bonsaijodelfisch 328 Posted December 27, 2012 EDIT: hmmn, mp3-tag seems to be broken, or does it actually just play mp3 and can't cope with *.wav? i'll put direct links aswell then sucks... Hi there, since Mp3 bitrates and such are sometimes a pretty hot topic on MonchromeHeaven i decided to put up some direct comparisons for a few samples to let you hear or not hear the differences. to be sure not to have files that have been converted and changed/enhanced/compressed several times over and over i only took recordings that i've made myself to be completely sure of the SignalChain. that way obviously i'm limited in genres and such (for example no electronic-music...) and you have to cope with my terrible guitar+bass-skills, but still it should give a good impression of whatswhat... the order of bitrates is random. Test1: Flute+Harp - A http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7899279/MP3Test ... 0-%20A.wav Flute+Harp - B http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7899279/MP3Test ... 0-%20B.wav Flute+Harp - C http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7899279/MP3Test ... 0-%20C.wav Test2: Guitar - A http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7899279/MP3Test ... 0-%20A.wav Buitar - B http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7899279/MP3Test ... 0-%20B.wav[ Guitar - C http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7899279/MP3Test ... 0-%20C.wav Test3 SaxQuartett - A http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7899279/MP3Test ... 0-%20A.wav SaxQuartett - B http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7899279/MP3Test ... 0-%20B.wav Saxquartett - C http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7899279/MP3Test ... 0-%20C.wav Test4 Mastered Band - A http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7899279/MP3Test ... 0-%20A.wav Mastered Band - B http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7899279/MP3Test ... 0-%20B.wav Mastered Band - C http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7899279/MP3Test ... 0-%20C.wav i have re-converted the mp3-files back to wav to let them have the same filesize+ending, so the quility is slightly worse than the original mp3, but i think that difference is not of major importance here. obviously this isn't really representable, tracks with a more "brickwall"-type of mastering might be more obvious in their quality as is electronic music, so this is just for random fun. whoever wants can just check the files with an analyzer to see the result, for everybody else i'll post the solution in a few days Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeus 7997 Posted December 27, 2012 Since I said I would do this, here we go! Test 1: ZESS VS FLUTES AND HARPS I ran through all three tests. On first listen, test A was very obviously 192. It was much more difficult to tell the difference between 320 and WAV. I'm going to go with B as WAV and C as 320. Results: A - 192 B - WAV C - 320 Test 2: ZESS VS GUITARS Let's see how this goes. Once again, I was very easily able to pick out the 192 from the rest. The other two sound exactly the same though. Exactly the same. Results: A - 192 B - WAV C - 320 Test 3: ZESS VS THE SEX QUARTET This time it's different. Due to the nature of classical-styled music, it's often easier for me to pick out the WAV. This time was no different. A - 320 B - 192 C - WAV Test 4: ZESS VS ZA STUUDIO Mastered recordings is where I tend to do best. Let's see how I do! Like always, the 192 was easy to spot, although this time the WAV was also easy to pick out. There's always one particular instrument to listen for to help you out. Also what is this, it's groovy! A - 320 B - WAV C - 192 There's really only one I was iffy on. Let's see how much of my cred I retain after doing this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Magatsu Posted December 29, 2012 I agree with ZESS, I would say the same. But I also want to say. If you don't listen to the music LOUD. you barley don't hear any difference. At least that's what I did notice with many files. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeus 7997 Posted December 29, 2012 It also helps to listen for certain instruments. It's not that I go around looking for inconsistencies but under certain compression algorithms, some instruments suffer more than others. For example, it's really hard to compress cymbals and still have them sound natural. That's my first hint to you guys Happy listening. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sai 868 Posted December 29, 2012 Well I usually can tell the difference between 192 and 320, but between Lossless and 320? No, I can't hear it at all. I ripped my copy of D's 7th Rose album in both 320 and Lossless and swapped the tracks, not knowing whether I was listening to a Lossless or a 320 rip. I couldn't tell any difference at all. I think it might just be my equipment. Even though my headphones are really good in quality for their price, they don't top Zess $400 headphones in the least. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonsaijodelfisch 328 Posted December 30, 2012 congrats to zess, except for the guitar where he mixed up the wav and 320 it's all spot on otherwise as pretty much expected i just renamed my files and did a blind-test myself and personally i have to say in all honesty that i already have to concentrate pretty hard to even spot the 192 actually whilst between 320 and lossles i can only resort to guessing, maybe because i immediately focus on different production-type values like presumed microphone-placement saturation, reverb, compression (as in audio-compression, not digit-compression) and the likes, but maybe just because i suck at recognizing the aliasing one is also able to "learn" recognizing the aliasing-effects (yup, particular in the cymbals due to their broad-frequency-nature) so here the "official" results FluteHarp: A 192 B wav C 320 Guitar A 192 B 320 C wav Sex-Men A 320 B 192 C wav Band A 320 B wav C 192 ...Also what is this, it's groovy!... why thank you it's just a track that i'm currently working on, but there's plenty more where that came from *shamelessselfplug*viewtopic.php?f=31&t=11574 all downloadable Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeus 7997 Posted December 30, 2012 I knew I mixed those up! Heh, even looking at the frequency they're very similar, so I don't beat myself up over it too much (: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Magatsu Posted January 1, 2013 but this was a truly hard sample. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ito 2438 Posted January 7, 2013 I already have to concentrate pretty hard to even spot the 192 actually whilst between 320 and lossles i can only resort to guessing I swear, I can only really tell the difference when I was reeeeally trying between the 192 and the 320/wav. I got them all, but it really took me a lot of listening and replaying to for sure pick them out. Between the 320 and the wav was impossible, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
