mp3 help

[RabBell]

Never really worked with audio files before so any help is appreciated :thumb:

I have an MP3 file that is 136MB, is there anyway to compress it?

After compressing the file how would I present it on the web? I've seen most sound files stream from the net, how would I do that?

Sorry if these sound like noob questions but like I say, strangers to sound files I am

:cool:

[DarkChild]

not that i work a lot with audio-files, but i'd convert it to wmv, gets a lot smaller.
i have no idea about the streaming though

[RabBell]

yeah you're right DC you ain't worked with audio files a lot either

I have an AUP file that I converted to MP3 and it was 136MB. I converted the same AUP file to WAV format and it was 740MB........:sigh: :puzzled:

Anyone else any ideas?

[foodpk]

Well it's MP3 so it's probably already compressed. But you can compress it even more (92 kbps is probably the highest rate of compression that still has OK quality). You can use many programs to do that, I use CDex (http://cdexos.sourceforge.net/).

[DarkChild]

yeah you're right DC you ain't worked with audio files a lot either

I have an AUP file that I converted to MP3 and it was 136MB. I converted the same AUP file to WAV format and it was 740MB........:sigh: :puzzled:

Anyone else any ideas?

hmm, little typo :blush:

i didn't mean wmv and i didn't mean wav at all, that's audio-cd format ;), i meant wma, that'll shrink it down a lot. a 5mb mp3-file will be a 2mb wma-file

[G]

a 20 meg file would be pretty demanding on bandwidth using streaming although that is the best thing to do :)

[RabBell]

I've never used streaming though, I'm not even sure how to

how would I?

but I've still got to compress this mp3 down. I actually have 2 (1 at 136MB and another at 36MB...just too much to ask users to download)

[Maizoon]

hmm, little typo :blush:

i didn't mean wmv and i didn't mean wav at all, that's audio-cd format ;), i meant wma, that'll shrink it down a lot. a 5mb mp3-file will be a 2mb wma-file

Actually .cda is the audio CD format
.wav is an uncompressed audio format, pretty much the defacto standard before .mp3 came around. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.wav

The best compression is in either .wma (Windows Audio) or .rm (Real Audio) the problem though with doing that, is that not everyone has or uses theses formats so some of your users might be out of luck. I would say just recompress it to a lower bitrate, how low exactly is dependant on what the source file is (ie music or speech). Speech can go to a much lower bitrate and still sound good, while music starts sounding crappy at lower bitrates. In terms of streaming...I have a http://www.shoutcast.com server set up on my web server, and when i want to stream something i just make a .pls file with the name of the file i want to stream within it. Then I give the link to the .pls file and shoutcast handles the rest. *most* mp3 players can handle shoutcast source streams. I know winamp, windows media player, real player, mplayer, and xmms do.

[RabBell]

** BUMP DIDDY BUMP BUMP **

Oh well, anyone else any ideas/tips?

[Maxtr0sity]

What's the bitrate for them now? Depending on what's on the mp3's, you can even do VBR.

[thesparky007]

try changing it into a different format and reconvert it back?

[RabBell]

ok.........

treat me like an idiot, I know nothing about streaming, nothing at all

NOW, point me towards something that will help me....please :*(

[Jasninder]

thats quite a lot to stream really....136 > 32 mb's ...even 20 MB"s man..think about the bandwidth issue...can u convert it into .rm or gsm wave...size can be lowered that way too...if that was for fones amr was best..dont think its importable in flash..or even playable.

what all sound softwares do you have...

[RabBell]

ok, I tried converting the MP3 to a WMA but I couldn't play it with the old version of Media PLayer or Quick Time player we have here at the company. I'm able to update it but no-one outside our department is able to, meaning the WMA format is pretty useless for my needs I fear...

anyone know another format that might be worthwhile?

[lunatic]

you can play around with the compression settings in audacity too ;) There is a pretty good users guide on the website that will show you how/where I think. Anyway, why not use a flash audio player? Voets v3 uses xml and is streaming and it kicks ***. You can find it on his website.

:hr:

[prstudio]

In the mp3 compression settings I would knock it down to 22050 Hz or around 16000 Hz
Speech should sound fine, but music might sound like an AM radio station.

Is the file mainly speech? Cause you can have a field day compressing speech. I don't have the program in front of me because I'm at work, but I can get the settings later tonight if you are still having trouble.

What program are you using?

[RabBell]

it is just speech

I've downloaded a bunch of programs but the one I'm using the most is called audacity (endorsed by Lunatic :thumb: )

[trundrumbalind]

Sorenson Squeeze for streaming vids AND audio rocks.

[prstudio]

also convert the file to 8 bit mono

i feel your pain, i had to squeeze down a few 30-60 minute sermons one time - if it gets too hairy - you might could put the file and i could take a whack at it later on tonight.

[RabBell]

actually I've managed to mess around with audacitys settings and got it from 138MB down to 33MB...:beam:

Leaving the office soon but I'll give it another go tomorrow and hopefully get it under 20 or even 15MB....

I'll try converting it to 8 bit mono as well, amazing how eager you become when it's all working properly ;)

[lunatic]

hooray for audacity! :party:

[RabBell]

wow messing around with the settings got it from 136MB to........16MB :pleased:

big thumbs up for audacity from me :thumb:

thanks guys :beam:.....and luni as well of course :cool:

[lunatic]

Nice work Rab ;)

[Jasninder]

with someone could have helped me like this too



*turning green*