mp3PRO FAQ
What It Ismp3PRO is a file format developed by Coding Technologies to improve on the MP3 format. The company claims file sizes that have the same quality of MP3 at half the bitrate and file size.
Is mp3PRO Really That Good?So far, mp3PRO has really disappointed MP3 fans. Complaints center around muddy sounding files and lack of compatibility with most MP3 players. Coding Technologies have kept a tight handle on its proprietary format have really squelched development of software that handles the format.My personal listening tests have given me mixed results. 64 kbps is the default (and currently only) option to encode files with the demo encoder. For 64kbps, it is superior to MP3 LAME encoded files at 64kbps. However, there was a substantial lack of clarity in the instruments especially background vocals, bass guitar, and drum cymbals. The quality is definitely better than what you would hear on your FM radio, but still has a ways to go before it supplants MP3 as the dominant file format.
How Do I Make mp3PRO Files?
A demo encoder and player is now available for download. The program does not rip from CD. You need to have WAV files available to convert to mp3PRO for this program.
Bit Rates and Sound Quality
Selecting Bit Rates for EncodingBit rate refers to the speed at which a bit stream (compressed audio data in this case) will travel, or the amount of bits per second. With MP3, you usually refer to it in terms of kbps or how many thousands of bits per second. Just like the way film works with a higher number of frames producing a better picture, the more audio data that flows in a time period, the smoother and clearer the sound. "So what real difference is there in sound quality?" you might ask. Check out this MP3 bit rate page (courtesy of MP3-Tech.org, a good tech resource) where Gabriel Bouvigne ran a comparison of one track recorded at different bit rates and noted the difference. Many MP3 enthusiasts will convert to MP3 at 128 kbps (kilobytes per second) as a good medium in sound quality and file size. However, I recommend 160 kbps or VBR encoding, especially if you are a musician or if you have a sensitive ear to musical quality.
Streaming MP3 Audio and Different Bit ratesOne other useful tool is this chart courtesy of Audioactive, makers of Audioactive Production Studio , a high-quality MP3 encoder. Using the chart provided, you can select a bit rate that meets your sound quality needs while being sensitive to the file size drawbacks of the higher rate if you are streaming the audio file over the Internet.
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