Hi,

Just got a copy of Silent Force from the Within Temptation from Amazon. It sounds absolutely crap!. The tracks have no bass no vibe no nothing. Totally flat.

Is it because the MP3 from Amazon are crap? How about the tracks from iTune? Any better?

 

I've found that most MP3s and iTunes songs sound like crap... they don't take any care to ensure that the levels don't blow past the clipping point of the compression encoders.

My iPod music collection used to sound like crap -- using 192kbps MP3 without any level correction. Now I use lossless music files, adjust the levels using wavegain, and compress to 128kbps Apple format. Takes longer but sounds 100% better, plus I'm not scrambling for the volume when a ridiculously hot (level-wise) track comes on.

 

I buy all my music from Amazon MP3 and never had a problem (at least that I noticed)

 

Do you need a special software to do this? Or is it in the iTunes? I just got my iPhone 3G, and I'm uploading songs to it. And I found that some songs are louder than others. BTW, this is my first Apple product, so I'm completely new to the iTunes stuff.

 

I think iTunes will auto-level the volume for you across all tracks. Check in the settings.

 

No, you want that turned off...it actually screws up the levels worse.

 

I probably spend much more time on this than most people are willing to. Wavegain is a freeware package -- you should be able to google it and find the program and how to use it.

I also apply the same techniques for making DVD-Audios for the car so that I don't have levels all over the place there either.

I use dbPowerAmp to handle conversions between music formats.

Itunes will indeed level the songs, but if you have a disc like Pink Floyd's The Wall where tracks run continuously from one to another, you will end up with different levels between tracks. If that doesn't bother you, it might work for you.

 

or you can direct that cash flow into usenet, like giganews. enuf said.

 

O'rly? Gotta try it turned off to see...

 

I use itunes but its just because I have an Ipod.

 

i have several and an appletv, but still choose to use amazon, because it's fully drm free and mp3

 

So... it is not that the MP3 from Amazon is crappy. It is just what it is wherever I buy the songs.

or... is it just that these particular tracks from Within Temptation are just poorly mixed?

Do you guys have this CD?

I personally think the TSX has too much bass from the crappy Pioneer. I usually tune down the bass to -1. But I have to crank up the bass to at least +2 to even feel anything from this Amazon MP3. And I am talking about listening to Metal here.

 

What EQ setting is your IPOD on?

I have bass-heavy earbuds, so I generally set the EQ to "bass reducer" and often forget to change it back when I plug into the AUX jack...

 

Amazon > iTunes.

Better quality, cheaper music, great deals on music and better music suggestions based on previous views and purchases.

True, the interface is not as streamlined as iTunes, but the quality is better. Plus, having mp3 files > DRM.

 

Yeah for DRM free music Amazon is the best. The music studios are not happy with how popular iTS is now a days cause they have to release their music on that site and now they lose some of the authority for how much they can charge etc for music cause Apple doesn't want varying price models. So what they're doing now to try and dethrone Apple or at least create a viable competitor is to give the DRM free stuff to stores other than Apple. Apple has DRM free music but not as much as Amazon has. I think all the studios are on board for DRM free at Amazon but not on iTS. As of late March USA today reports that iTS still only has 2 millions DRM Free songs while Amazon has 4.5 million!! Another reason why IMO I would avoid getting an Apple TV cause it won't ever get the full selection that another service will cause the studios are afraid of having what happened with music happen with digital video rentals/purchases.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/...-service_N.htm

 

I thought I should chime in since I DJ and buy a lot of digital music. Amazon usually is where I do most of my shopping since I need DRM free mp3s. However, iTunes has a section(iTunes Plus) where you can buy DRM free AAC files @ 256kbps - simply convert them to MP3 once hey are downloaded. I have found that most of the time an AAC file encoded @ 256kbps sounds better than and MP3 encoded at the same bitrate.

FYI Rumors have been spreading about an iTunes launching a subscription service that would give you unlimited access for around $125 per year. Also all the music would be 256kbps and DRM free They should just go 320kbps though!!!

One more thing! I have found that if you buy MP3s that have been ripped from older recordings they won't sound that good.For example I have bought a few from Amazon that have tape hiss.

 

If you are going to run the ipod through your car...EQ should be off as well...use the EQ in your head unit...

 

Does the ipod EQ have an "Off" setting? mines in the car right now, and I am too lazy to check...

Anyway, good point, although the EQ in the TSX head unit leaves a bit to be desired...