Hi all,
before posting I searched the forums for "mp3 quality" and checked all the listed results but could not find any content that would match my problem. If this has been mentioned however, I'd be happy about a link to the existing topic.
Before I updated my Ubuntu from Intrepid (8.10) to Jaunty (9.04), I had Audacity 1.3.5b running. The supplied MP3 encoder in that version had a great quality. I preferred to use this one because the LAME in SoundConveter somehow was set/coded in a way that would unsharpen/wahsy/soften/cook the highs (high frequencies) of the source. Typical artifacts, much like encoding an MP3 with too few kbps but now also at high rates.
After switching to Jaunty, Audacity also got updated to 1.3.7. Now the MP3 encoder in this version has exactly the same habit like what I've experienced in SoundConverter.
I assumed that this problem might have been solved in a newer release, so I downloaded the 1.3.8 source, compiled and installed it on my machine to find out that the problem still remains.
Even if I encode the source at very high bitrates (256 and more kpbs), the quality loss is still very notable. This is not usual for the MP3 format.
If audacity is using LAME, this encoder usually was able to gain a very high quality even at old standard bitrates like 128kpbs.
To reproduce and verify this, you'll need headphones to be able to hear the details. I'd be happy about any hint that might shed some light on this issue.
Gilzad
worse mp3 quality since 1.3.7
Forum rules
Audacity 1.3.x is now obsolete. Please use the current Audacity 2.x.x package for your distribution or compile Audacity from the source code.
Audacity 1.3.x is now obsolete. Please use the current Audacity 2.x.x package for your distribution or compile Audacity from the source code.
Re: worse mp3 quality since 1.3.7
Audacity does not contain an MP3 encoder. On Linux it will use the Lame encoder that is installed on your system, so updating or back dating Audacity will make no difference to the quality of MP3s. I use Jaunty with Lame 3.98-0.0 and the MP3 quality is as I would expect (ranging from "not too bad" at 128kbps to excellent at 320kbps).
On most musical material I find that the Lame presets work better than the CBR options.
On most musical material I find that the Lame presets work better than the CBR options.
9/10 questions are answered in the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Re: worse mp3 quality since 1.3.7
Ok, thanks.
By now I even updated my liblame and made some tests with the encoder on the shell. It seems that my source pcm file is just too demanding in this case and I simply have to use insane bitrates.
It's a better idea to test a new encoder against known sources first.
By now I even updated my liblame and made some tests with the encoder on the shell. It seems that my source pcm file is just too demanding in this case and I simply have to use insane bitrates.
It's a better idea to test a new encoder against known sources first.