VBR or CBR?

[mysterious]

planetik recommended using Lame with Audiograbber to convert CD's to MP3's. This software works great but now I am a little confused.

I still have a few CD's to convert so I'm not sure which is better CBR 320 or VBR? The difference does not seem too big to me except the VBR file size is a lot smaller.

I have 300 songs on my iPod (3.32gb), some of which are CBR files so I am not too worried about saving space. I prefer quality. So any ideas?

[anisar]

planetik recommended using Lame with Audiograbber to convert CD's to MP3's. This software works great but now I am a little confused.

I still have a few CD's to convert so I'm not sure which is better CBR 320 or VBR? The difference does not seem too big to me except the VBR file size is a lot smaller.

I have 300 songs on my iPod (3.32gb), some of which are CBR files so I am not too worried about saving space. I prefer quality. So any ideas?

easy now rude bwoy, this is my 2nd post on neowin :D In my opinion VBR every time as it does 2 passes & allocates xtra (higher birates) where it is needed most. I personally use AAC to rip now as quality is better & its smaller size & mp4 compatible allowing me to play on my nokia n70 or most mp3/hand held devices. MP4 audio is the way forward, if u want to try ripping to mp4/aac try winamp.

ive never used ipods or similar so dont know if taht works. PZ

[mysterious]

easy now rude bwoy, this is my 2nd post on neowin :D

It's gurl :p

Thanks for the advice. :) I'm not sure about AAC but I think I'll see how the MP4 works... Edit: or are they the same thing?

By the way welcome to neowin :)

[Clear]

planetik recommended using Lame with Audiograbber to convert CD's to MP3's. This software works great but now I am a little confused.

I still have a few CD's to convert so I'm not sure which is better CBR 320 or VBR? The difference does not seem too big to me except the VBR file size is a lot smaller.

I have 300 songs on my iPod (3.32gb), some of which are CBR files so I am not too worried about saving space. I prefer quality. So any ideas?

Ripping MP3 files at 320kbps CBR is the best that the MP3 format has to offer, and thus is the highest quality and the biggest file size. VBR allows for the highest quality at any bitrate (apart from 320kbps CBR) due to it allowing the bitrate to fluxuate and not force into a constant state (CBR).

[Phemo]

I'd go VBR. CBR 320kbps offers the best quality but the difference over VBR shouldn't really be noticeable so you'd just be getting larger files for no real gain.

[Clear]

I'd go VBR. CBR 320kbps offers the best quality but the difference over VBR shouldn't really be noticeable so you'd just be getting larger files for no real gain.

Like Phemo says, go for VBR. I'd personally aim for 192kbps for the MP3 format, but it's really up to you.

[Chris Allen Veteran]

Unless you're taking your iPod to a club with a million dollar sound system, you won't notice (and even if you did you most likely wouldn't notice) any difference.

The only main difference when ripping from CD quality (LOSSLESS) to MP3 (Compressed) is the very very low impedence bass tonnes that you can't really even pick up with the human ear, but can FEEL in a club system. Especially if you're ripping at 320. If you're listening on your little iPod earbuds, you won't notice a difference between CBR and VBR (as long as you are indeed ripping at 320kbps). Now if you were to go from 320 down to 192/128, with good headphones you would notice a difference.

My best option: rip them as VBR so you have more space for more music :)

[DaViD_BRaNDoN]

I always opt for VBR 192 for all my MP3 needs

[planetik]

...

My best option: rip them as VBR so you have more space for more music :)

What he said :p

There should be very, very little difference to NO difference in sound quality, but a lot of difference in sound quality.

PS: NFC, your name doesn't quote properly

[eightequalsd]

I like VBR even though i dont listen to music much, i guess mainly because it saves space over something like 320 CBR. If as you say storage is no issue go for CBR

[gaekwad2]

VBR Quality 2, Joint Stereo, Mode/Method* New using Lame 3.97 is the generally recommended setting to get transparent quality without wasting space. (Actually in most cases Quality 3, 4 or 5 are already good enough.)

*don't know what it's called in English