Converting Files to MP3, And CD Player Compatibility Issues

[Awethentik]

I'm a DJ so all the Music I record in Cubase Essential 4 is already masterd. I mean don't get me wrong I'm going to still master as much as I can in Wavelab 6 to get it sounding real nice. Heres my dilemma. I recorded a 1 hr 24 min long mix in Cubase and its 825MB. A CD only holds 700, so I compressed it using Wavelab to MP3 and its now 195MB. I compresed it to MP3 so I could burn it and see how it sounds in my car as I have a nice deck and some subs.

My question is should I master it as a Wav file and then compress it down or compress and then master? Also another thing if the file is MP3 then it will only be able to be played in a computer or mp3 cd player right or? I ask because I have a nice deck in my car that is capable of playing mp3 disc's, but my Grandma's 07 Mazda 3 is supposed but I pop it in and it plays but no sound. Also in a regular old school portable cd player it wouldn't work either.

Another reason why I'm asking is because I made a really long DEMO and its going to be 3 songs per track and 19-20 tracks as I'm only playing one verse for each song. I mean at this point is too big a file IMO to really cut it short to get it to fit as a WAV file so I was actually thinking about adding a couple of full length songs at the end as well, I mean especially if I have to compress it anyways I might as well add some more to it.

Another question too, is there any other file format I could use that's in the middle you know between WAV or MP3.

Also I'm running a PC with Windows Vista Ultimate and Cubase Essential 4 along with Wavelab 6. I recorded in -6 DB and used a Motu Ultralite.

Another thing to add is that before I bounced it down to 16 Bit 44100, I did the Normalize thing to the whole file and boy did that mess it up. When I put it in my car it starts off loud then gets low and stays low for a lil bit and then in certain spots it will louder and then lower. Before I did that Normalize thing it all sounded good and the same Volume in my headphones.

[brandondrury]

My question is should I master it as a Wav file and then compress it down or compress and then master?

Always ruin your work with mp3 compression when it is totally finished. The general rule is to keep everything as high of quality as possible for as long as possible. Definitely "master" it as a wav.

Also another thing if the file is MP3 then it will only be able to be played in a computer or mp3 cd player right or? I

Right. An mp3 player is required to play mp3s. This will rule out most cd players.

Another question too, is there any other file format I could use that's in the middle you know between WAV or MP3.

Yeah, but I can't think of them. Most require a special player of some kind that even your car stereo won't have. I would just do something like a 384kbs mp3 and that will be a nice balance between quality and compression.

before I bounced it down to 16 Bit 44100, I did the Normalize thing to the whole file and boy did that mess it up.

You must have used RMS normalizing. Don't! Peak normalizing is alright, but I prefer using a brickwall limiter.



Brandon

[Awethentik]

As far as the normalizing goes I went to Audio/Process/Normalize in Cubase.

Also what file format would be 384kbps would that be. I mean I know mp3 but is it a different type?

Also I'm looking in Wavelab now and under Tools/Batch Processing and then under output. When I compressed I changed the Type to MP3 and then under Encoding I used the Lame Encoder and used Constant Bit Rate Format and 320Kbps Stereo was the Highest Quality other than 320 Dual Mono but I don't know what that is.

What if instead of changing the Type to MP3 I can keep it at Wave and then change the Audio Format to MP3 instead of PCM (Uncompressed)? Would this make it able to play in a CD player because the Type is Wave but the format is MP3?

Also what is the Difference in the encoder there is Lame and Fraunhofer?

[brandondrury]

Also what file format would be 384kbps would that be. I mean I know mp3 but is it a different type?

No, it's the same type. An mp3 is an mp3, but you can compress at different settings. A common web setting is 128kbs. I think Myspace is 96kbs. The higher the number the better the quality, but the larger the file.

What if instead of changing the Type to MP3 I can keep it at Wave and then change the Audio Format to MP3 instead of PCM (Uncompressed)? Would this make it able to play in a CD player because the Type is Wave but the format is MP3?

No, you won't be fooling anybody unfortunately.

Also what is the Difference in the encoder there is Lame and Fraunhofer?

I have no idea. I'm guessing these are two different encoding algorithms. One may sound SLIGHTLY different.

Brandon

[Awethentik]

So let me ask for your opinion in this situation. I mean I know I gotta master the Wave file first. But you seem really smart and experianced so how would you handle this situation?

[uab9253]

I'm not as smart as Brandon, but as far as MP3 alternatives, some people swear by WMA format, Windows Media Audio. It, like MP3 has different conversion resolutions and the same rule applies, the better the sound, the bigger the file. Of course, then it can only be played on a PC using Windows Media Player, and what good is that?

If it were me, and I was really that concerned with the sound quality and being able to play it on the widest variety of systems, I'd go back and cut out songs until I could get it on a plain old audio cd. One option, you could burn it as onto a dvd full length and get a cheapo DVD player to hook up to your DJ station. I have that in my studio, b/c finding a DVD player that also played cd's was easy and could be had for $40, finding a standalone cd player at the same price was hard. I use mine mostly for just playing cd's and it was cheaper.

[Awethentik]

Well I can't go the DVD route as I'm burning it onto Vinyl CDR's so that's out. Another thing I do want it to be able to be played on any CD player and after talking to Steinberg Tech Support this morning they told me that the only way is to cut some of it out to keep it WAV so that it will be compatible with any cd player.

I mean and that's what I truly want for somebody to just pop it in and listen. I'm also about quality as well. In the club you can't really tell the difference but when your actually concentrating and paying attention to what's being played then WAV to MP3 comparion might become a factor.

Either way I guess I'm just going to have to try to cut some off and see where that gets me. I appreciate all the help though.

[brandondrury]

I'm not as smart as Brandon

Obviously. I discovered the wheel. I built the Eiffel Tower out of metal....and brawn.

I'd go back and cut out songs until I could get it on a plain old audio cd.

Yeah. Me to. I'd just use more than one cd. Is that bad?

[Awethentik]

Well the end result is instead of being 1hr 24 min its now 1hr and 9min and that's 700mb and some change and I got that to burn on a cd successfully and tried it in my old school portable cd player and all good to go

Now I just gotta bring it into Wavelab and master it and then make my track markers and I'm good to go.