MP3 Bitrate converter

[pumaz]

Looking for something that will batch convert a load of MP3's with a mixture of bitrates to 128kbs.

Anyone know of some good software free if pos?

Thanks

 

[Pho]

Assuming it's not for a portable device why would you you want to do this?

You could do it with the trial of dbPoweramp or foobar2000 (free) or MediaMonkey (free).

 

[probedb]

Why 128kbps also? Why not use VBR?

 

[pumaz]

I'll be honest, I really can't tell the difference between 320 or 128 so i thought i might try and save some disk space. Not thought about VBR what's the average file size for a track?

 

[manbearpig]

Just buy another hard drive if your nearly out of space?

 

[Pho]

Converting from one lossy format (MP3) to another lossy format (MP3 again) will mean you'll end up with even worse quality audio at the end than if you converted straight from CD -> 128 MP3.

You'll be much better off keeping the 320 encoded files and getting a bigger drive (as above) otherwise you'll only regret it if you buy some decent speakers/headphones in the future which highlight the different more.

 

[Infam0us]

I suggest you get a better soundcard and speakers if you can't tell the difference

 

[CaptainCrash]

I suggest you get a better soundcard and speakers if you can't tell the difference

The latest LAME encoders are pretty good even at 128kbps CBR, and I doubt if most people could ABX it from a PCM source except in a relatively small number of difficult samples.

Having said that, lossy > lossy transcoding is a different matter, and best avoided wherever possible.

 

[pumaz]

Having read everyone's opinion I've decided not to bother converting bitrate of my MP3 collection. As stupid as it sounds i didn't realise quality would be degraded converting from MP3 to MP3 but not CD to MP3. last thing i want to do is mess up my collection!

Thanks for your help though