Realistic-sounding MP3 recordings

[DanS.]

MP3 recordings can provide unusually realistic playback, if made the
right way. You wouldn't believe the degree of "you are there" feeling
you'd get from playing a free download --- unless you actually visit a
certain website and do it. The site address, and an explanation of the
science behind all this, are in an article that just go printed (August
2005) in a music and equipment review magazine, "The Audiophile Voice,"
Vol. 11, Number 1. (If you subscribe, ask to start with that issue,
that has Janis Joplin on the cover.) Info available at

http://audiophilevoice.com/

Generally, the secret of super-realism seems to be that some recordings
(like those downloadable from the URL in the article) happened to be
close-miked and then MP3-encoded at 160 kbps. However, you could
probably do some of this yourself, if you have decent equipment and
carefully read the article. (Also, the reviewers in the "T.A.V."
magazine often describe other super-realistic recordings, available on
specific CDs, when they use them to test loudspeakers, etc.)

[Robert Morein]

"DanS." > wrote in message
oups.com...
> MP3 recordings can provide unusually realistic playback, if made the
> right way. You wouldn't believe the degree of "you are there" feeling
> you'd get from playing a free download --- unless you actually visit a
> certain website and do it. The site address, and an explanation of the
> science behind all this, are in an article that just go printed (August
> 2005) in a music and equipment review magazine, "The Audiophile Voice,"
> Vol. 11, Number 1. (If you subscribe, ask to start with that issue,
> that has Janis Joplin on the cover.) Info available at
>
> http://audiophilevoice.com/
>
> Generally, the secret of super-realism seems to be that some recordings
> (like those downloadable from the URL in the article) happened to be
> close-miked and then MP3-encoded at 160 kbps.

Oh, Bull****. I can hear the difference between pcm and 160 kbs on speech
alone. It isn't pretty.

[DanS.]

Well, I'm not saying the MP3 encoding can't be heard in a fast A/B
comparison. The article just sez that some recordings have unusually
strong cues for the "you are there" illusion, and good MP3 encoding
does not spoil that. (The article starts out by saying it's all an
illusion, anyhow --- of course you are not really there.)

The downloadable file has much more than usual cues of that sort, and
they're still there. Since you don't have the live performance to
compare with, the illlusion is amazingly strong.
DanS.

[Robert Morein]

"DanS." > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Well, I'm not saying the MP3 encoding can't be heard in a fast A/B
> comparison. The article just sez that some recordings have unusually
> strong cues for the "you are there" illusion, and good MP3 encoding
> does not spoil that. (The article starts out by saying it's all an
> illusion, anyhow --- of course you are not really there.)
>
> The downloadable file has much more than usual cues of that sort, and
> they're still there. Since you don't have the live performance to
> compare with, the illlusion is amazingly strong.
> DanS.
>
I can believe that.