Just curious to see what everyone else is doing, including the encoder and codec you use.
I'll start: AAC 320k VBR encoded with iTunes on Windows 10.
I'll start: AAC 320k VBR encoded with iTunes on Windows 10.
FLAC CD images for archive and anything that'll take them (e.g., the Logitech Squeezebox).
Apple Lossless (ALAC) for the iPod Classic in the car.
MP3 high-quality VBR for the phone any anything else where storage is a premium. (Though I'm considering dumping these for AAC transcodes from the aforementioned FLACs.)
It sounds like a lot, but it all still comes in at less than a TB.
Apple Lossless (ALAC) for the iPod Classic in the car.
MP3 high-quality VBR for the phone any anything else where storage is a premium. (Though I'm considering dumping these for AAC transcodes from the aforementioned FLACs.)
It sounds like a lot, but it all still comes in at less than a TB.
ALAC but with a secondary library with 320kbps AACs for portability. The ALACs using XLD and the AACs in Apple Music.
I rip my CDs using iTunes, so I use "lossless" in the iTunes import settings (I still try to buy as many CDs as I can, I like owning a physical copy of my content).
Any files I buy digitally I get WAV or similar and then convert in iTunes if needed.
I then move those files onto my NAS for home use (I use an iPad app to access the NAS, & use an Airport Express connected via optical to my 2.1 system to stream), and onto a 2020 iPod Touch 256GB (almost full) for my car system.
Any files I buy digitally I get WAV or similar and then convert in iTunes if needed.
I then move those files onto my NAS for home use (I use an iPad app to access the NAS, & use an Airport Express connected via optical to my 2.1 system to stream), and onto a 2020 iPod Touch 256GB (almost full) for my car system.
Lossless for archive and the ability to rip down at a later date (download in FLAC, tag by hand and convert to ALAC, add to iTunes), and 192 AAC for portability. 320 is the worst possible option, as it's still not lossless (so can't re-rip it later), but the biggest file size for zero audible difference (I flat refuse to believe anyone can accurately ABX a quality ~192 rip from lossless outside of specialized circumstances with special tracks deliberately selected to do so, and my car/living room/office/etc are not these things).
Current process:
I'm under no illusion that I can actually differentiate between CDs ripped to FLAC or to relatively high-bitrate MP3 (given my hearing, the equipment I have, and the environments I listen in), but considering the cost of storage it's no big deal to just go lossless from the start to reduce the chance that I'll have to re-rip in the future (again).
- Rip to FLAC. I can currently do CD, Blu-ray Audio, DVD-A, SACD, Vinyl, and Cassette. I have a couple MiniDisc, reel-to-reel spools, and 8-track tapes, but no equipment to use them with.
- Tag with foobar2k's built-in editor (including ReplayGain info).
- Storage in a pretty standard hierarchy on my PC. That's mirrored to a central backup on my home server. My Plex server grabs its own copy from there.
- Most listening is through Plexamp, and any music I download to my phone or tablet (so I don't have to waste cell data streaming) is automatically transcoded down to 256 Kbps Opus format by Plex.
I'm under no illusion that I can actually differentiate between CDs ripped to FLAC or to relatively high-bitrate MP3 (given my hearing, the equipment I have, and the environments I listen in), but considering the cost of storage it's no big deal to just go lossless from the start to reduce the chance that I'll have to re-rip in the future (again).
Generally, I use the iTunes Plus setting: AAC 256k VBR. If I'm ripping something that I think I will ever need to reencode, or something like a giant box set that is arduous to rip and I want to be sure I never have to do it again, I'll use ALAC.
That said, the vast majority of music purchases these days are Bandcamp downloads. I use their AAC option most of the time.
That said, the vast majority of music purchases these days are Bandcamp downloads. I use their AAC option most of the time.
I’m trying to remember the last time I purchased a CD or a digital file and can’t even remember. All streaming for me for the past 5 years or so.
It's been a while since I purchased a CD (that didn't also include digital download). But back in the day, I used to rip to FLAC for archival, and 192kbps mp3 for portable purposes. Digital downloads nowadays seem to be even higher than that usually, so I don't bother any more. I distinctly remember being able to hear artifacts in 160kbps mp3s, at least with the encoders (and ears) circa 2001. Encoders have probably gotten better since then, and my ears have doubtless gotten worse.
mp3 is a pretty bad encoder, but rose to prominence from the "can include it anywhere without licensing hoops" nature of it. It's universal, not quality.
Wrakkenruan
Ars Praefectus
VBR2, -alt preset extreme to mp3, so min 192 kbps to 320 kpbs, via CDex -- voted "other"
My CD collection is ripped to Apple Lossless on my master computer library, and then 256k AAC transcode on transfer to mobile devices. These days, I generally just buy music from iTunes. I find that 256k AAC with a good source and encoding is quite satisfactory for me.
I have never encoded any music. I am not very musical and have never made any music to encode.
Storage is basically free. A FLAC file is 40-100 MB and a quick look around FLACs here give me an average bit rate of 1030 kbps, almost a nice round 128 kB per second.
My oldest, smallest, SSD can fit 500 hours of FLAC. The smallest HDD I have in current service can fit 4,000 hours.
Go FLAC or go home.
My oldest, smallest, SSD can fit 500 hours of FLAC. The smallest HDD I have in current service can fit 4,000 hours.
Go FLAC or go home.
Rip -> FLAC -> Ogg Vorbis ~256kb/s when I can choose on the target platform. I have some dedicated music players that can take a MicroSD card, but only up to about 128GB.
Or Rip -> FLAC -> Mp3 ~320kb/s when it's something stupid that won't play Vorbis/FLAC.
But Vorbis is VBR by default, and I choose VBR for MP3 with a 320kb/s sound quality target, so both are transparent.
Either way I still have my FLACkup and the physical copy (where applicable).
Or Rip -> FLAC -> Mp3 ~320kb/s when it's something stupid that won't play Vorbis/FLAC.
But Vorbis is VBR by default, and I choose VBR for MP3 with a 320kb/s sound quality target, so both are transparent.
Either way I still have my FLACkup and the physical copy (where applicable).
I have enough music that storage isn't free (did college radio back in the day so I have an embarrassing number of movie soundtracks alone), especially if I want it on solid state, which I do, since I don't need hard drives spinning up at home every time Plex calls for a random song.
So 320 VBR. Some of the older stuff is at 320 CBR though because I had a player where it would display the current bit rate and for VBRs it was basically strobing different numbers which was annoying.
So 320 VBR. Some of the older stuff is at 320 CBR though because I had a player where it would display the current bit rate and for VBRs it was basically strobing different numbers which was annoying.
Lossless for me, from CDs that I rip myself.
First, I'm mostly using Plex on a NAS, so storage isn't a problem. I do the ripping with Music (ex-iTunes) simply because it's good at keeping files organized just as Plex needs them.
Second, I have a very good setup in my living room, and studio monitors in my office, so more often than not I find myself listening to music on gear that warrant a good quality source.
First, I'm mostly using Plex on a NAS, so storage isn't a problem. I do the ripping with Music (ex-iTunes) simply because it's good at keeping files organized just as Plex needs them.
Second, I have a very good setup in my living room, and studio monitors in my office, so more often than not I find myself listening to music on gear that warrant a good quality source.
When I listen to MP3s (and music, generally), it's in an environment that is noisy (in the car, mowing the yard, exercising).
I just use whatever preset LAME likes. Ends up being about 1 MB per minute.
I have all the CDs in a box, if I ever want to go lossless.
I just use whatever preset LAME likes. Ends up being about 1 MB per minute.
I have all the CDs in a box, if I ever want to go lossless.
At whatever bitrate Spotify streams it to me at.
FLAC for all my CDs that I rip. I did MP3 at 160 kb/s for portability, but nowadays I'd probably pick Opus or AAC at 128 kb/s for what I'd throw on my phone.
FLAC for all my CDs that I rip. I did MP3 at 160 kb/s for portability, but nowadays I'd probably pick Opus or AAC at 128 kb/s for what I'd throw on my phone.
The LAME and Fraunhofer MP3 encoders are very good. Yes, there are known faults with certain sound patterns. It basically had the good fortune of hitting exactly the right balance of sound quality and file size and ability to be embedded into hardware at a time at the right prices when digital music took off in popularity. AAC, Vorbis, and Opus have displaced MP3 in a lot of areas, but it's still popular nonetheless.
Ogg Vorbis Q5, which is nominally 160kbps, but it's really VBR. I transcode to ~64kbps for portables (it all sounds the same standing next to the wood chipper).
If I have to use an MP3 (for instance, neither of my cars with usb slots will play flac), I convert the flac file to a high quality mp3 (I use MusicBee) and that gives me a lets say 9 meg sized track (give or take) that happens to be 320. What should I be using instead of maximum quality for export; maximum maximum quality
If I have to use an MP3 (for instance, neither of my cars with usb slots will play flac), I convert the flac file to a high quality mp3 (I use MusicBee) and that gives me a lets say 9 meg sized track (give or take) that happens to be 320. What should I be using instead of maximum quality for export; maximum maximum quality
A V2 ~190 rip, because the file size will be dramatically smaller for zero perceptible audio difference (especially especially in a car!!!).
I think that comment was directed more at those that are using 320 kbps for permanent storage rather than converting their lossless files to 320 for the road.
Which is a different kind of crazy. It's not like you're going to be able to tell the difference in the kind of listening environment your car provides.
It's probably not a problem with modern encoders, and especially since I'm a good 50% older than I was when I started converting everything "seriously." But back in the day, I absolutely could hear a difference between the middling presets and the source material on CD, even in a car (the mp3 files introduced a lot of distortion in the busy parts of a song). Even today, I still hear a lot of hot garbage when someone splices a clip from a song into a podcast to act as a bridge or transition (or worse, a music review!) and encodes the whole file at a lower bitrate like 128kb/s.
I've got a car whose stereo only has a CD player and an AUX jack (which doesn't play at nearly the same loudness). It can, however, read MP3 cds. At ~320kb/s VBR, I can fit nearly 100 songs onto a disc and it all sounds awesome. It's also a manageable density for seeking between tracks in a folder (usually about 20-25). The improvement to storage density for 192/256 doesn't matter very much, in fact it would make it more difficult to change to a certain track quickly, and I like to avoid the sound distortion entirely. Even in a car.
I've got a car whose stereo only has a CD player and an AUX jack (which doesn't play at nearly the same loudness). It can, however, read MP3 cds. At ~320kb/s VBR, I can fit nearly 100 songs onto a disc and it all sounds awesome. It's also a manageable density for seeking between tracks in a folder (usually about 20-25). The improvement to storage density for 192/256 doesn't matter very much, in fact it would make it more difficult to change to a certain track quickly, and I like to avoid the sound distortion entirely. Even in a car.
...which is achieved, trivially, at a V2 / ~190 rip. The rest of the criteria, have at it, but this is a hill I will die on. It's incredibly challenging to ABX a V2 from any higher bitrate encoding even in the best of specialized circumstances, and that assumes you have young, fresh ears bursting with auditory potential.
I've seen Monty's videos and blog posts, I understand the evidence.
I'm just doing things differently because I don't have to constantly re-evaluate and strictly optimize every facet of my life. I can barely keep up with the stuff I do track.
I'm just doing things differently because I don't have to constantly re-evaluate and strictly optimize every facet of my life. I can barely keep up with the stuff I do track.
All your other criteria is personal choice that I have no quibble with
. It's references to perceptible audio quality that stick out like splinters .
Are you encoding a lot of edge case stuff, or is the general claim that FLAC averages 50% compression a lie? 50% should be about 700 kbps.
Brief anecdata: I tried to do a quick tally of all the CD-quality (i.e., 44.1Khz/16-bit) music in my library encoded to FLAC*. Roughly 8,800 tracks, and it looks to average out at around 860kbps, with a high just under 1,200kbps (very loud/noisy rock) and lows over 300kbps (very clean/simple piano solos).
I generally encode using the highest compression level (because: large library, no concerns about CPU power or battery life).
* There are a handful of 24-bit or 48Khz tracks in there (didn't know how to quickly filter those out in foobar2k), but it's <3% of the sample.
That's something I need to look into... I haven't tuned the FLAC encoder at all and I actually selected something I didn't encode myself (The Witcher 3 Soundtrack) just for that reason!
About the same here. A random sampling of mine (those that happen to be in the Squeezebox's random playlist) shows a range of ~700-1000 kbps (all CD rips at highest compression).
The ALACs that I rip come out about the same, given that the directory size is roughly the same size as that for FLACs.
FLAC on the NAS. I can tell the difference between FLAC and lower quality (<192) mp3s on my setup. I do upload most of my music to youtube music for listening on the go and at work. Occasionally I'll transcode some stuff for use elsewhere, I was quite impressed to see the transcode speed up at like 500x a ways back (modern CPUs, yo).