I was wondering if it was (I presume it is) possible to convert VBR to CBR and what program can be used to achieve best results..

THANK YOU

Re: VBR to CBR???

do you want a freeware program? i don't use a free one so i can't name one but i'm sure others here can. i personally use easy cdda extractor" and within the program, there's it's own module called "easy audio file converter". the version i have is 4.5 which is probably 5-6 years old but hey, if it ain't broke, why fix it, right? the encoding engine, lame, can be replaced separately (just get newest copy of lame.dll) so even tho the program is old, the encoding engine isn't.

Re: VBR to CBR???

Can I ask why you'd wanna convert it from vbr to cbr?

Re: VBR to CBR???

^ I was thinking the same thing. It'll do nothing but reduce sound quality

Re: VBR to CBR???

Maybe to reduce the file size?

I would use EAC and LAME to decompress it to WAV and then recompress it to CBR.

Re: VBR to CBR???

well I am not sure I am thinking of the right thing... Basically I got some cdj200 and I have lots of singles in VBR and the cdj's can play them but I cant use cue or fast forward so it makes playing those songs particularly difficult. So I thought if I converted them to CBR I wouldn't have a problem. Am I wrong? is there a better way?

Re: VBR to CBR???

why don't you just burn an audio cd, so they will become wav files...then you won't have to worry about that stuff, or are you really trying to only bring 4 cd's with you to a gig.

Re: VBR to CBR???

dude... dont try converting. you will only lose sound quality. YES, it is possible to take all those vbr's and convert them to 320k or whatever, but you will lose in the end. i've been using my 200's for over three years now and have never stooped to the level of re-converting tracks although at one point i did consider it and even got in to arguments with some other person on this board about sound loss. in the end, you and your listeners will benefit from burning the tracks as regular audio.

Re: VBR to CBR???

You can only downsample MP3s anyway, no point converting VBR to 320kbps. The best option is to burn as audio or WAV if the decks have problems tracking VBR.

Re: VBR to CBR???

well the problem with the cdj 200's is this:

when you burn your tracks as data, the vbr encoded tracks will only play. you cannot cue them or set cue points. it becomes a real problem for someone who is trying to skimp on cdr's

:p

Re: VBR to CBR???

i think that if you re-encode them in the max. bitrate of the VBR there will be no quality loss, only a size increase.

i.e if the VBR is 128-256kbps and you encode it in 256kbps CBR

Re: VBR to CBR???

okay...so wav it is then. Thanks for your insight guys. You have been more than helpful as always.

Re: VBR to CBR???

dont re-encode your tracks from any form of mp3 to wav. :what

Re: VBR to CBR???

what do u mean....? I only have my tracks in mp3 i don't get them in wav ever?

Re: VBR to CBR???

dont re-encode (re-save) them as wav

.wav is a format like .mp3 is a format

Re: VBR to CBR???

Wouldn't decompressing his VBR mp3s to WAV solve the tracking problems?

Re: VBR to CBR???

YES, but what im trying to sway him from.. is the whole re-encoding thing.

burning your VBR tracks as audio will allow you every normal function, whereas re-encoding vbr to wav or whatever will give you sound loss.

Re: VBR to CBR???

playing data discs (mp3 cd's) is cheap and in the long run your audience will suffer.

Re: VBR to CBR???

I am under the impression that WAV would have no sound loss because it is uncompressed audio. It's taking your MP3s and decompressing them into an unprocessed format, kinda like unziping the contents of a zip file?

Re: VBR to CBR???

it is entirely possible that my understanding of the .wav format is misinterpreted.

for me, the saying "if it isn't broken, why fix it" applies here.

i will gladly accept any corrections in my previous statements if logically backed up.

Re: VBR to CBR???

According to Wiki, it's uncompressed raw audio though there are compressed versions (which I've not come across before) [QUOTE] Though a WAV file can hold [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_data_compression"]compressed[/URL] audio, the most common WAV format contains uncompressed audio in the [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-code_modulation"]pulse-code modulation[/URL] (PCM) format. PCM audio is the standard audio file format for CDs, containing two channels of 44,100 samples per second, 16 bits per sample. Since PCM uses an uncompressed, [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lossless"]lossless[/URL] storage method, which keeps all the samples of an audio track, professional users or audio experts may use the WAV format for maximum audio quality. WAV audio can also be edited and manipulated with relative ease using software.blabla[/QUOTE]

But as you said, between uncompressing to WAV, and burning the files onto CDR, it's eaiser to just burn the MP3 as audio and let your burning program handle the decompression step.

Re: VBR to CBR???

excellent ownage in that paragraph. even though i attended recording engineering classes, i retained about .000001% of the information being launched into my brain. i am only [constructively] arguing my point based on personal experience - better known as trial-&-error.

glad to have some resolution in the end though, thanks feather.

Re: VBR to CBR???

[QUOTE=Jibgolly;572178]burning your VBR tracks as audio will allow you every normal function, whereas re-encoding vbr to wav or whatever will give you sound loss.[/QUOTE] burning your tracks as audio = decode the .mp3s to uncompressed audio (.wav? :p) so its the same as re-encoding it...

edit: oh i didnt see the posts above :p

Re: VBR to CBR???

and i thought i knew what was up. :D

Re: VBR to CBR???

mp3 is compressed sound. wav is is usually the raw sound file aka uncompressed.

if your source is mp3 ... you all ready lost. if your source is wav ... you can up or down pending your final format.

Re: VBR to CBR???

when you burn to audio CD, you're actually decoding MP3 to WAV...since everything pretty much does it on the fly these days, why spend a separate step doing such, then burning?

Re: VBR to CBR???

going back though to the original question, you can TRY [URL="http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=40780&hl="]mp3packer[/URL] and see if it works out well for you.

Definitely make backups of the originals first though :)

That was an annoyance in the 200's more then anything; the Denon 1000's I think worked better on that. The CDJ-400's and 1000MKIII's probably play them a lot cleaner too (not that I've ever had a personal need for such; to me it's more of the "in a pinch" mode, especially now with the 400's having USB built-in support)

My personal feeling is that if you re-encode, yes you lose some quality; it's a given. But if it's a very high-end encoding to begin with, a re-encode around that point I feel is a like a step or 2 down; say going from originally "256" to a "224" or a "192" overall sound...even though it may still say "256" on it.

Re: VBR to CBR???

thats why i failed Full Sail. never comprehended the simplest terms. :what

Re: VBR to CBR???

well i don't actually keep any mp3 bellow 320kbps for mixing. I think even the vbr are encoded to a very high quality thats why I wasn't initially worried about loss of quality. But I have decided to burn all vbr as audio from now on anyways. So thanks 4 your help guys. Truly appreciated.

Re: VBR to CBR???

[QUOTE=feather;571914]Maybe to reduce the file size?[/quote] How can going from VBR to CBR reduce the file size? Only way to achieve that is if they went a step down. I.E. going from 221KB to 192KB but then the sound quality is going to be smacked to hell and it won't make much of a difference in file size either. [QUOTE=feather;571914]I would use EAC and LAME to decompress it to WAV and then recompress it to CBR.[/QUOTE] Ouch. You might as well tell him to press it into vinyl and use it as a hub cap for a year before he listens to it.

Re: VBR to CBR???

You're right, but well those were to answer why or how he can convert VBR to CBR ... Beanz we know you're bored. This has been resolved :EatMe:

Re: VBR to CBR???

I like the hubcap idea....fuck rims, use records...

Re: VBR to CBR???

can you tell me which mp3 shop offers VBR mp3s? :D

Re: VBR to CBR???

^ | lol.

Re: VBR to CBR???

[QUOTE=feather;574849]You're right, but well those were to answer why or how he can convert VBR to CBR ... Beanz we know you're bored. This has been resolved :EatMe:[/QUOTE]I am never bored. I may have answered late. Didn't scope out the last few responses. My penis is hard so I'll be happy with that.

Re: VBR to CBR???

DEATH TO VBR!!!!

In these days of immense bandwidth and incredible fast modems to help bring that information to yourself. Why do we need to encode music in such a way that it makes the file size even smaller. In days like this we should all laugh when someone encodes a file at 128 or even 192K. These days we should be focusing more on 320 all the way for MP3, unless it is used for streaming music, which then 192 would be fine. And FLAC for all single tracks.

Re: VBR to CBR???

That's besides the point. Everything should be FLAC, SHN or even OGG but most people are too stupid in that respect.

Re: VBR to CBR???

^^^true. but not totally beside the point.

Re: VBR to CBR???

It's right next to it. Over there.