Jump to content

ATRAC3 vs. ATRAC3 plus

Rate this topic


gureo003

Recommended Posts

sorry... here I am with another post...

When using SonicStage with my N-10, I am given the choice to import to my 'music drive' using ATRAC3 or ATRAC PLUS. I want to record into LP4 mode, so I know I am supposed to use ATRAC3 (66 kbps). But I noticed that there is another option for ATRAC3 PLUS at 64 kbps.

Since the bitrate between the two is so close here, which would be the better choice? I read that ATRAC3 PLUS is newer & has a high quality compression, but how would it compare to the quality of ATRAC 3 (64 kbps vs. 66 kbps).

Also, if I did record in ATRAC3 PLUS, would I run into compatability issues when using seperate MDLP players for playback if those players do not support ATRAC3 PLUS (just because the bitrate is a bit different than normal MDLP standards)?

again... thanks in advance for any help !!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Minidisc players don't use atrac3plus yet, and I don't know if they ever will. At the moment, atrac3 plus is for sony cd players.

However, good thought. Atrac3plus does actually sound better than LP4, so if MD's could use it, used be on the right track.

If you'd like, you could try playing atrac3plus on your md and see what happens. I'm kinda curious, I might try it myself even though it won't work...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

:?

hmmm...... I tried it. It seemed like it was working, actually. I was able to convert the .mp3 file into an ATRAC3 PLUS file on my music drive (I did both 64 & 48 kbps). Then when I went to check it out to my MD player, it seemed like it was working, again. It did put the song on the MD, but I think it converted it back to a standard ATRAC3 file in the process. It played fine, but it now showed that it was an ATRAC3 file on the MD player (sound quality was great, btw).

The strange thing was that the .OMG file on my music drive also showed as a ATRAC3 file after I checked it out once (it DID show as an ATRAC3 PLUS file before I checked it out....).

So, weirdness all around.... but I think that essentailly SonicStage automatically reverts the file back to a standard ATRAC3 file when you try to check it out to a non-ATRAC3 PLUS media device. Not really sure.... it would have been nice tho...

Greensboro, eh? btw, I am now in Japan, but I was at UNCG a few years back!

8)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All right! I love it when I find people that know that Greensboro even exists...UNCG, huh? I might as well live at New York City Pizza considering how often I'm there. I just graduated from Grimsley. How'd you end up in Japan?

That is a VERY weird thing that happend on your comp. A few questions...did the original atrac3plus file remain, or was it overwritten/converted to atrac3? What bitrate was it displaying on your md unit? (I'd guess LP2.) You said the sound quality was great? Was it better than normal MD sound?

I'm gonna do some experiments tonight if I get the chance, I'm fascinated by your findings.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

well, I studied Japanese thru consortium classes at Guilford College & after graduating came here on a teaching program. It's great here ! (I live in the sticks up north...nowhere near a big city), & I don't see myself leaving anytime soon. Been here 7 years now...time just flies ! :shock:

Anyway... yeah, you can 'make' the ATRAC3 PLUS file on your music drive & even listen to it using SonicStage, but when you check it out to MD, that'S when the weirdness starts. From what I can tell, SonicStage converts it back to a normal ATRAC3 file when you try to check it out, but after you do, it even shows the original file on your music drive as a normal ATRAC3 file. So, it did seem to overwrite the original file. Don't know why that happened. I didn't pay any attention to the bitrate (is there a way to see this once you convert a file?), but it did show LP4 on the MD player track. And it didn't sound 'wavy' or 'tinny' as LP4 typically do...sounded much more like LP2. I should have paid more attention to the file size (in megs) to see if there was any size difference when using using ATRAC3 Plus...... that would be interesting.

It also got me thinking.... you know how you have the option of converting the original .mp3 file firts to your music drive & then again when you write that .OMG file to MD?.... I wonder what combination would produce the highest quality results if you wrote an LP4 .OMG file directly to MD using the 'normal' encoding option, or would it be better to use a higher quality LP2 .OMG file & write that to the MD using LP4? (or would it essentally yield the same quality results?)....does this make sense???

:roll:

Well, anyway, give it a try yourself & let me know what you think of the results.

later...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...