~128 kbps Private Listening Test/ Multi Format Options

[ezlez]

Summary

ABC/HR for Java 0.53b listening tests with 6 VBR (+ 1 CBR) Codecs within a ~128 kbps range. 12 samples - 6 Musical Genres. The goal is to determine what codec achieves better quality with a compression range of ~128 kbps

Codecs

MP3: LAME 3.98.2 through Audacity 1.3.11 Beta

• V5 with VBR
• 110 - 150 Kbbps
• Channe Mode: Joint Stereo
• Variable Speed: Standard

Ogg Vorbis: aoTuV beta 5.7 though OggdropXPd 1.9.0

• -quality 4.00 with VBR/SBR
• Nominal Bitrate of 128 kbps

AAC: Nero 1.5.1 through foobar2000 1.0

• Quality 0.41
• ~130 kbps

QuickTime/Apple (Encoder) through iTunes 9.0.3.15

1. Stereo Bit Rate: 128 kbps with VBR
2. Sample Rate: Auto
3. Channel Rate: Auto

Windows Media Audio Standard 9

• VBR
• Bit Rate Range of 85 - 145 kbps

Windows Media Audio Professional 10

• CBR
• 128 kbps

Musepack SV8 through foobar2000 1.0

• Quality Setting: Q4 (~128 kbps)

Samples

6 Genres:
Classical, Jazz, Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop/Rap, Country
10 seconds per sample

Classical:
Drew Tretick: A Summer Serenade

• Track 8 - O mio babbino caro
• Track 9 - Flight of the Bumblebee

Jazz:
20 Best of Jazz

• Track 19 - What is Thing Called Love? by Charles Mingus
• Track 7 - People by Art Farmer

Country:
NOW That's What I Call Country

• Track 2 - Winner At A Losing Game by Rascal Flatts
• Track 16 - You're Gonna Miss This by Trace Adkins

Rock:

• Album - Led Zeppelin IV; Artist - Led Zeppelin; Track 1 - Black Dog
• Album - Pablo Honey; Artist - Radiohead; Track 3 - How Do You?

Pop:

• Album & Artist - The Good The Bad The Queen; Track 3 - Northern Whale
• Album - Rock Steady; Artist - No Doubt; Track 4 - Making Out

Hip-Hop/Rap:

• Album & Artist - Gorillaz; Track 5 - Clint Eastwood
• Album - All World; Artist - LL Cool J; Track 2 - Rock the Bells

Thoughts? Questions?