Daniel, If you get any answers back with info that explains any of this MP/3W MA stuff, I would greatly appreciate if you would send a copy my way. I can tell that you already are light years a head of me when it comes to understanding this stuff. Smile
Thanks Shannon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Yardbird" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "PC-Audio" <Pc-audio@pc-audio.org> Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2005 12:39 AM Subject: Understanding and comparing compression formats > I've just been learning how to rip music from CDs to my hard drive using > several different programs, and the one that interests me most at present is > Windows Media Player because of the variety of formats it offers. > > As I explore and test these formats, one thing confuses me: You can rip > Windows Media Audio files about six different ways, not counting the > lossless option. Now, I'm aware that .mp3 ripping can be adjusted to use > bit rates higher than the default 128 in order to restore a little of the > information that a lower bit rate strips out. > > but understanding that is simple compared to the range of .wma options. > Here's the main thing that puzzles me. In the WMP menu for setting your rip > options, there are *two* sets of .wma options, each with its own range of > sound quality level. > > First is the .wma choice that uses a slider to provide you with,as I recall, > three levels of sound quality. I've ripped the same track with all three, > and not only listened to them-- the differences are audible to me, although > pretty subtle compared to the difference between any of them and a less > compressed lossless or uncompress .wav version. Still, for saving space, I > appreciate the compression, so I remain interested. > > Okay. So the smallest .wma sound quality level creates a really small file, > much smaller than the same tune ripped to .mp3. And it doesn't sound any > worse than the .mp3, was my impression. The next higher levels create > larger files, with the highest quality level creating a file for any given > track that's about the same size as a 192 bit rate .mp3. If I go this way, > I'd suppose that's the method I'd use, so you get a little better sound > quality than an .mp3 for the same file size. > > But then, right beneath this on that menu, there's a variable bit rate .wma > option, again set by a slider, but this time starting at 0 per cent and > going up. Zero per cent of what? And, more to the point, if this has to do > with changing bit rates (doesn't the other method, I wonder? How else would > you change quality except by varying the bit rate?) where are the > indications for *what* bit rate this slider takes you through? > > So that's it. I'm really wondering about this stuff as I try to settle on a > preferred rip method to set for my usual use. Does anyone understand > whatever it is I'm not getting about these two adjustable .ma formats? Is > there anywhere to read a simple primer about them? I don't feel the need to > do research if someone can just explain what it is I'm not understanding. > But just in case there's some online information about this that would > clarify it all, that would be fine, too. > > Thanks, > Daniel > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.5 - Release Date: 5/4/2005 > > > _______________________________________________ > PC-Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... > http://www.pc-audio.org > > To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ PC-Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... http://www.pc-audio.org To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
