The problem with MP3 is one of two things: crappy encoders, and
mispreparation of the source material. If you want to have the best
quality MP3s, you have to address those issues.
Wavelab 3.0 has a 'super-high-quality' encoder that runs directly on
24bit wav files. When I mp3 my own material with this and the results
are phenomenal.
As far as mis-preparation goes, normalizing to 0dB (full code) is the
quickest way to make the encoder screw up. It seems OK when I normalize
to -0.03dB. It's also a good idea to compress the audio to raise
the average level to -12dB or so. Quiet material interacts as poorly
with the encoder as overly loud material.
And in general, you'll get better results if you bandwidth limit the
source material -- use a high pass filter set to roll off below 20hz, and
a low pass to roll off about 16khz. The high end rolloff isn't that
damaging to electronic music, but it can potentially make high quality
acoustic recordings sound worse.
Most of the MP3s you hear were either ripped directly from CD by an
'all in one' program that doesn't really accomodate differences in program
material, or recorded analog by amateurs using cheap sound cards. I've
heard MP3s transferred from vinyl where it was obvious that the needle
needed replacing. I've also heard vinyl transfers run through 'vinyl
restoration' filters with extreme noise reduction settings; that is
guaranteed to sound shitty.
A well prepared audio master, run through a good compressor, will not
sound as good as the original, but it should be free of the most obvious
artifacts.
kent williams -- kent@avalon.net
http://jump.to/cornwarning -- Iowa's First Techno Record Label
http://www.mp3.com/chaircrusher -- tunes
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