File type

[Mayhem 1]

Gentlemen:

what is your favoured type of file to download to your external hard drive? eg:- MP3 or WAV or something else??

Any advice please?

[Mark Wild]

MP3@320 kpbs for me and I think you'll find most of the lads on here use the same, apart from the odd few.

[Daryll]

Yep agree with Mark.
320 kbps if possible , I think Amazon is 256 kbps , but I for one cannot tell the difference in a disco environment , TBH a lot of 60`s material , you could get away with 196 or at a push 128 ( that is the absolute lower limit ) , mainly because of the bandwidth of the original recording .

Daryll

[Mayhem 1]

Many thanks chaps.

That is a great start, thank you muchly :beer1:

[Excalibur]

Download, MP3 320, as stated above. Amazon get slated for using mainly 256, but I can't hear the difference in even lower rates. Some sites are offering WAV files, but I haven't got the storage for them, as I think they're about ten times the size. I also think there's a tagging issue with WAV as well, I seem to remember.

There is a school of thought which says rip ( from your CD's, which wasn't what you asked Garry ) to WAV, keep that as a lossless backup, and batch convert to MP3.

As HD prices plummet, WAV may become more attractive, but I'm more than happy with MP3.

[James]

Flac if you've got the space

Saying that, 90% of mine are at 128, ripped years ago when space was an issue.

[OllieJames]

Most of mine are 320kbps, however some are 256kbps and the odd few are 192kbps.

[Megamix]

I use Apple Lossless, WAV, MP3 (both CBR and VBR) and its hard to tell the difference.
I think the actual production of the original makes the main difference.
For MP3 I choose 320 if poss - but I got some from emusic and they are as low as 100 kbps (VBR) for old mono recordings

[ppentertainments]

I ripped all mine at 320 mp3. Wish now I had done as mentioned by Peter, and ripped to WAV then batch convert to MP3. I just can't face re-ripping the whole lot again.

[Excalibur]

I ripped all mine at 320 mp3. Wish now I had done as mentioned by Peter, and ripped to WAV then batch convert to MP3. I just can't face re-ripping the whole lot again.

As mentioned by, but not his idea. I'm not sure if it's worth it, but it's an option.

Re ripping? Stuff that for a game of soldiers. MP3 at 320 is fine for disco purposes. More than fine.


I use Apple Lossless, WAV, MP3 (both CBR and VBR) and its hard to tell the difference.
I think the actual production of the original makes the main difference.
For MP3 I choose 320 if poss - but I got some from emusic and they are as low as 100 kbps (VBR) for old mono recordings

Exactly. I think the only time the difference in sound quality is noticeable is when using absolute top end hi fi. I've downloaded odd tracks at much lower bitrates, and never had problems with them.

[Mayhem 1]

Wow, thanks very much chaps, all very helpful :beer1: