ATRAC3 or ATRAC3PLUS?

[mgillespie]

I set Connect to convert my WMA and MP3 to ATRAC3PLUS, at 128K, I cannot determine if it's done this OK, as on the player it says ATRAC @ 128 in the Track Detailed Information.

Is there any way of telling if these files are being converted to PLUS rather than normal?

Am I correct in thinking for the same bitrate, ATRAC3PLUS gives smaller files, so therefore a better choice, or is it not as simple as that??

[Guest Stuge]

If i`m able to understand your question then i think....

As far as i know Connect doesn`t allow to convert mp3,wma into atrac or atracplus.But you can rip cds into Atrac format using connect software.But in my opinion why you want to convert mp3`s` to artac because during conversion quality of file is lost .

Atrac 48kpbs is better than Wma 64kpbs or mp3 64kpbs but file size of Atrac 64kpbs is same as Wma 64kpbs or mp3 64kpbs.So whether it is mp3 ,atrac or wma file size are same for same bit rates.

[willykyu]

Mgillespie, I think you misunderstood the "plus" thing. I guess I know what you mean.

Atrac 3 PLUS is the name of the new bitrates created AFTER Atrac 3. Atrac 3 bitrates are 66, 105 (LP4) and 132 kbps (LP2). They were introduced with net MD, to increase the capacity of MD. Then SONY brought an evolution of the codec with Atrac 3 PLUS, and its 3 new bitrates: 48, 64 and 256 kbps. They were meant to compress more without too much decreasing the sound quality. Then you could choose to encode a CD with these 6 bitrates.

Recently, ATRAC PLUS codec series has been added new bitrates: 94, 128, 160, 192 and 320. Like this SONY could have the same series of bitrates than MP3 an d WMA. People used to these bitrates (especially 128) could maybe better understand. People really wanted something between 132 and 64, like 128.

Today, 132 seems obsolete, as to my ears I was surprised to feel that 128 sounded better than 132, as 94 sounded really good to me, better than 64... but could be my ears.

So there is only one 128 atrac bitrate, and its ATRAC 3 PLUS by default.

But where it can be a bit confusing, is that there is now with connect and Sonicstage 3.3 a new option called quick copy, and high quality copy. I think you 'd better not pay attention to the quick copy option (select CD tracks in CONNECT, right clic). I don't really know what it does. Once encoded I guess there no way to know if the track has been "quick" ripped, or "high quality" ripped. I'm not sure in either way, that there a real gain of space.

Then and finally, about your MP3 files, concerting them in Atrac 3/atrac3 plus format of the same bitrate won't change its size. It will decrease its quality by encoding once again an already MP3 compressed sound file. The only way you could shrink your file is choosing a smaller bitrate like 94, or 64 kbps bitrate. But the sound will be worse, but still "listenable". The best thing is transfer directly MP3 on your device without cahnging anything.

About WMA, though a new firmware for A-1000 and A-3000 is out today on the japanese sony walkman support page (vesrion 1.01), and I'm not sure it brings any new feature yet, a new update is schedule sometime this month to let the player natively read WMA. Untill then, CONNECT Player will convert your tracks with the bitrate you choosed in the options.