MP3 audio bit rates?

[ajmoss]

How easily can you tell the difference between the quality of MP3 recordings at 128kbit/s, 160kbit/s and 192kbit/s?

Which bit rate would you recommend for something like a standard spoken radio programme? Which would you recommend for something important, like a concert?

If I'm converting a file from an MP2 at 224kbit/s, there must be a limit to the quality of the source recording. What's the maximum sensible bit rate for the target MP3?

[DJ Bobo]

There is no limit, the higher the bitrate the better the quality, no matter what source you have.

For standard encodings, I would use 128kbps

For HQ encodings, 160kbps and up, and here same thing: the higher the better - if you have space, don't hesitate to use even 320kbps (it's such a good feeling when one uses such bitrate :D)

[pacohaas]

since you're converting from an already compressed file, you're going to lower the quality no matter what bitrate you use since mp3 is a lossy compression. If possible, you're best off using the 224 mp2 as it will be better quality than the resulting mp3 even at 320kbps. If at all possible, try to get a hold of the original audio source if you must make an mp3 of this.

If you feel you need to make an mp3 out of this file, I recommend using VBR for a reasonable bitrate, something like --alt-preset standard in BeSweet going directly from the mp2 to a VBR mp3, but like I said, this will still be worse quality than the 224kbps mp2.

read up here (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org) for lots of info on audio encoding quality.

[int 21h]

If you HAVE to decode it to MP3, make sure to use a dithering Decoder as it will improve the percieved quality of the file (i.e. MAD)