Hi, although I usually avoid posting here because it seems more programming-oriented, but people here seem very knowledgable and usually friendly. This may sounds strange and quite possibly baseless, but for some reason, after encoding using LAME 3.97b2, the MP3s sound slightly lacking in the mid range, which doesn't even seem like an issue that would arise. I use both CDex and Easy CD-DA. I could be imagining this for a couple of reasons, but it still seems as if something is missing in the music, and I think of it as being mids. I'm wondering if there's any reality to that, aside from perception. And yes, I usually do have whatever equalizer available set with the mids down a little bit, but I've listened to music that way for years, CDs and MP3s. Thanks for any responses!

First you should make sure that you aren't fooling yourself: do an ABX test. The general rule here (tos #8) is that if you can't verify that you can hear a difference in a blind test, you aren't actually hearing a difference.

I think it's pretty certain that if you do such a test you will find out that you are just imagining it. The lame encoder, and codecs in general, are well tested against that kind of thing. It would be one of the easiest bugs to find and correct.

Another important thing is the software you use to listen to your MP3s. WinAMPs equalizer in default setting shows different behaviours with MP3s and WAVs.
To be sure disable all equalizing or use foobar

Edit: grammar

Thanks for the replies! I still hear the same thing, so I doubt I will do ABXing just because I feel like that might drive me up the wall, but I may look into Foobar.

Let's review . . .






First, you say you hear something. Next, you ask if it's really there; members suggest how to determine that. Then, you say that you still "hear" it and so don't feel like testing to determine if you are imagining it or not.

You seem beyond help. What do you actually want?