Calling Jim Lesurf

Something that would be interesting is to be compare mp3s with original (uncompressed) audio.
I know that 128kbit (the base line supported by cheaper recording devices) is inadequate – the bass sounds muffled and treble is often unconvincing. The only excuse for 128kbit is you are wearing cheap ear lugs in an environment with a lot of ambient noise so it’ll sound crappy in any case.

Would it be possible to build a wave file (uncompressed) with the original in one ear and the decoded mp3 in the other? That might be the best way to experience the difference…or maybe just get an award winning headache?

What brought this to mind? Tom’s Diner, or rather, the missing parts. http://theghostinthemp3.com/

For an amusing take on this concept: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVvdhWPsagI

It is Dragostea Din Tei (anybody remember that?) with the O-Zone version (original?) in the left ear and the left side of the screen, and the slightly less annoying Haiducii version on the right.

Would it be possible to build a wave file (uncompressed) with the original in one ear and the decoded mp3 in the other? That might be the best way to experience the difference…or maybe just get an award winning headache?

Yes, you could do that by using ‘sox’ a few times. However you might find it more ‘revealing’ (literally) to send the audio via a → mp3 → lpcm cycle, then subtract that from the original and listen to the ‘difference’. This lets you hear what got lost/altered.

I can’t easily view the links you posted as I’m looking at this using NetSurf.

Jim