Answered[Solved] Wave file vs. Mp3

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Sharkbite
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2014/02/16 21:39:25 (permalink)

[Solved] Wave file vs. Mp3

I have read quite a few threads close to this issue but not exact. I am using X3 and my song sounds fine when it's exported to a wave file. But when I export the song to an Mp3,(so it can be loaded onto a music site) one guitar track sounds like the reverb is under water. It not the guitar sound..it sounds like just the reverb is having issues. It is subtle but its enough to annoy me and ruin the effect of the song. Is there a way to isolate the problem?
 
Many thanks,
 
James
post edited by Anderton - 2014/02/18 00:39:02
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    konradh
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/16 23:07:33 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Sharkbite 2014/02/17 20:08:34
    Hey, just a long shot, but are you 100% sure the settings are the same in your export dialog box and everything is checked the same?  I don't know the details about your project, but, just for example, if Live Input were not checked in one case, you may be hearing the reverb bus (return) but not the actual instrument.   Or, if automation is checked in one case and not another, there could be a huge impact on the effect itself and/or on the instrument volume.
     
    Is the reverb in the FX bin, or are you using a Send; and, if it's a Send, is the Post button lit or dark on that Send?

    Konrad
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    Sharkbite
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/16 23:30:07 (permalink)
    Ok thanks, ,let me check that out. Let me see what the deal is with that.
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    brundlefly
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/17 00:23:34 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Sharkbite 2014/02/17 20:08:26
    Some sounds just interact badly with MP3 encoding. A higher bit rate will probably help if you're allowed to upload it. Or try a different reverb or less of it.

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    Bristol_Jonesey
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/17 04:33:43 (permalink) ☼ Best Answerby Sharkbite 2014/02/17 20:58:02
    Sharkbite
    I have read quite a few threads close to this issue but not exact. I am using X3 and my song sounds fine when it's exported to a wave file. But when I export the song to an Mp3,(so it can be loaded onto a music site) one guitar track sounds like the reverb is under water. It not the guitar sound..it sounds like just the reverb is having issues. It is subtle but its enough to annoy me and ruin the effect of the song. Is there a way to isolate the problem?
     
    Many thanks,
     
    James


    In this situation I always use my exported wav to do the conversion to Mp3, using the Lame encoder with Goldwave (free): http://www.fileparade.com...tb_t0rwCFfPItAodsh8Alw

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    tacman7
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/17 09:04:11 (permalink)
    Does your interface have a loopback input?
     
    I had a similar problem in S1 and I just recorded the mix, then soloed the recording and exported to mp3.
     
    #6
    Zig
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/17 17:27:11 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Sharkbite 2014/02/17 20:09:14
    Jonesy +1
    I invariably export as 24 bit wav, then either mp3 it straight via Goldwave or run through r8brain first; never dithering in Sonar on export either.
     I've found the more recent lame incarnations as used by Audacity tend to be too toppy for me by the time the mp3 pops out: I did have a phase of whacking my exported wav with 3dB of treble cut, but to be honest Goldwave does a smashing job with fewer artefacts.

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    #7
    Sharkbite
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/17 20:58:51 (permalink)
    Ok so it looks like Goldwave is the way to go. That did the trick.  Thanks for all of your help.
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    cclarry
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/17 21:14:43 (permalink)
    I was just going to chime it that if you're using the Lame Encoder, it does wreak some havoc on
    material.  When I used it, the sound changed far too much, so I stopped using it altogether.





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    konradh
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/18 00:35:31 (permalink)
    Interesting thread.  I always export wav and then mp3 right from Sonar and it is always fine.  I do them one right after the other so I don't have to change any export settings (or selected ranges in Sonar).  There are additional questions for the mp3--like quality and tags--but that's pretty straightforward.
     
    Glad the problem went away, whatever it was!

    Konrad
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    #10
    Sharkbite
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/18 09:31:31 (permalink)
    I am pretty sure it is directly related to the settings for the mp3. The higher I set it at, the less the underwater sound was there. 4410, 320 lbps seems to be the threshold where it sounds the same as when played on Sonar. If I go any higher, the size is too big to send to anyone in an email and if I go any lower, I can still here the ocean in my song. So having the option to choose when creating an mp3 on Goldwave is the best way to go for me.
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    brundlefly
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/18 10:58:20 (permalink)
    Hey, wait a second, my suggestion solved it, and isn't the "Best Answer? 
     
    Incidentally, SONAR also allows choosing higher bit rates as well as VBR and quality vs. speed of encoding.
     
     
     
     
     

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    Cactus Music
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/18 11:15:22 (permalink)
    And thanks a bunch for reminding me about Goldwave... I've seen you guys mention it before. 
    I have Wave Lab but am soooo pisssed about installing it on a second computer... totally not allowed,,, you will be put in a German prison...    So I downloaded the trial of Goldwave and played with it last night. It does it's moneys worth ( $60can) for sure and for a LIFETIME upgrade. This is a good company and so I will support them from now on. Only feature that it is lacking is the global RMS analyzer which I really use a lot. But for batch conversion, Live stereo recording and mucking about with a wave file,, very good software...  
     
    Much easier way to work than dinking around with Sonar... 

    Johnny V  
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    Sharkbite
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/18 14:03:56 (permalink)
    brundlefly
    Hey, wait a second, my suggestion solved it, and isn't the "Best Answer? 
     
    Incidentally, SONAR also allows choosing higher bit rates as well as VBR and quality vs. speed of encoding.
     
     
     
     
     


    You did help big time no doubt, but the prize went to the guy why gave me the link to Goldwave. You did get a "helpful" though.
     
    I couldnt' find how to do micro adjust the mp3 on Sonar. Is that option in the "export" dialog box?
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    scook
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/18 14:08:44 (permalink)
    If the integrated mp3 encoder is used in SONAR, a dialog box pops up with options. If an external encoder is used, the options must be added to the command line in the External Encoder Configuration Utility.
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    Sharkbite
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/18 14:09:10 (permalink)
    cclarry
    I was just going to chime it that if you're using the Lame Encoder, it does wreak some havoc on
    material.  When I used it, the sound changed far too much, so I stopped using it altogether.





    What did you switch to instead?
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    Rick O Shay
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/18 19:00:09 (permalink)
    Does anyone use the mp3 encoder in iTunes?  While I usually use LAME or Audition, I sometimes use iTunes with projects that involve a lot of short clips because it's good for converting multiple files at once.  It can also be configured for all the data rates I need.
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    Bristol_Jonesey
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/19 09:59:57 (permalink)
    Sharkbite
    brundlefly
    Hey, wait a second, my suggestion solved it, and isn't the "Best Answer? 
     
    Incidentally, SONAR also allows choosing higher bit rates as well as VBR and quality vs. speed of encoding.
     
     
     
     
     


    You did help big time no doubt, but the prize went to the guy why gave me the link to Goldwave. You did get a "helpful" though.
     
    I couldnt' find how to do micro adjust the mp3 on Sonar. Is that option in the "export" dialog box?


    That'll be me 

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    Cactus Music
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/19 11:52:45 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Sharkbite 2014/02/24 14:16:16
    Rick O Shay
    Does anyone use the mp3 encoder in iTunes?  



    iTunes is the scariest software I ever installed on a computer. It immediately converted all my WMA files without me asking,, so I ended up with all these weird extra songs. It made a mess. It also was not happy about me telling the "store' to p-ss off and leave me alone. It is what I call "invasive" 
     
    This is why I stay with "safe" free programs like Win Amp for playing my music. I've always said that everyone who has a home studio should not only have DAW software, but use a Wave edito too. So now for the money, Golden Wave is a keeper. It's batch converter is equal to Wave Labs for half the price sans ever having to re register and upgrade again.
     
     
     
    Tools of the Trade: 
     
    DAW- for multi track recording, creating, compossing and mixing down to a 2 track file
    Wave editor- For putting the final touches on the file, conversion to other formats
    CD burning software- Self explanatory. 
     
    Even though one program might try to do all these things, it will not do them all perfectly.  
    post edited by Cactus Music - 2014/02/19 11:59:00

    Johnny V  
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    Bristol_Jonesey
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/20 03:53:16 (permalink)
    Tools of the Trade: 
     
    DAW - Sonar
    Wave editor - Goldwave
    CD burning - Sony CD Architect
     
    That's the 3 I've got installed on my systems, and it's not likely to change.

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    SteveStrummerUK
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/20 04:21:53 (permalink)
     
    Hey Col, based on your recommendation, especially the word "free", I just installed Goldwave, but it tells me I'm only running a trial version with a maximum number of commands built in.
     
    In your experience, does this unlicensed version ever really time out, or did you have to pay for it eventually?
     
    For wav to mp3 conversions, I already have three programs I use - Shuangs, which is extremely simply but very quick, CDex, which is quite a sophisticated bit of kit (and offers superb variable bit-rate conversions), and for the best quality conversions I've so far come across, I use an ancient version of Steinberg's My Mp3 Pro, which has a genuine Fraunhofer converter.
     
    I'm just wondering if Goldwave brings anything extra to the party, especially if I have to shell out thirty quid for it?

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    SteveStrummerUK
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/20 04:21:55 (permalink)
    **double post deleted**

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    soens
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/20 05:42:58 (permalink)
    cclarry
    I was just going to chime it that if you're using the Lame Encoder, it does wreak some havoc on
    material.  When I used it, the sound changed far too much, so I stopped using it altogether.



    Well,... it is called "Lame"!
     
    I've never used the Sonar mp3 conversion. I've always exported to WAV and then used a stand alone converter. Creative had one with their SoundBlaster stuff that worked well for 16 bit. It didn't like 24 or 32 at all which didn't make sense since the card was capable of 192.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Uh Oh. I said "soundblaster" on a Cakewalk forum. RUN!
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    Soundblend
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/20 06:17:25 (permalink)
    Export your project to 16 bit 44.1 khz wavefile then use this:

    http://www.mediahuman.com/audio-converter/ 
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    Bristol_Jonesey
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/20 13:36:13 (permalink)
    Steve, I've never had to pay for Goldwave, all I get is a nag screen which is easily dismissed

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    SteveStrummerUK
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/20 13:42:54 (permalink)
     
    Cool, thanks Col.

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    Vastman
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/20 14:59:43 (permalink)
    based on all the above I have begun mixing down to wave then importing this into an empty song and exporting to mp3 using Sonar's mp3 exporter.  Works great and removes the thread/core overload which sometimes occurs when I'm going direct from song to mp3. 
     
    Thanks.  

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    Bristol_Jonesey
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    Re: Wave file vs. Mp3 2014/02/20 16:13:15 (permalink)
    That's a decent enough workflow Dana - all that matters is that it works for YOU  

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