MySpace sound quality

Stargazer · 5th September 2006, 08:35 AM

What's up with the sound quality at MySpace?
It seems they have some conversion/decoding going on when uploading/streaming mp3s.
On some material, (heavily limited) it sounds really terrible, especially in the hi end like cymbals etc.
Is there some way to reduce the damage?
What about alternative versions, mixed and mastered especially for this purpose?
Maybe this will help putting an end to the "Level Wars"...

powercord · 5th September 2006, 08:37 AM

id be more worried about the fact most people play music on 10 dollar computer speakers than converting quality....

**DrDeltaM** · 5th September 2006, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powercord

id be more worried about the fact most people play music on 10 dollar computer speakers than converting quality....

Maybe on those small speakers it's less of a problem, dunno. Myspace sounds horrible anyway. I wonder what mp3 rate that is, sounds really bad, 96kbps??

Jay Kahrs · 5th September 2006, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrDeltaM

Maybe on those small speakers it's less of a problem, dunno. Myspace sounds horrible anyway. I wonder what mp3 rate that is, sounds really bad, 96kbps??

Bing!

Bottom line, after trying numerous uploads....the less limiting, the better.

If MP3's have replaced the cassette, then think of MySpace music as the cassette that you found wedged between the seats with dried up Coke spilled in there and baked for 3 or four HOT summer weeks...

lo-fi

Stargazer · 5th September 2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powercord

id be more worried about the fact most people play music on 10 dollar computer speakers than converting quality....

There's a lot of things I'd be more worried about

Still wonder if anybody know more about bitrate, conversion and format...

Stargazer · 5th September 2006, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay Kahrs

Bing!
Bottom line, after trying numerous uploads....the less limiting, the better.

What I suspected, thanks.

aussie_techie · 5th September 2006, 11:06 AM

just a thought if you can find out what bit rate they use then convert to that bit rate at the best quality you can it should save it being reconverted by them with some shit algorithm on the lowest setting. it will never sound good but particularly at the lower bit rates the better conversion make a huge difference.

Red_venom · 5th September 2006, 11:08 AM

There is no way it is 96kbps. It sounds HORRID. Its like 32kbps mono with some horrible codec, on the real.

**DrDeltaM** · 5th September 2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red_venom

There is no way it is 96kbps. It sounds HORRID. Its like 32kbps mono with some horrible codec, on the real.

To me 128kbps mp3 sounds very bad already, so I was just guessing less ;)

aussie_techie · 5th September 2006, 11:17 AM

you cant tell a bit rate by listening, the codec used and the level used make a to much difference.

**DrDeltaM** · 5th September 2006, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussie_techie

you cant tell a bit rate by listening, the codec used and the level used make a to much difference.

Correct, that's why I kept using 'mp3' as codec reference for the quality of a certain bitrate. Maybe they use another codec, that's possible.

aussie_techie · 5th September 2006, 12:22 PM

ok i can tell you they use mp3
ill just check the bit rate

ok well it appears the page im looking at just uses the files from an external server, so that how you use higher bit rates.

jeronimo · 5th September 2006, 01:33 PM

Is there a way to get the file from our temporary internet folder or something? This way we can find out what bit rate they're using...

Alécio Costa · 5th September 2006, 01:37 PM

Forget Myspace and go with Audiostreet. Much Much better.
Here is my personal stuff. It does not sound so horrible as the sme posted at Myspace:
http://www.audiostreet.net/artist.aspx?artistid=38915

powercord · 5th September 2006, 02:05 PM

i mix on the speaker built into my g5, that helps allot. no joke.
www.myspace.com/ilovetheguts

alvarez · 5th September 2006, 04:12 PM

The MYSPACE audio player is made in macromedia flash and streams audio through flash, so I don't think the file is saved in a temporary folder.

It is probably compressed in MP3 format although flash can render and decompress other codecs such as ADPCM.

I would guess the compression is around the 48kbps mark so it will stream even on a modem (and it is probably streaming in mono)

...at least it stops people nicking the music as the quality is so low...

A.

TheReal7 · 5th September 2006, 04:33 PM

Its a MP3 streamed through a flashplayer. My download manager used to catch the MP3 links of the actual source MP3 until I set it to stop catching them. Was great getting MP3's off pages that didn't allow the d/l of them. They are usually pretty good quality too.

aussie_techie · 5th September 2006, 04:47 PM

some are direct mp3 streams, other apear to be embadded into the flash files.
its definatly stereo, just listen to it between stereo and mono and you will hear the difference assuming its not a songwhere everything is straight down the middle.

theblue1 · 5th September 2006, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay Kahrs

Bing!

Bottom line, after trying numerous uploads....the less limiting, the better.

If MP3's have replaced the cassette, then think of MySpace music as the cassette that you found wedged between the seats with dried up Coke spilled in there and baked for 3 or four HOT summer weeks...

lo-fi

Yup.

Jay Kahrs · 8th September 2006, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red_venom

There is no way it is 96kbps. It sounds HORRID. Its like 32kbps mono with some horrible codec, on the real.

I dunno man.

I've uploaded songs & then downloaded them...no matter what the starting bit rate is,the downloaded file ALWAYS ends up at 96kbps.

**DrDeltaM** · 8th September 2006, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay Kahrs

I dunno man.

I've uploaded songs & then downloaded them...no matter what the starting bit rate is,the downloaded file ALWAYS ends up at 96kbps.

Then my guess was correct

And yes, 96kbps mp3 simply IS horrible

briefcasemanx · 8th September 2006, 03:02 PM

22.05khz. There is nothing above 11k, check it out in a spectrum analyzer.

StaticStudios · 8th September 2006, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay Kahrs

I dunno man.

I've uploaded songs & then downloaded them...no matter what the starting bit rate is,the downloaded file ALWAYS ends up at 96kbps.

Ya know it wasn't always this way. Up until last month.

Playback would be 96k but if the visitor decided to download the song, the resulting download would be whatever it was uploaded at. So if you uploaded a 192kbs mp3, it play back at 96kbs but if downloaded it would be at the 192kbs.

Purevolume still lets this happen, so what you can do is offer your DL at Purevolume.

Peter

octopi · 8th September 2006, 10:42 PM

I used my own flash player and embeded it in the myspace code for the page. This way the mp3's are streaming from my own webspace so I have total control over bitrate etc. It means people cannot add my songs to their play lists or download them but I don't care about that.

They can go to the page and listen if they want to, at the mp3 quality I want.

DontLetMeDrown · 8th September 2006, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octopi

I used my own flash player and embeded it in the myspace code for the page. This way the mp3's are streaming from my own webspace so I have total control over bitrate etc. It means people cannot add my songs to their play lists or download them but I don't care about that.

They can go to the page and listen if they want to, at the mp3 quality I want.

Is that easy to do? Please share more info.

octopi · 9th September 2006, 01:05 AM

There are several sites where you can download 'blank' templates that add as front end flash players, eg

http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=Flash_MP3_Player

You can configure the size and playlists etc, then you put html in your myspace profile that will call and embed the flash player. Everything is references back to what is on your own web spcae.

The code you embed in your profile is something like this:

HTML Code:

<center><embed allowScriptAccess="never" allownetworking="internal"
 allowScriptAccess="never"       src="address of where the flash player is"
 menu="false" quality="high" width="300" height="200" name="mp3player"
 type="application/x-shockwave-flash" 
pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"
 flashvars="&config=http://address of config on your
 webspace/mp3player/config.xml&file=http://address of playlist on your
 webspace/mp3player/playlist.xml" wmode="transparent" border="0"
 /></center>

Of course, you can configure the size, colour etc yourself

If you want to see/hear it in action:

www.myspace.com/octopaul

I have set mine not to autoplay when you go to the page, that annoys me on other pages, so I didn't do it on mine. You can have little icon pictures to accompany each track as well. But best of all, of course, is that you have total control of the mp3.

Stargazer · 9th September 2006, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octopi

There are several sites where you can download 'blank' templates that add as front end flash players, eg

http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=Flash_MP3_Player

You can configure the size and playlists etc, then you put html in your myspace profile that will call and embed the flash player. Everything is references back to what is on your own web spcae.

Thanks, Octopi!

7161 · 9th September 2006, 12:56 PM

well if you want somewhere which doesnt throttle your bitrate and offers play links, 'stream all tracks' link and even a one-click 'create-podcast' option, try our place (50mb free space per user) www.7161.com

statikcat · 9th September 2006, 04:52 PM

I am pretty sure it is 128. Possibly 96. If it lets you upload a file that is 192 or higher then my guess is that it would have to uncode and recode the file to the players format which is why some may sound worse than others. Uploading an mp3 at the quality it plays back would be the best option.

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5th September 2006, 08:35 AM	#1
Stargazer Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 284	MySpace sound quality What's up with the sound quality at MySpace? It seems they have some conversion/decoding going on when uploading/streaming mp3s. On some material, (heavily limited) it sounds really terrible, especially in the hi end like cymbals etc. Is there some way to reduce the damage? What about alternative versions, mixed and mastered especially for this purpose? Maybe this will help putting an end to the "Level Wars"...

5th September 2006, 08:37 AM	#2
powercord Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 150	id be more worried about the fact most people play music on 10 dollar computer speakers than converting quality.... __________________ "You pathetic, little Techno-Queen!"-Roxxon

5th September 2006, 01:33 PM	#13
jeronimo Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Salvador, BA - Brazil Posts: 2,535	Is there a way to get the file from our temporary internet folder or something? This way we can find out what bit rate they're using... __________________ Think Diferente! www.verticeestudio.com http://www.myspace.com/jelmet

5th September 2006, 01:37 PM	#14
Alécio Costa Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Brazil, Florianópolis/SC Posts: 1,264	hi Forget Myspace and go with Audiostreet. Much Much better. Here is my personal stuff. It does not sound so horrible as the sme posted at Myspace: http://www.audiostreet.net/artist.aspx?artistid=38915 __________________ Alécio Costa Studio Music Production/Mastering http://www.aleciocosta.com Listen to my album at: http://www.audiostreet.net/artist.aspx?artistid=38915

5th September 2006, 11:06 AM	#7
aussie_techie Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 2,040	just a thought if you can find out what bit rate they use then convert to that bit rate at the best quality you can it should save it being reconverted by them with some shit algorithm on the lowest setting. it will never sound good but particularly at the lower bit rates the better conversion make a huge difference.

5th September 2006, 11:08 AM	#8
Red_venom Gear nut Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: California Posts: 111	There is no way it is 96kbps. It sounds HORRID. Its like 32kbps mono with some horrible codec, on the real.

5th September 2006, 11:17 AM	#10
aussie_techie Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 2,040	you cant tell a bit rate by listening, the codec used and the level used make a to much difference.

5th September 2006, 12:22 PM	#12
aussie_techie Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 2,040	ok i can tell you they use mp3 ill just check the bit rate ok well it appears the page im looking at just uses the files from an external server, so that how you use higher bit rates.

5th September 2006, 02:05 PM	#15
powercord Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 150	i mix on the speaker built into my g5, that helps allot. no joke. www.myspace.com/ilovetheguts __________________ "You pathetic, little Techno-Queen!"-Roxxon

5th September 2006, 04:12 PM	#16
alvarez Gear interested Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 11	The MYSPACE audio player is made in macromedia flash and streams audio through flash, so I don't think the file is saved in a temporary folder. It is probably compressed in MP3 format although flash can render and decompress other codecs such as ADPCM. I would guess the compression is around the 48kbps mark so it will stream even on a modem (and it is probably streaming in mono) ...at least it stops people nicking the music as the quality is so low... A.

5th September 2006, 04:47 PM	#18
aussie_techie Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 2,040	some are direct mp3 streams, other apear to be embadded into the flash files. its definatly stereo, just listen to it between stereo and mono and you will hear the difference assuming its not a songwhere everything is straight down the middle.

8th September 2006, 03:02 PM	#22
briefcasemanx Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 266	22.05khz. There is nothing above 11k, check it out in a spectrum analyzer.

8th September 2006, 10:42 PM	#24
octopi Gear Head Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Portsmouth, UK Posts: 35	I used my own flash player and embeded it in the myspace code for the page. This way the mp3's are streaming from my own webspace so I have total control over bitrate etc. It means people cannot add my songs to their play lists or download them but I don't care about that. They can go to the page and listen if they want to, at the mp3 quality I want. __________________ They are not guitars.... they are my children. We begin by coveting what we see every day.

9th September 2006, 01:05 AM	#26
octopi Gear Head Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Portsmouth, UK Posts: 35	There are several sites where you can download 'blank' templates that add as front end flash players, eg http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=Flash_MP3_Player You can configure the size and playlists etc, then you put html in your myspace profile that will call and embed the flash player. Everything is references back to what is on your own web spcae. The code you embed in your profile is something like this: HTML Code: <center><embed allowScriptAccess="never" allownetworking="internal" allowScriptAccess="never" src="address of where the flash player is" menu="false" quality="high" width="300" height="200" name="mp3player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" flashvars="&config=http://address of config on your webspace/mp3player/config.xml&file=http://address of playlist on your webspace/mp3player/playlist.xml" wmode="transparent" border="0" /></center> Of course, you can configure the size, colour etc yourself If you want to see/hear it in action: www.myspace.com/octopaul I have set mine not to autoplay when you go to the page, that annoys me on other pages, so I didn't do it on mine. You can have little icon pictures to accompany each track as well. But best of all, of course, is that you have total control of the mp3. __________________ They are not guitars.... they are my children. We begin by coveting what we see every day.

9th September 2006, 12:56 PM	#28
7161 Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 563	well if you want somewhere which doesnt throttle your bitrate and offers play links, 'stream all tracks' link and even a one-click 'create-podcast' option, try our place (50mb free space per user) www.7161.com __________________ www.7161.com Free music space for artists bands & deejays Free podcasting for artists, bands & deejays

9th September 2006, 04:52 PM	#29
statikcat Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: USA - Indiana Posts: 774	I am pretty sure it is 128. Possibly 96. If it lets you upload a file that is 192 or higher then my guess is that it would have to uncode and recode the file to the players format which is why some may sound worse than others. Uploading an mp3 at the quality it plays back would be the best option.