Re-saving MP3s

ahab · Post by **ahab** » November 29th, 2006, 7:19 am

Hi -- my apologies if this question has been covered here already. Basically, my situation is this. I have just completed one book, which is undergoing prooflistening as I write, and a few small errors are coming up that I'd like to fix. Because my computer is disk-space-challenged, I have only the MP3 exports still available -- i.e., I did not keep the Audacity project files, and did not generate wavs for the chapters.

So, to do the sound edits, I need to know: If I import the MP3s at a 44.1KHz project rate (which I used in the initial recording), make some minor corrections, and then re-export as MP3 using the same bit rate (128, as recommended), will the sound quality be comparable to the original? Is there any argument for exporting as a wav and doing the edits on the wav file, and then reexporting as MP3, or some other mumbo jumbo? (I can't offhand think why this would make a difference, but that shows how little I know about this.)

Any insights would be appreciated. Since I know that MP3 is a lossy format, I want to minimize any problems on the edits, since I no longer have the lossless versions available.

Best wishes, and thanks in advance,

Ahab

jimmowatt · Post by **jimmowatt** » November 29th, 2006, 7:23 am

There will be some degradation but it's such a high bit rate that it's unlikely you'll be able to hear any difference.
There would be no benefit to converting them to wav files now.

ahab · Post by **ahab** » November 29th, 2006, 7:24 am

jimmowatt wrote:There will be some degradation but it's such a high bit rate that it's unlikely you'll be able to hear any difference.
There would be no benefit to converting them to wav files now.

A truly amazing response rate!

Thanks very much for such a quick, concise, and useful response.

Ahab

Starlite · Post by **Starlite** » November 29th, 2006, 7:42 am

The problems come from consistant importing and exporting of a single file. Its like making a photo copy of a photo copy of a photo copy.... you get the picture.

jimmowatt · Post by **jimmowatt** » November 29th, 2006, 10:37 am

ahab wrote:
A truly amazing response rate!
Ahab

There often is on here I find.
I'm recording a chapter of History of Holland and I posted a long list of French and Dutch words from the chapter I reckoned I might have trouble with.
Within an hour Ezwa and Anna had posted a sound file each, one with French and the other with Dutch, reading of the words.
Astounding response.

brianlojeck · Post by **brianlojeck** » November 29th, 2006, 3:14 pm

as a professional computer geek, may I gently suggest you pick up a CD or DVD burner? They get cheaper and cheaper every day, and will provide an easy way to keep your raw materials archived off your PC's hard disk.

Starlite · Post by **Starlite** » November 29th, 2006, 3:16 pm

Another option is using a separate hard drive to store files. I am running off a 40 gig Hard drive but my files are stored on an 80 gig. Lots of room and little cost to buy.