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Topic: 128 ABR EAC? (Read 4440 times) previous topic - next topic
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128 ABR EAC?

Okay, newbie alert and all that, but...

I am filling up my IPOD and all that jazz, and I want decent quality but I don't have high-end headphones or stereo speakers or anything like that so 128 MP3 is usually acceptable for my portable purposes.

So, I gather that EAC is the ripper of choice and I install that using the HydrogenAudio presets but I select Low Quality for ABR 128.

But, all the files it produces are somewhere in the 122-124 range. Is this normal for 128 ABR or should I tweak something else to get slightly better quality but with the same (relatively small) file size?

And now you may flame.
I think something went wrong and now I own a blind camel.

128 ABR EAC?

Reply #1 –
Quote from: rlbest on
Okay, newbie alert and all that, but...

I am filling up my IPOD and all that jazz, and I want decent quality but I don't have high-end headphones or stereo speakers or anything like that so 128 MP3 is usually acceptable for my portable purposes.

So, I gather that EAC is the ripper of choice and I install that using the HydrogenAudio presets but I select Low Quality for ABR 128.

But, all the files it produces are somewhere in the 122-124 range. Is this normal for 128 ABR or should I tweak something else to get slightly better quality but with the same (relatively small) file size?

And now you may flame.

Yes, it is normal, ABR is not CBR (constant bit rate).
BTW, try to use NeroAACEnc. At the same bitrate quality is higher.
More informations on this site.

128 ABR EAC?

Reply #3 –
Quote from: rlbest on
But, all the files it produces are somewhere in the 122-124 range. Is this normal for 128 ABR or should I tweak something else to get slightly better quality but with the same (relatively small) file size?

You shouldn't be so concerned about numbers, but rather about how the music sounds to you. Average bitrates of VBR and ABR encoded files will (in most cases normally) fluctuate depending upon the style/dynamics of the music (moreso with VBR). 4-6 kbps under target is practically nothing. If you'd rather obsess about a number than sound quality, choose CBR.

128 ABR EAC?

Reply #4 –
Wow man, I can't see why you'd go to the bother of using EAC and then rip in +/- 128k mp3. If  you need a low bitrate at least use AAC, and honestly give iTunes a shot if you're using an ipod.

128 ABR EAC?

Reply #5 –
Quote from: loophole on
Wow man, I can't see why you'd go to the bother of using EAC and then rip in +/- 128k mp3. If  you need a low bitrate at least use AAC, and honestly give iTunes a shot if you're using an ipod.


At 128k VBR, LAME and iTunes AAC tied in the last listening test, so I don't think thats true.

128 ABR EAC?

Reply #6 –
Yes, at 128k VBR - he is using ABR which uses a different bitrate allocation method.
 

128 ABR EAC?

Reply #7 –
Interesting. So, does the Itunes encoder work fine for 128 AAC? I was worried about compatability in the future, but I think Sony just announced they would support AAC now. So there you go.
I think something went wrong and now I own a blind camel.

128 ABR EAC?

Reply #8 –
Quote from: rlbest on
Interesting. So, does the Itunes encoder work fine for 128 AAC? I was worried about compatability in the future, but I think Sony just announced they would support AAC now. So there you go.
iTunes works fine, Nero does too.  I personally prefer Nero, but it's your call.