MP3s: is it just me, or do they sound like phase-shifting crap?

[GiftSupply]

Is it just me, or do MP3 encoded files sound like phase-shifting crap to
anyone else as well? Sometimes I wish I had never noticed how the
compression sounds, because now, all I can hear is the distortion, and I
can't really enjoy what's left of the music.

I'm wondering if it might be the codec that's used to create each file, and
if there are better and worse sounding ones...

Rick

[Merlin Zener]

On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 06:38:49 +0000, GiftSupply wrote:

> Is it just me, or do MP3 encoded files sound like phase-shifting crap to
> anyone else as well? Sometimes I wish I had never noticed how the
> compression sounds, because now, all I can hear is the distortion, and I
> can't really enjoy what's left of the music.
>
> I'm wondering if it might be the codec that's used to create each file,
> and if there are better and worse sounding ones...
>

yes, there are good ones and bad ones.
That's why when I want to listen to songs on my MP3 player and headphones,
I'll encode them myself direct from my own CDs. Probably about 75% of the
mp3s I've heard that were downloaded or bought on mp3 CDs at markets etc
sound like crap.

[Ricky W. Hunt]

"GiftSupply" > wrote in message
...
> Is it just me, or do MP3 encoded files sound like phase-shifting crap to
> anyone else as well? Sometimes I wish I had never noticed how the
> compression sounds, because now, all I can hear is the distortion, and I
> can't really enjoy what's left of the music.
>
> I'm wondering if it might be the codec that's used to create each file,
and
> if there are better and worse sounding ones...
>

It depends on the encode. If you get into the higher encode rate (320kb,
etc.) and a good encoder like LAME and it can sound pretty much like the
original CD with only about 10-percent more size than the standard 128k MP3.

[Mike Tulley]

On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 08:54:43 GMT, "Ricky W. Hunt"
> wrote:

>"GiftSupply" > wrote in message
...
>> Is it just me, or do MP3 encoded files sound like phase-shifting crap to
>> anyone else as well? Sometimes I wish I had never noticed how the
>> compression sounds, because now, all I can hear is the distortion, and I
>> can't really enjoy what's left of the music.
>>
>> I'm wondering if it might be the codec that's used to create each file,
>and
>> if there are better and worse sounding ones...
>>
>
>It depends on the encode. If you get into the higher encode rate (320kb,
>etc.) and a good encoder like LAME and it can sound pretty much like the
>original CD with only about 10-percent more size than the standard 128k MP3.

Good advice! There are some really bad MP3 encoders out there.
Mike T.

[Don Cooper]

GiftSupply wrote:

> Is it just me, or do MP3 encoded files sound like phase-shifting crap to
> anyone else as well? Sometimes I wish I had never noticed how the
> compression sounds, because now, all I can hear is the distortion, and I
> can't really enjoy what's left of the music.


King Crimson recorded a song that emulated that splashy cymbal sound. It
forever ruins the song for me, but they were making a point, I guess.

[Tony]

On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 08:54:43 GMT, "Ricky W. Hunt"
> wrote:

>"GiftSupply" > wrote in message
...
>> Is it just me, or do MP3 encoded files sound like phase-shifting crap to
>> anyone else as well? Sometimes I wish I had never noticed how the
>> compression sounds, because now, all I can hear is the distortion, and I
>> can't really enjoy what's left of the music.
>>
>> I'm wondering if it might be the codec that's used to create each file,
>and
>> if there are better and worse sounding ones...
>>
>
>It depends on the encode. If you get into the higher encode rate (320kb,
>etc.) and a good encoder like LAME and it can sound pretty much like the
>original CD with only about 10-percent more size than the standard 128k MP3.

OK, it must be the "etc" (aka "yada yada yada) that I don't understand
- how can a 320kb/s file be only 10% bigger than a 128kb/s file?


Tony (remove the "_" to reply by email)

[John]

>From: Tony
>Date: 7/21/2004 6:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 08:54:43 GMT, "Ricky W. Hunt"
> wrote:
>
>>"GiftSupply" > wrote in message
...
>>> Is it just me, or do MP3 encoded files sound like phase-shifting crap to
>>> anyone else as well? Sometimes I wish I had never noticed how the
>>> compression sounds, because now, all I can hear is the distortion, and I
>>> can't really enjoy what's left of the music.
>>>
>>> I'm wondering if it might be the codec that's used to create each file,
>>and
>>> if there are better and worse sounding ones...
>>>
>>
>>It depends on the encode. If you get into the higher encode rate (320kb,
>>etc.) and a good encoder like LAME and it can sound pretty much like the
>>original CD with only about 10-percent more size than the standard 128k MP3.
>
>OK, it must be the "etc" (aka "yada yada yada) that I don't understand
>- how can a 320kb/s file be only 10% bigger than a 128kb/s file?
>
>

No, I don't think it's the yadda yadda... Maybe he left a zero off. A 320
kbps file vs. a 128 kbps is about 100% bigger.
-John Vice
www.summertimestudios.com