OT: MP3 Conversion Sound Like Cr*p When Streamed

I'm not sure this is even going to get any replies, but I guess I just don't know where to start. I use Sonar for recording and mixing. I use Sound Forge for editing and WaveLab for mastering. I can get things to sound as good as I want when I take my time.
 
I just joined Taxi and there is a popular way to submit tunes online via uploading your tracks in MP3. I used the MP3 codec in WaveLab to convert my 24/96 wav file of my tracks to MP3 and use the highest MP3 quality Taxi allows BUT when I listen to the streaming MP3 tracks uploaded to my profile, I think they sound like cr*p.
 
Does anyone have any advice on this? I don't feel like I can fork the $ out to upgrade WL to the most current version 'cause my version doesn't count for an upgrade and the full price is $500 big ones US--per Steinberg.
 
What do you use to convert your tracks to MP3 that you like?
 
Hey, thanks. I guess I'm a little discouraged. I don't want to go through the hassle of mailing in CDs if I don't have to. I'm waiting to hear back from the Taxi forum. One person suggested something but they seem to be Mac or PT users.

Cactus Music


Go to my sound cloud account and listen, see what you think, I use both Sonar and Wave lab 5 too. I found that if I convert to 160 they seem to leave those alone, But most web sites will re encode and that might be what trashes stuff. It's like they are expecting a wave file. 
But Wave labs encoding is as good as it gets. There are a bunch of options I use LAME Enc 160 highest quality setting. If it's not for posting I go to 320kbps. 
Upgrading wave lab would not change anything. 

Very good info--thanks much. Taxi has a max, and I don't know what it is right off the bat, but I want to say 128k. Whatever their max is that's wht I did. I only convert to MP3 for posting because I prefer the quality of wav.
 
I'm using WL 4 and even though someone on one of their forums also said I can upgrade for no cost, I got an answer directly from Steinberg that I have to buy the full version--probably because my version is so old.
 
Glad to hear you say WL MP3 codecs are good. I may just have to hone my skills.
 
 
Thanks again!

Download fre:ac from http://www.freac.org/

It has a great front-end for the Lame MP3 encoder that will let you get a really good sounding 128bit MP3 if you spend some time adjusting the settings for the encoder.

Regards,
Dan

dcumpian


Download fre:ac from http://www.freac.org/

It has a great front-end for the Lame MP3 encoder that will let you get a really good sounding 128bit MP3 if you spend some time adjusting the settings for the encoder.

Regards,
Dan

I'll check this out. Thank you. I appreciate it.

I've learned from this and the Taxi forum that my WaveLab MP3 converter is fine. What I mostly learned was that I need to take the same care in listening to my masters in their MP3 format as I do my wav masters. I need to play the MP3 version through multiple different sources like I do my wav files.

If I hear something out of whack in the MP3--well, that's where I need more experience with MP3 mastering. Right now, if I hear something I don't like, I change it in the Sonar mix. The big question is if I hear something wrong with the MP3 but it sounds good in wav, what then? More to learn!

Cactus Music


What is it you hear that is wrong? That's the question. Is it distortion? Is it the mix goes out of balance, The Kick drum disappears? Vocals sound like there in a fish bowl? 

I found this online and think it is worth trying out. It gives specifics for those of us who do our own mastering. It also supports the theory that you can't just convert a good master to MP3 and expect it to sound good--like I used to.
 
http://www.about-audio-mastering-software.com/mastering-for-mp3.html

Good stuff, I didn't know that. I'm probably safe because my songs seem to be fairly low in the hi end when viewed on the spectrograph. But I often set my limiter at 0 on the output. 
My goal lately is that the average peak RMS level is around 12-14 dB.