MP3 encoding quality: LAME vs MusicMatch - a test

[vin_petrol]

Chatting to a friend he didn't seem impressed that I still used WinAmp to listen to MP3 files. Apparently, MP3 files created by MusicMatch are of superior quality to those created by WinAmp. Actually, this was immaterial, as I use LAME to create MP3 files, and have done for years. I did try using MusicMatch a while ago, but it crashed with an error when I ran it, and the writers would only give me tech support if I paid the shareware fee for the more 'enhanced' version, which I was not willing to do. What with upgrading to XP recently it seemed reasonable to give MusicMatch another chance as an MP3 encoder.

The test that *really* mattered was as follows:
Rip and encode an arbitrary song from CD using two MP3 encoders:
1) LAME
2) MusicMatch
at 128kbps. Listen to the resulting MP3 files on my portable MP3 player and see which sounds best.

What with my hearing being less-than-brilliant after *mumble* years of loud music and motorbike riding, I didn't really expect to hear much difference.

The installation of MusicMatch went fine, although a BIG BLACK MARK to it for *automatically* assuming I wanted it as my default player for media files *without* asking me. This is something iTunes, WinAmp and even Windows Media Player did NOT do - all asked me if wanted them to do this ("no" being my consistent reply).

We also wanted a song that I didn't really know. Trash bought a CD recently by The Rasmus, which I hadn't listened to, so that seemed a good sample. We also wanted a song with "loud bits and quiet bits". She suggested a song off that called Still Standing, so I ripped and encoded it with both programs. I then copied them to my MP3 player and got Trash to randomly name the files (using a d6) whilst I was out of the room. I took the MP3 player away and listened to "2.mp3" and "3.mp3" for a while.

3.mp3 seemed to be slightly better. It had a kinda richer quality across all the frequencies, and was slightly nicer to listen to. Neither MP3 had any 'problems' per se - there were no clicks or buzzes or anything like that.

It turns out 3.mp3 was created by: MusicMatch. So my friend is vindicated, and I'll use MusicMatch to encode any future MP3s I create.

Comments

[vin_petrol]

I think you need a bigger sample.

One file is fun. A proper sample is hard work! :-)

Feel free to continue my work...