Denonite

iTrader: (1)

Here i go again. This is a sample of a digitally mixed .wav track of two separate tracks, one is a lossy rip at 96 kbps, and the other is the lossless rip. I'll tell you exactly at what time the tracks are switched (you can hear a slight glitch), all you have to do is tell me which track is playing...the 96kbps or the lossless. Should be easy...right? I expect a few of you should get it, as my hearing may not be as good as I'm a little older than some of you, but it's more an exercise in just how good these codecs are these days. Just so you know, the computer is a Compaq presario, dual core pentium processor, and the software is itunes The lossless track is ALAC, and the 96kbps track is mp3, not variable bit rate, normal stereo, 44.1 khz sample rate, and no other filters or settings. The switch times are: :40 seconds, 1:20 seconds, 2:00 minutes...just tell me which is which. Here's the link:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=J3YNSKA2

AAAAAAA

iTrader: (7)

^Nice, did you make it?

Donnie

I just listened to it, doesn't sound like you mixed them down. That's like trying to compare two different songs. Interesting challenge.

Denonite

iTrader: (1)

yeah, it's mixed using a PC mixer called FutureDecks (which you buy and download). It's a little tricky to get both tracks to sync, but once it does you can instantly fade from one to the other with virtually no glitch (this mix actually has glitches at the mixed points, but I kind of wanted that to know exactly when it switched). This is what made me think of using it to A/B a single track ripped at different bit rates. I was surprised how little difference there was in even very low bit rate rips. I think this method erases the traditional A/B delay and allows you to hear the differences much more clearly if you can. I've tried it myself a few dozen times with my eyes closed and with the track in different positions, and I can't tell which is which. This is a challenge to anyone who thinks it's easy to hear differences between good, first generation lossy rips and lossless tracks. I think most people hear differences in mp3's when the mp3 is a crappy downloaded version that has been recorded analog from bad sources and digitized. This is a first gen rip from the cd.

Donnie

Let me re-phrase. You didn't mix it down into two mono channels. It's like comparing one song on the left channel with a different song on the right.

Never seen that done before, so should be interesting.

Denonite

iTrader: (1)

^^It's the same song at different bit rates in stereo, synched, switching from one to the other to determine if there is an audible difference. All you have to do is tell me which rip is playing..the lossy 96 kbps one or the lossless one...I've given the point at which they switch (or didn't...this to weed out the pure luck guesses).

Denonite

iTrader: (1)

here's another:

MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service

this one has 11 switches of differing lengths, using a very high quality aiff 44khz/16 bit rip from a HD 96khz/24 bit track of Mozart. Again, the mp3 is a 96kbps rip, no vbr. Have a listen and let me know if you can hear the differences.

goalie 35

wow i didnt hear a hell of alot of difference on my computer..do you know at what times the swithces are?

Denonite

iTrader: (1)

hey Goalie, the changes are as follows:

start-aiff
1:00-96 kbps
2:00 aiff
2:30-96
3:00-aiff
3:30-96
4:00-aiff
4:30-96
4:35-aiff
:40-96
:45-aiff
:50-96
:55-aiff
5:00-96
:05-aiff
:10-96
:15-end

I'm going to do another one with obviously perceptible changes to demonstrate the mixer's ability and so that you guys don't think I'm screwing with you.

Denonite

iTrader: (1)

here's the 32 kbps vs. aiff sampler to demonstrate the obvious audible difference using the same mixer and technique. The changes are pretty obvious, but here are the approximate times:
0:00 starts in 32 kbps
0:30 aiff
1:00 32
1:30 aiff
2:00 32 to end

here's the track link:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=6GH7BNC2