Digital Workshop

Hello, I usually use wav files in my publications, but my current projects will be using several pieces of music that are each a little longer than what I usually use, so I am considering going with MP3 this time.

The CD will be going out to 1500 clients, so I'd like to make sure that there isn't much possibility of problems. Does Direct X sound cause problems for many people? Is mp3 a "riskier" format than wav?

Thanks a lot,
Mike

Hi,

Not sure what you mean by riskier - I haven't encountered a problem using any of the sound formats that Opus supports.

My personal preference is to use ogg vorbis - sound quality is just as good as MP3 and the file size smaller than both MP3 and WAV - two minutes MP3 (recorded at 11025 Hz) 2MB, WAV 2.5MB and OGG 550Kb!

I use Audacity to convert files.

It's also worth mentioning that the Ogg Vorbis is played natively in Opus.

Hi, by riskier, I was referring more to having to enable Direct X sound, which a client just had problems with, so it's made me more leary of it than the average bear would be, or maybe even more leary than I should be.

Thanks for the tip on ogg, I didn't realize that it was so much smaller than MP3.

Appreciate it,
Mike

Really? That's great, I didn't know that. That would certainly factor into my decision; at least I wouldn't have to worry if the user had that certain codec or not. I may have to check out the Audacity program David mentioned.
Thanks,
Mike

Audacity is awesome. I have used it for quite some time.

Hi,
I downloaded Audacity, converted my MP3 files to .ogg, and they don't play in my pub. Does anyone know why? In Windows explorer, the .ogg files have that generic "unassociated" icon.
Thanks,
Mike

I found the problem. I had disabled Direct X sound. According to the help file Direct X Sound is not supposed to be necessary for .ogg, but it sure appears to be so.

The Ogg files are actually a little bit bigger than the MP3 files they were converted from.

Thanks,
Mike

Mike,

Audacity - http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

If you are planning to convert MP3s you will need the LAME encoder (also free ).

All instructions and links on the site.

Thanks a bunch!
Mike

If you do a Internet search you should be able to locate a codec/plugin
for Microsoft's Media Player that will enable it to play ogg files.

Will look for that, thanks.
Mike