Is there a big loss of quality if you reencode a MPC --insane in --extreme or --standard.

I'm really wondering if any difference would be noticeable, because --braindead files are definitely too big, and I would like to reencode them

If the difference obvious is, you may just listen to the result...
Quality is not as good as a direct encoding, but I doubt you will hear a small difference (at least at --extreme).

I encoded the same sample (a difficult harpischord passage) 100 times with --braindead : quality is slightly degraded.

Transcoding is never recommanded - I won't recommand it, even if audible differences doesn't exist. How many space will you save ?

This defies the purpose of MPC. The goal is to have a guaranteed high quality in every situation. Transcoded files cannot guarantee this. Moreover, if those files are spread somehow, and they show artifacts or signs of transcoding, it can even damage the reputation of MPC. I'd strongly advise you not to do this, and maybe put them on a CD-R or something, where they don't take space on your HD.

Surely this is subjective.

I encode to MPC for archiving (using q6/7).
I then transcode as required into mp3 (aps) for portable use and everything sounds fine to me.

auldyin

This is a different thing. But he wants to do MPC -> MPC.

Ok now I know.
I just hope people won't encode too much in Braindead !!!

Thank you guys