I use VBR with LAME all the time, for field recordings as well as music.
The implementation in LAME is very good. I tend to use a compression
setting of "2", which corresponds to roughly 10 to 1 compression, with
an average bitrate between 160 and 210 kbps. You can also use a higher
quality setting in the encoder, which means it takes a while longer to
make the file, but it is done to a higher standard. I use the default
setting for this, which is already pretty good. I have yet to hear any
obvious artifacts, such as this "pumping" you describe, in either music
or field recs. Not every MP3 encoder works the same, you know...
d.
Rich Peet Wrote
> I strongly recommend that for natural sound recording, never ever use
> Variable Bit Rate MP3. Because even with loud birds there is quiet
> between the notes and the result is terrible. On quiet sounds and
> changing volume sounds you place a "pumping" sound to your files
> background. This can be avoided by using Constant Bit Rate.
--
derek holzer ::: http://www.umatic.nl
---Oblique Strategy # 45:
"Disciplined self-indulgence"
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