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greggybud · 2nd December 2006

1. As a standard procedure, do you as a mastering engineer convert each song to MP3 and listnen?

As MP3's become more popular does it warrant it's own mastering? What I mean is if you go to any major commercial download site, have those MP3's been altered in any way other than going through a standard conversion just like I would when I convert .wav to MP3 with Wavelab?

2. Over the past year it seems I'm having an increasing difficulty detecting differences in MP3 from .wav when played in my studio. Maybe it is my hearing. Maybe it is the content of the music. Maybe better conversion? A while back I read some total BS about Emu designing a system that will make an MP3 sound better than a 16 bit CD. I can read all day about this subject, but I really need to get my ears in shape especially if companies such as Emu are going to release what seems to be just a lot of marketing hype.

I am wondering if anyone has any sample music references to A/B MP3 vs .wav. that will really amplify the differences? And what should I be listening for to detect the differences? Am I loosing it??

2nd December 2006	#1
greggybud Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Eugene Oregon Posts: 832 Thread Starter	mastering & MP3's. 2 Questioins: 1. As a standard procedure, do you as a mastering engineer convert each song to MP3 and listnen? As MP3's become more popular does it warrant it's own mastering? What I mean is if you go to any major commercial download site, have those MP3's been altered in any way other than going through a standard conversion just like I would when I convert .wav to MP3 with Wavelab? 2. Over the past year it seems I'm having an increasing difficulty detecting differences in MP3 from .wav when played in my studio. Maybe it is my hearing. Maybe it is the content of the music. Maybe better conversion? A while back I read some total BS about Emu designing a system that will make an MP3 sound better than a 16 bit CD. I can read all day about this subject, but I really need to get my ears in shape especially if companies such as Emu are going to release what seems to be just a lot of marketing hype. I am wondering if anyone has any sample music references to A/B MP3 vs .wav. that will really amplify the differences? And what should I be listening for to detect the differences? Am I loosing it??