I'm sure many of us occasionally use the simple method of Real-time recording from a stream site such as Lastfm, myspace and so on.
This usually results in a wav file which can then be saved.

Presuming the bitrate of the stream is 128kbps (for example). If we then re-save our wav file as a 128kbps mp3 will this degrade the quality of the recording further or will its original integrity stay intact.

In other words by re-saving the file back to 128kbps we will incur no more degradation since the process will be looking to remove the same data that had already been removed.

A similar scenario arises when putting an mp3 into an audio editor. The editor often expands the file to wav which we can then edit and re-save. Does it matter if the file is resaved to it's original mp3 bitrate?

I've never been sure on this issue and tend to resave the file as a flac or large mp3 (320kb) to ensure minimum loss..

does anyone have knowledge on this?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012-08-21 01:08 by rumple21.

Encoding in mp3 will result in quality degrading whatever the source and whatever the bitrate.
Reencoding in a lossless format such as FLAC or ALAC will not result in any loss of quality.
Hope it helps.

Using this little freeware spectrum analyzer.

[spek-project.org]

I checked a 128kbps file before expanding it into an editor (as a wav) then re-encoded it back to a 128kbps file. In fact it did seem to incur a little loss in the process. If I saved it as a 192 or higher then no loss occured.
So the point of this would be to always save at a higher bitrate than the original to minimize loss. And make sure to label the file with it's original br.

I have been trying to figure out forever how on earth to download onto disc some concerts that stream on artists websites, or playlists that one would make up on Spotify. I know there has to be a way to do it, I just don't know how!!

Quote
VoodooLounge13
I have been trying to figure out forever how on earth to download onto disc some concerts that stream on artists websites, or playlists that one would make up on Spotify. I know there has to be a way to do it, I just don't know how!!

Very easy VoodooLounge13...download Freecorder (with the Freecorder Community Toolbar). It is a free download and it will embed itself into your Browser. This program has the ability to record whatever sound is playing on your PC/Laptop. If you stream music from YouTube or MySpace you simply enable the Freecorder Toolbar (you can have it disabled until you need it) click "Record" and it will record the music playing in your computer into 128 KBit/sec. MP3's which you then can decode into WAVE files and burn onto a CD or DVD, or -- if you have a car stereo that can play MP3 CD's or even a Memo Stick (as I have) or you like to listen to music files directly from your computer -- you simply play the music directly as MP3 files. Try it...it is a fantastic tool...