128 kbps vs. 320kbps

[club80]

There has been a lot of discussion about the quality of mp3 files lately. I can convert a 128kbps file to a 320kbps file easily using a software program called Switch.
Here's where I need technical help. Am I really converting the file to a higher quality file? Is there a difference in sound quality between my converted file and a MP3 that was converted directly into a 320kbps file from vinyl or tape?
Any light any of you expert techies can shed on the topic would be much appreciated.

We didn't sell a lot of records, but somehow we left an impression.
-Johnny Ramone-

[MARV]

You're better off using the original source material to create the 320 kbps file. Going from 128 to 320 will garner you zero improvement. In fact, you're actually making a worse file.

An mp3 is a compressed format. You'd be taking a compressed file and using it to make another compressed file. Think of a photocopy machine, and reducing a photograph to 50% and then taking that copy to make another one at 125%. It may be bigger but the quality is worse.

<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y271/marvymarv/?action=view¤t=tick.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y271/marvymarv/tick.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[eight6]

[quote]Originally posted by club80
[br]There has been a lot of discussion about the quality of mp3 files lately. I can convert a 128kbps file to a 320kbps file easily using a software program called Switch.
Here's where I need technical help. Am I really converting the file to a higher quality file?
[/quote]

Agree with what marv said.


Of course, none of this applies if you are converting any AFTC song. These can only be improved by fashioning them into a crumpled heap ready for deposit into a garbage can.

[club80]

[quote][i]Originally posted by mar¡Ì[/i]
<br>You're better off using the original source material to create the 320 kbps file. Going from 128 to 320 will garner you zero improvement. In fact, you're actually making a worse file.

An mp3 is a compressed format. You'd be taking a compressed file and using it to make another compressed file. Think of a photocopy machine, and reducing a photograph to 50% and then taking that copy to make another one at 125%. It may be bigger but the quality is worse.

<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y271/marvymarv/?action=view¡èt=tick.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y271/marvymarv/tick.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
[/quote]

Thanks, Marv!
That helps tremendously.

We didn't sell a lot of records, but somehow we left an impression.
-Johnny Ramone-

[club80]

[quote][i]Originally posted by eight6[/i]
<br>[quote]Originally posted by club80
[br]There has been a lot of discussion about the quality of mp3 files lately. I can convert a 128kbps file to a 320kbps file easily using a software program called Switch.
Here's where I need technical help. Am I really converting the file to a higher quality file?
[/quote]

Agree with what marv said.


Of course, none of this applies if you are converting any AFTC song. These can only be improved by fashioning them into a crumpled heap ready for deposit into a garbage can.

[/quote]

Well, of course, but I already excluded AFTC from any consideration when I used the word "quality".


We didn't sell a lot of records, but somehow we left an impression.
-Johnny Ramone-

[obs]

[i]> You're better off using the original source material to create the 320 kbps file. Going from 128 to 320 will garner you zero improvement. In fact, you're actually making a worse file.

An mp3 is a compressed format.[/i]


It's not that MP3s are compressed; the key is that it is a [b]lossy[/b] compression (as in loss of quality).



[i]> Is there a difference in sound quality between my converted file and a MP3 that was converted directly into a 320kbps file from vinyl or tape?[/i]

If you're going to digitize vinyl/cassettes, what I recommend that you do is to archive it in a [b]lossless[/b] format, such as FLAC (or you can keep it as an uncompressed file). With a modern computer, it takes very little time to convert FLAC -> MP3, and it's as good as creating the MP3s from the original source.

With data storage being so cheap, there's really no reason why your music shouldn't be archived in a lossless format, then converted to MP3, or whatever the format will be in the future.

[club80]

Thanks obs. That's very helpful.

We didn't sell a lot of records, but somehow we left an impression.
-Johnny Ramone-