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How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2021 8:57 pm
by johnsaxon
Hello. I have S1 2. You cannot export to mp3, only to wav. I have a mastered wav that I need to convert to a high-quality mp3 under 8 MB. I know about Audacity. However, to get this 74 MB wav under 8 MB, I have to chose standard quality, which really impacts the quality of the demo.
What software will enable me to do this? Price is an object because I don't exported a lot of wavs to mp3s.
Thanks,
John
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 1:09 am
by danworley
Wow, I don't know, brother. That's over 7 minutes! Maybe just maybe try Variable Bit Depth to hopefully get a lower file size with more quality. i never use it but it might be better than 128 kbps constant, which is pretty much what you'd have to use to stay under your 8MB max.
As far as apps/encoders go, I don't know. I don't keep up. I use S1-5 or DP (LAME) or iTunes for MP3s. Maybe there's some hocus-pocus encoder technology out there now I know nothing about that can give you better quality, but I kind of doubt it.
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 2:47 am
by SwitchBack
You can try free
XMPlay plus the LAME encoder add-on (available from the same site) to convert from WAV to mp3 in all available formats.
Also make sure you export the WAV file from S1 in 16-bit format. Compared to 24-bit that’s already a 33% reduction. You can have the LAME encoder do that too but doing it in S1 gives ‘quality comparison in steps’.
Last remark: converting from WAV to mp3 can result in slightly higher peak values. Allow for a couple of dB leeway in your exported WAV.
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 6:36 am
by Tacman7
For $50 you can export all you want and get caught up with S1.
https://shop.presonus.com/Studio-One-5- ... l-versions
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 6:37 am
by johnsaxon
SwitchBack wroteYou can try free XMPlay plus the LAME encoder add-on (available from the same site) to convert from WAV to mp3 in all available formats.
Also make sure you export the WAV file from S1 in 16-bit format. Compared to 24-bit that’s already a 33% reduction. You can have the LAME encoder do that too but doing it in S1 gives ‘quality comparison in steps’.
Last remark: converting from WAV to mp3 can result in slightly higher peak values. Allow for a couple of dB leeway in your exported WAV.
Exporting to 16 bit reduces the file size to 49.3 MB. However, using Audacity, I still can't get it under 8 MB unless I chose the option for standard quality.
Will XMPlay with the LAME plugin allow me to get a higher quality mp3 than Audacity at a given file size?
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 6:38 am
by johnsaxon
Tacman7 wroteFor $50 you can export all you want and get caught up with S1.
https://shop.presonus.com/Studio-One-5- ... l-versions
Seriously??? I take it all the music I've recorded with S1 2 will play on S1 5.
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 6:40 am
by Tacman7
I've never had a problem playing old songs on current S1.
I can test one if you're worried but I'd be really surprised if it wasn't able to.
I've had my hardware change so much that it was easier to pull the tracks into another song, but there's always a way.
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 7:20 am
by SwitchBack
Careful, as the v5 stock plug-ins do not sound the same as the v2 ones. Quality went up and you can hear it (which isn’t always a good thing).
LAME offers a lot of parameters you can tweak to get more from less, more than S1 v5 is offering. And what’s super neat is that you don’t have to install anything on your computer to use it. Just put the XMPlay files in a directory anywhere you like, the LAME file(s) in the same directory, and run the XMPlay executable. That’s it. Gives you a nifty customizable audio player which allows audio file conversion too.
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 9:21 am
by johnsaxon
Tacman7 wroteI've never had a problem playing old songs on current S1.
I can test one if you're worried but I'd be really surprised if it wasn't able to.
I've had my hardware change so much that it was easier to pull the tracks into another song, but there's always a way.
I don't know how you would pull tracks into a new session. You could drag and drop wav files, but that wouldn't give you your original song. That would just give you wav files. The tempo changes, all the mixing you've done and everything, would be lost.
I guess my question is, could just open the .song file and see my session from S1 2. I'm skeptical. It'd be nice I suppose if I could have both S1 2 and this new version, such that I could open the songs I've recorded in S1 2 with that DAW and use 5 to record new stuff.
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 9:33 am
by SwitchBack
You can have multiple versions of S1 installed on a computer. And yes, you can open an older song in a newer version of S1. But you get a warning when you try to save it because there’s no way back then.
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 9:47 am
by johnsaxon
SwitchBack wroteYou can have multiple versions of S1 installed on a computer. And yes, you can open an older song in a newer version of S1. But you get a warning when you try to save it because there’s no way back then.
So I can open a S1 2 song with S1 2 and save it to S1 2 if it is already installed on my computer?
Also, regarding S1 2 songs opened in S1 5, couldn't you save them as S1 5 songs?
I see the upgrade link about. But that makes me think the S1 2 that's on my computer will be upgraded to S1 5 such that S1 2 is no longer on my computer.
What do I need to do to keep S1 2 and install S1 5?
Thanks again.
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 10:13 am
by SwitchBack
Yes
Yes, but then you can’t open the song in S1 v2.6.5 anymore
No, you can install S1 v5.4 in a new directory of its own. That’s it really.
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 10:27 am
by Vocalpoint
johnsaxon wroteWhat software will enable me to do this? Price is an object because I don't exported a lot of wavs to mp3s.
Update to v5 is a solid idea especially coming from v2 - but I still do not think you will be able to do what you want (reduce a 74 MB WAV to 8MB (or less) 320 MP3.
The MP3 algorithm is a factor of mathematics and yes the different flavours of the MP3 algorithm out there (LAME etc) will have some effect on the output.
But no matter which convertor you choose - I doubt any of them would be able to magically drop a 74MB file down to 8MB (or less) AND maintain highest MP3 (320) quality without some major compromises.
Cheers!
VP
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 10:51 am
by SwitchBack
Trying is learning in this case. Depending on audio content ABR and VBR can result in massive file size reductions, high-quality doesn’t necessarily imply highest quality (i.e. 320kbps), and we’re already down from 74MB to 49MB
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 10:54 am
by johnsaxon
SwitchBack wroteYes
Yes, but then you can’t open the song in S1 v2.6.5 anymore
No, you can install S1 v5.4 in a new directory of its own. That’s it really.
My S1 2 is located here: "C:\Program Files (x86)\PreSonus\Studio One 2\Studio One.exe" I'm taking it this is the "directory."
I save my projects to a couple different parts of the computer.
So, when I download the new version, what should I do to ensure that S1 5 is installed in a new directory?
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 10:59 am
by SwitchBack
The installer will show you its default installation directory with the question if you want to change it. You do if it’s the same directory your S1 v2.6.5 is using, but it won’t be
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 11:12 am
by Vocalpoint
SwitchBack wroteTrying is learning in this case. Depending on audio content ABR and VBR can result in massive file size reductions, high-quality doesn’t necessarily imply highest quality (i.e. 320kbps), and we’re already down from 74MB to 49MB
Fair enough but 74 to 8 (or less) is a huge gap from 49.
And when someone says "I want a high quality MP3" - I immediately think 320 or nothing.
There is really no such thing as taking an 85-90% reduction (74->8) in actual audio material and expecting it to sound "high quality".
Cheers
VP
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 11:54 am
by SwitchBack
It’s 74 to 49 going from 24-bit WAV to 16-bit WAV. So now it’s from 49MB WAV to 8MB mp3. As I said, trying is learning
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 12:06 pm
by Vocalpoint
SwitchBack wroteIt’s 74 to 49 going from 24-bit WAV to 16-bit WAV. So now it’s from 49MB WAV to 8MB mp3. As I said, trying is learning
Rock on.
VP
Re: How to burn high-quality mp3s?
Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 8:29 am
by johnsaxon
I paid $50 for the upgrade to S1 5. Sucks that I can't install it because I'm running Windows 8.1
Can't update to Windows 10 either for whatever reason.
I clowned myself.