Poor quality MP3

Danhill · Jul 2, 2004, 01:56 AM

I've downloaded a Metallica show from livemetallica.com in MP3 format (128 k) for 9,99$.

There wasn't a option to listen to a sample from the show, showing how bad quality it really was, so I'm a bit disappointed with my purchase.

My question is: Is there a tool or a program that can improve the quality of MP3??

grog · Jul 2, 2004, 02:25 AM

You can not up-sample to improve quality. Just wont work.

You could use something like "Sound Forge XP" to remove some types of spectral quality issues.

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.co...ct.asp?PID=668

Sony owns the product now but if you have a Sound Blaster Live MP3+ card setting around the CD has the older 4.0 or 4.5 version on it.
Runs fine with WinXP and does not require the Sound Blaster Live card to be used. A lot cheaper than the $400.00 for version 7.0.

You can do spectral changes to the sound content which might make it sound better. Removing background noise etc...

Greg

Danhill · Jul 2, 2004, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by grog
You can not up-sample to improve quality. Just wont work.

You could use something like "Sound Forge XP" to remove some types of spectral quality issues.

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.co...ct.asp?PID=668

Sony owns the product now but if you have a Sound Blaster Live MP3+ card setting around the CD has the older 4.0 or 4.5 version on it.
Runs fine with WinXP and does not require the Sound Blaster Live card to be used. A lot cheaper than the $400.00 for version 7.0.

You can do spectral changes to the sound content which might make it sound better. Removing background noise etc...

Greg

Thanks alot Greg, I'll try the trial version when I get home.

Danhill · Jul 2, 2004, 03:21 AM

Hi

I tried the program out a little here on work (yeah I know I'm a bad employee) but man it's difficult for my small brain.

Isn't there a program that has some kind of wizard or maybe some simpler program??

germanjulian · Jul 2, 2004, 03:42 AM

even if you do make it better it will still sound bloddy awful at 128kps. they shouldnt even sell it. my telephone ringtone is better then 128kps (joke) but seriously 128kps is AWFUL to say the least with mp3.

Danhill · Jul 2, 2004, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by germanjulian
even if you do make it better it will still sound bloddy awful at 128kps. they shouldnt even sell it. my telephone ringtone is better then 128kps (joke) but seriously 128kps is AWFUL to say the least with mp3.

Yeah, I agree with you, think it's the first and last time I download from livemetallica.

**dj_stick** · Jul 2, 2004, 06:05 AM

for decent quality audio - nothing really beats the CD itself, or a full size .wav file (44,100hz/16bit)… but those files are huge (~10Mb per minute)
try at least 360KB/S… it also depends on what the file was encoded with - the lame 2.92(?) is the best MP3 encoder around

EDIT: btw you may want to ignore me

i use WMA9 @ 64KB/S

Danhill · Jul 2, 2004, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dj_stick
for decent quality audio - nothing really beats the CD itself, or a full size .wav file (44,100hz/16bit)… but those files are huge (~10Mb per minute)
try at least 360KB/S… it also depends on what the file was encoded with - the lame 2.92(?) is the best MP3 encoder around

EDIT: btw you may want to ignore me i use WMA9 @ 64KB/S

Well there was not much I could have done, they had the songs in MP3 128 k, and it sounds awful.

Is'nt there something I can do??

BTW, I have lots of 128 k MP3 thats sound OK, but this one......

**dj_stick** · Jul 2, 2004, 06:50 AM

as i said… its the encoder format they used i guess… lowest quality settings at 128 most likely… email me the track (i'll pm you my email) and i will see what i can do

Danhill · Jul 2, 2004, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dj_stick
as i said… its the encoder format they used i guess… lowest quality settings at 128 most likely… email me the track (i'll pm you my email) and i will see what i can do

Very nice of you as always, I'll send it to you tonight.

Thanks

**dj_stick** · Jul 2, 2004, 08:08 AM

no worries

Logla · Jul 2, 2004, 01:26 PM

they wouldn't be MP3Pro encoded by any chance?

MP3pros play back through the normal mp3 codec but sound crap as a result as a lot (approx 1/2 I think) of the sound out.

Do they sound like the treble is all muffled or mixed up and the overall track sounds flat by any chance.

BTW - if this is the case, good luck finding the pro codec - very expensive.

Danhill · Jul 2, 2004, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Logla
they wouldn't be MP3Pro encoded by any chance?

MP3pros play back through the normal mp3 codec but sound crap as a result as a lot (approx 1/2 I think) of the sound out.

Do they sound like the treble is all muffled or mixed up and the overall track sounds flat by any chance.

BTW - if this is the case, good luck finding the pro codec - very expensive.

I really don't have a clue Logla, I dowloaded it from livemetallica.com and payed for it, at least they could have some sample of some kind to listen to it before paying for the show to then find out that the songs were of crappy quality.