What quality is downloaded music

When you download music for free you are happy to settle for MP3 but if paying about £1 per track what quality (file type) do you get?

[TSM]

I would like at least 192kbps CBR or a high quality VBR file.

Originally Posted by TSM

I would like at least 192kbps CBR or a high quality VBR file.

Aren't these both compressed formats

Yes they're compressed, but the higher the bitrate the less compression, and audio "artefacts" will be less too.

I certainly wouldn't pay £1 a track, http://www.allofmp3.com tends to be a little controversial but the price is right and you can select the quality.

196 is okay but nowhere near audio CD standards. 128 is listenable to, but you'll definitely notice audio artefacts in the higher frequencies (that's of course if you've a sensitive ear). If I were paying for a download I wouldn't want it less than 256 bit.


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Originally Posted by jonboy

Yes they're compressed, but the higher the bitrate the less compression, and audio "artefacts" will be less too.

I certainly wouldn't pay £1 a track, http://www.allofmp3.com tends to be a little controversial but the price is right and you can select the quality.

196 is okay but nowhere near audio CD standards. 128 is listenable to, but you'll definitely notice audio artefacts in the higher frequencies (that's of course if you've a sensitive ear). If I were paying for a download I wouldn't want it less than 256 bit.


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Thanks Jonboy, but is it possible to download CD quality anywhere apart form a mates disc?

[TSM]

Originally Posted by Chris V

Aren't these both compressed formats

yes, but you are talking about MP3, they are diffrent ways to compress MP3, CBR = Constant Bit Rate, VBR = Variable Bit Rate, CBR will always create a constant file size per min of audio at any given bit rate but if there is too much musical detail then some may get lost thus needing a higher bit rate to store it, down side is that it will still make a large file even if there was no audio in the track as its a Constant Bit Rate, VBR on the other hand is Variable, so it adapts to the music, adjusting the Bit Rate on the fly. In general it creates smaller size files, but sometimes if on max quality can still create larger files than a 192kbps CBR file. I like VBR files as its the best of both worlds, one down side i have found to VBR files is that some players cant determin the length of the track, so it may say 10mins but its actualy only 5mins. Not a major prob though.

If you can download in APE then that is a losless compressable format which is cool.

Originally Posted by Chris V

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Thanks Jonboy, but is it possible to download CD quality anywhere apart form a mates disc?

Yes, look out for FLAC files. Dont know who sells them though.

Dan

Originally Posted by Chris V

Thanks Jonboy, but is it possible to download CD quality anywhere apart form a mates disc?

Well technically, no. But (though it's a much debated subject) I personally don't believe it's possible to tell the difference between the quality of CD audio and MP3 (or Windows Media file) at a bit rate of 320. So if you're able to download at this rate you honestly won't be disappointed.

As for CBR against VBR, again a much argued subject. Personally I'd go for a Constant Bit Rate encoding as then you'll be guaranteed the quality you want, even if the file size is slightly larger.


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Originally Posted by Sudoxe

Dont know who sells them though.

No-one .


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Thanks guys, always an education on this Site