it.

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