cassmow

Mono: Use this setting for mono sound files, or to generate mono MP3 files which come from a stereo source.

 

Stereo: Takes the left and right channels of the original audio track and encodes them separately; e.g.: a 128 kbps Stereo encoding is actually two 64 kbps encodings (one for the left channel, one for the right) sandwiched together.

 

Joint-stereo: Rather than encoding the channels separately, joint-stereo encoding tries to find the similarities and differences between the two channels. This method offers improved stereo sound quality.

 

Force stereo: Same as mono, except it makes sure the mono sound is going through both left and right channels.

 

Also please see http://nch.invisionzone.com/index.php?s=&a...post&p=5109 for more information about Joint/Stereo

Thankyou!

Stereo is the best you can get. It is full separation. The two same channels coming in get encoded independently.

 

Joint stereo produces smaller files by looking for frames where there is no (or little) audible separation in the channels. This way it can store only one instance of the info for both channels.

 

In reality there is no difference between the two settings quality-wise, so for a smaller file size you should use joint stereo.

Thanks nchto

Do you know what "force" does?

Cheers

Cass68

Thanks for the swift reply!

I don't know what "Joint" refers to.

Yes, neither do I and the help file doesn't explain it.

If you don't know what bit rate is used for an mp3 file that you wish to work with, you will have no reference for creating a new mp3 file. That is, you will not know, when you set the parameters, whether or not you are creating a new mp3 file that is larger or smaller than the original file which you are converting. As to iTunes, I do not use it and am involved in classical music, for which iTunes is poorly suited.

I know the bit rate of the original file. Basically the situation is this, I use iTunes with my iPod and have most of my CD collection encoded at 192 kbps. I do have some mp3s from work colleagues that have used 128 kbps. I have a vast range of musical genres from classical, to rock, to techno (not too much as it gets boring), dance, world, pop, jazz, soul, etc. I mostly use my iPod when I'm out and about and prefer to play the actual CDs when I'm home. Now I have a new mobile phone that has mp3 playback ability. So I thought I'd download a few but at a smaller file size (accepting that I also have to downgrade bit rate & sound quality - after all it is only a phone). So I've gone to Switch and looked at the encoding options and they really don't give you any explanations there and not much information in the help file. I've looked at their audio file formats sections plus a couple of other websites but I have to admit my search has not been too extensive. I was mostly "put off" when seeing the advanced screen in iTunes and perhaps I misinterpreted it as saying less than 128 kbps was only mono.

Your best bet for more information is to see if you can search it out on the internet. There is a vast amount of information available on the subject of encoding and decoding audio files. I would suggest that you search using the keyword "codec", which stands for code and decode. One thing leads to another, but you may find yourself trapped in a technological maze. The problem is making sense of the wealth of information. When I want to learn something about this business, I just buckle down and keep with it. If I stay with it long enough, I will eventually find the answer

Yes, it becomes so technical that you have to have a phd to know what it all means or at least huge patience to search for the answers. I guess I assumed the people at Switch might've had more detailed information in support of their app.

The perfect example of this dogged determination was my discovery of Microsoft's Windows Media Audio Pro 10 which, for reasons known only to Microsoft, does not seem to have yet made it into general distribution. I got my version of this advanced compression software through the dBpoweramp program, which I knew nothing about until I conducted a detailed search for the file extension .asf, which is one of Microsoft's Great Mysteries.

Wow, sounds like determination!

OF COURSE it is. I receive files over the internet from radio station KUSC in Los Angeles, which come directly to my hard drive in a 96kbs stereo format. I should add that I personally do not believe that 96kbs is a high enough bit rate for excellent classical music quality. That is, there is too much compression, with a quality too severely degraded. But beggars can't be choosers.....I would much prefer a bit rate such as 160kbs, or a more advanced compression technique such as wma, which is capable of excellent results with relatively small file sizes.

Cool, thanks for the info.

If you have something very specific that you want to do, I may be able to help you if there is a problem. But there are no guarantees about this. I am not an expert in this business; I have just used dogged tenacity and experimentation and plodding through a load of information to extract what I want to know.

Gee, thanks heaps for that. I think I'll just play around and see what sound quality I can bear.

Good luck--and ask, but be prepared for less than you would like.

Thanks again

Cass68

Hi Musikone

Do you know where I can find a list of definitions for the encoding options, please? I am familiar with the concepts you wrote about in your reply to MaryWong regarding lossy and file size, etc, but I just can't seem to find any information on exactly what each of the items under the encoding options do.

In particular I'm wondering what is the difference between using Joint and Stereo as well as the various bit rates.

The audio file formats page doesn't describe the bit rates (I'm using mp3 created in iTunes), whereas iTunes (in the advanced/importing section) seems to indicate that less than 128 kbps are mono). Also, the help section doesn't really expand too much on the information.

So, is it not possible to have a 96 kbps bit rate and stereo?

I hope what I have written above is clear. Thanks for your help.

Regards

Cass68

Hi Pepe and fancygirlie

I'm a Mac user too and have successfully downloaded and used Switch.

You need to be familiar with the file structure of Mac. You have a "User" folder and within that you'll find your username, documents, movies, music, pictures, library, etc.

Your music is stored in the music folder and on my machine it is sorted by artist name. When in iTunes you need to be aware of whether or not the song or album is classed as a compilation. If it is, then when navigating into the music folder it may be stored under compilations not the artist name.

If you do not wish to use iTunes to listen to your songs you should be able to play via the "finder". I would suggest change the folder view to column view that way you have the song title on the left and the actual file on the right and you should see the play arrow.

For converting the files to another format or bit rate I would suggest making a copy of the song first (or choosing a new folder as the destination folder) so that if you change your mind you still have your original.

Hope that helps!