converting 128 bit rate to 256 bit rate

Question

Level 1

25 points

converting 128 bit rate to 256 bit rate

Hello all,
my entire library is 128 BR, and I realize that in the future the standard bitrate will be 256. My question is, can I convert my library by selecting all, and converting to 256? Will the quality be better than 128? Or am I going to loose something in the up converting process this way?

Should I take the time and re import from original cd's? (2500 + songs)

Thanks in advance .

imac 20" 2.4ghz 250GB, Mac OS X (10.5.4), 8gb 3g iPhone, AppleTv

Posted on Aug 8, 2008 10:32 PM

Reply

Answer 1

sguerra Author

Level 1

25 points

Aug 8, 2008 10:43 PM in response to sguerra

Sorry, I think I figured it out. I will re import from original cds.

Reply

Answer 2

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Aug 8, 2008 11:00 PM in response to sguerra

My question is, can I convert my library by selecting all, and converting to 256?

You could but the ONLY thing you will do is double the file size. There will be NO improvement quality.

I will re import from original cds.

Exactly!

Reply

Answer 3

sguerra Author

Level 1

25 points

Aug 9, 2008 6:40 AM in response to Chris CA

Chris,

Thanks for the reply. What would happen if I burn an album from 128 to wav file so i could listen to it on any cd player, then imported it back as 256? Still no quality change? This is why I ask, I accedentally deleted my whole library, fortunetly I had most of it backed up on DVDs. I thought this could be a good opportunity for me to evolve to 256.

Is the concept, if I bought an album from itunes at 128, that is best quality it will ever be? The same album bought at "sears", imported at 256 would be better quality? That makes sense.

Reply

Answer 4

Paul Judd

Level 6

13,420 points

Aug 9, 2008 9:05 AM in response to sguerra

sguerra wrote:
Chris,

Thanks for the reply. What would happen if I burn an album from 128 to wav file so i could listen to it on any cd player, then imported it back as 256? Still no quality change? This is why I ask, I accedentally deleted my whole library, fortunetly I had most of it backed up on DVDs. I thought this could be a good opportunity for me to evolve to 256.

Is the concept, if I bought an album from itunes at 128, that is best quality it will ever be? The same album bought at "sears", imported at 256 would be better quality? That makes sense.

Thats exact thing that will happen. Lossy formats (like MP3 or AAC) cannot be improved in any way from their current encoding rate. You already lost the information long ago and you cannot get it back no matter what you do with it.

Reply

Answer 5

Billy W

Level 1

8 points

Sep 23, 2008 4:03 AM in response to Paul Judd

Don't forget coding/decoding artifacts which degrade the information every time that information is either coded or decoded.

Coverting a 256 kbps MP3 to the audio format of a CD, while maybe not reducing the amount of information, will experience artifacts; sound degradation.

Converting that CD back into 256 kbps MP3 will further introduce artifacts BUT ALSO will send the data-cutting MP3 algorithm back over data which was at one point already put through the same algorithm. MP3 squared. Total crap.
<Edited by Moderator>

Reply