MP3 to WAV - Recommended Settings

visibility · 5th September 2010, 04:58

I have an MP3 file that I would like to convert to WAV retaining all the information I can extract from the lossy MP3.

The MP3 in question is 82.40 MB MP3 file encoded at 192 kbps. I first used AVS Audio Converter with Best Quality settings for WAV. This resulted in a 1.28 GB file. With AVS set to Low Quality the resulting file is 219 MB.

Both conversions above had much higher bitrates (and sample rates and sizes) than the original file (bitrate for Best Quality was 3072kbps and Low Quality was 512kbps). There is no provision in AVS to manually adjust the bitrate other than to select the quality options.

Correct me if I am wrong but in converting to WAV, shouldn't the bitrate remain the same as the original MP3 file?

I simply want to convert to WAV retaining all the information but at the smallest file size. 1.28 GB is ridiculous. Can you recommend software for this?

Many thanks.

Guest · 5th September 2010, 05:41

WAV is an uncompressed format, so obviously the file size will be much larger.

MatLz · 5th September 2010, 10:00

Code:

lame.exe --decode "yourfile.mp3"

Impossible to make things easier

Groucho2004 · 5th September 2010, 10:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by visibility

There is no provision in AVS to manually adjust the bitrate other than to select the quality options.

Anyway, if you tell us why you want to convert the file to a lossless format and if you're planning on further conversions we'd be able to give you more specific help.

TinTime · 5th September 2010, 11:27

The only way to retain all information at the same bitrate is to add a wav header to your MP3.

You can't adjust the bitrate of PCM. It's fixed, based on sample size, sample frequency and number of channels.

Ghitulescu · 5th September 2010, 12:06

Since neuron2 already replied I assume the legality of the file is ok. Since there is no source I know* that provides you about 1 hour of MP3 my obvious advice is to use the original you have and start from there.

*No video disk, sat, cable, whatever industrial format comes in MP3 and the online music stores do not have 1+ h long songs. AFAIK MP3 is a hobbist format.

john33 · 5th September 2010, 12:11

Assuming constant bitrate, 16 bit, 44.1k samples per second, your mp3 will decode to approx. 600MB. 1.2GB suggests either 32 bit, or float.

visibility · 5th September 2010, 15:59

Thanks for your comments, only some of which I understand.

To Groucho: I need to import the file into an application that only accepts WAV files. I have another 2 MP3s to convert also.

To Ghitulescu: The file comprises 1 hour of nature sounds purchased from shockwave-sound.com. You can either purchase the CD or the download. I purchased the download, which is encoded at 192 kbps.

To john33: You are correct. I did select the 32 bit option in AVS Audio Converter. I subsequently opened the files in Audacity and then exported as WAV, leaving all the default values. I had three files to convert and they each turned out to be around 610 MB. So, in conversion with AVS Audio Converter, I should be selecting 16 bit and 44.1 - 48 khz? Just checked this again using the 48 khz option in AVS and file sizes were slightly higher at around 670 MB.

Think I'm heading in the right direction.

john33 · 5th September 2010, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by visibility

Thanks for your comments, only some of which I understand.
....
To john33: You are correct. I did select the 32 bit option in AVS Audio Converter. I subsequently opened the files in Audacity and then exported as WAV, leaving all the default values. I had three files to convert and they each turned out to be around 610 MB. So, in conversion with AVS Audio Converter, I should be selecting 16 bit and 44.1 - 48 khz? Just checked this again using the 48 khz option in AVS and file sizes were slightly higher at around 670 MB.

Think I'm heading in the right direction.

I would recommend leaving the sample rate the same as the mp3. Recorded audio, as per CD, is normally 44.1k, movie/TV soundtrack originals will usually be 48k. Any audio player should be able to tell you the sample rate of the mp3.

TinTime · 5th September 2010, 22:51

In addition to john33's suggestion that you should keep the sample rate the same as the source mp3, you should decode to the highest bitdepth that your application supports. This is assuming that the wav file is only temporary and you're planning to convert it to something else.

You've got an mp3 as a source. What's your ultimate destination for this audio?

visibility · 6th September 2010, 09:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinTime

You've got an mp3 as a source. What's your ultimate destination for this audio?

The WAV is imported as one track into some brainwave entrainment software, fiddled with, and the combined result is exported, again as a wav file, for listening to on a PDA.

TinTime · 6th September 2010, 22:19

In that case, for maximum quality decode the MP3 to the highest bitdepth that your brainwave entrainment software will accept, and don't resample. That said 24bit will almost certainly be more than enough.

Ghitulescu · 7th September 2010, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by visibility

The file comprises 1 hour of nature sounds purchased from shockwave-sound.com. You can either purchase the CD or the download. I purchased the download, which is encoded at 192 kbps.

So, since it originates from a CD it has to be 44k1/16b. Setting the decoder to this format (in case it doesn't automatically recognise it!!!!) would be near-perfect (and ~600MB as a result). Perfect would have been to buy the CD instead (compression to MP3 is lossy, and not all encoders are equally born).

CKHSJ · 8th September 2010, 07:47

I am glad to help you about this question, I once used a video converter that can support all import video formats and can support a lot of popular video formats, i think it may help you, the name of the product is Free HD Video Converter Factory, the URL I have forgot, so you can surf on Google.

good luck.

5th September 2010, 04:58	#1 \| Link
visibility Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 5	MP3 to WAV - Recommended Settings I have an MP3 file that I would like to convert to WAV retaining all the information I can extract from the lossy MP3. The MP3 in question is 82.40 MB MP3 file encoded at 192 kbps. I first used AVS Audio Converter with Best Quality settings for WAV. This resulted in a 1.28 GB file. With AVS set to Low Quality the resulting file is 219 MB. Both conversions above had much higher bitrates (and sample rates and sizes) than the original file (bitrate for Best Quality was 3072kbps and Low Quality was 512kbps). There is no provision in AVS to manually adjust the bitrate other than to select the quality options. Correct me if I am wrong but in converting to WAV, shouldn't the bitrate remain the same as the original MP3 file? I simply want to convert to WAV retaining all the information but at the smallest file size. 1.28 GB is ridiculous. Can you recommend software for this? Many thanks.

5th September 2010, 10:00	#3 \| Link
MatLz I often say "maybe"... Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: France Posts: 585	Code: lame.exe --decode "yourfile.mp3" Impossible to make things easier __________________ We are spitting food to these hungry eyes. You see they ask, we know they are greedy of our rot. Better than to give jam to pigs. x264 r2146 MOD

5th September 2010, 05:41	#2 \| Link
Guest Guest Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 21,868	WAV is an uncompressed format, so obviously the file size will be much larger.

5th September 2010, 11:27	#5 \| Link
TinTime Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK Posts: 375	The only way to retain all information at the same bitrate is to add a wav header to your MP3. You can't adjust the bitrate of PCM. It's fixed, based on sample size, sample frequency and number of channels.

5th September 2010, 12:06	#6 \| Link
Ghitulescu Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 5,773	Since neuron2 already replied I assume the legality of the file is ok. Since there is no source I know* that provides you about 1 hour of MP3 my obvious advice is to use the original you have and start from there. *No video disk, sat, cable, whatever industrial format comes in MP3 and the online music stores do not have 1+ h long songs. AFAIK MP3 is a hobbist format.

5th September 2010, 12:11	#7 \| Link
john33 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: UK Posts: 100	Assuming constant bitrate, 16 bit, 44.1k samples per second, your mp3 will decode to approx. 600MB. 1.2GB suggests either 32 bit, or float.

5th September 2010, 15:59	#8 \| Link
visibility Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 5	Thanks for your comments, only some of which I understand. To Groucho: I need to import the file into an application that only accepts WAV files. I have another 2 MP3s to convert also. To Ghitulescu: The file comprises 1 hour of nature sounds purchased from shockwave-sound.com. You can either purchase the CD or the download. I purchased the download, which is encoded at 192 kbps. To john33: You are correct. I did select the 32 bit option in AVS Audio Converter. I subsequently opened the files in Audacity and then exported as WAV, leaving all the default values. I had three files to convert and they each turned out to be around 610 MB. So, in conversion with AVS Audio Converter, I should be selecting 16 bit and 44.1 - 48 khz? Just checked this again using the 48 khz option in AVS and file sizes were slightly higher at around 670 MB. Think I'm heading in the right direction.

5th September 2010, 22:51	#10 \| Link
TinTime Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK Posts: 375	In addition to john33's suggestion that you should keep the sample rate the same as the source mp3, you should decode to the highest bitdepth that your application supports. This is assuming that the wav file is only temporary and you're planning to convert it to something else. You've got an mp3 as a source. What's your ultimate destination for this audio?

6th September 2010, 22:19	#12 \| Link
TinTime Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK Posts: 375	In that case, for maximum quality decode the MP3 to the highest bitdepth that your brainwave entrainment software will accept, and don't resample. That said 24bit will almost certainly be more than enough.

8th September 2010, 07:47	#14 \| Link
CKHSJ Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: USA Posts: 4	I am glad to help you about this question, I once used a video converter that can support all import video formats and can support a lot of popular video formats, i think it may help you, the name of the product is Free HD Video Converter Factory, the URL I have forgot, so you can surf on Google. good luck.