ogg vs mp3 in gramaphone folder

[frau kaleun]

I'm curious if there are any advantages/disadvantages to using one file type over the other in the gramaphone folder.

Also wondering if, in addition to adding files there, it's safe to delete any .ogg or .mp3 files that were installed with the stock game or GWX3 if I want to take them out of the mix?

Thanks!

[Weiss Pinguin]

IIRC .ogg has better quality vs. mp3, at least according to Kpt. Buna ;)

[Oneshot/Onekill]

A vast majority of .ogg files are more stable than .mp3 files. (less corrupted files).

.mp3 files from what i've found seem to be a little louder.

[TarJak]

Personally I have both in my Grammophone folder and can really not see much appreciable difference that cannot be attributed to the source or the settings used when the file was created. I can;t comment on stability of either format as I personally have had no problem with file corruptions in either format when using files I've created myself or files I have received from other sources.

Sound quality of both formats depends on the source and what quality settings were used when the file was created.

As to the actual differences .ogg compresses data at a variable bit rate whilst MP3 uses a constant bit rate. If you are copying chunks of silence into MP3 format, the compression bit rate stays the same as if you were compressing the sound of an entire orchestra. But if you are copying chunks of silence into Ogg, your compression rate will drop to nothing. The rate varies with the need.

Thus .ogg uses a more efficient method of compression than MP3.

This does a good job of explaining most of the key differences in laymans terms: http://cd-burning-software-review.toptenreviews.com/audio-file-types.html

If you want to get a little more technical then check this out: http://www.patheticcockroach.com/mpam4/index.php?p=16
The conclusions section here says it all. Considering an audible range from 20 Hz to 18 kHz, there is probably no audible difference between MP3 224 kbps and MP3 with higher bitrates, and there is probably no audible difference between Ogg q4 and Ogg with a higher quality.

We are not able to propose MP3-Ogg equivalences, because at an equivalent bitrate, Ogg preserves a wider range of frequencies than MP3 but tends to modify the original sound (even if this doesn't seem audible to us) more than MP3. We didn't expect such a result so we haven't been able to analyze it properly and as deeply as it should be.
Google is your friend.:salute:

[Sailor Steve]

As TJ said, they both sound about the same. Some complaints were made in the past that sometimes MP3s skip to the next song before the last one is done. Others have said they've never had that problem.

Wav files work perfectly well too. They just take up a lot more space.

[irish1958]

The advantage of MP3 files is that you can change the volume to suit your install. There may be a program to do this with ogg files and wave files, but I don't know of one. You can change the volume of wave files with the windows program, but in 25% steps.
Some programs will let you make MP3 files with a variable bit rate; when I have done this, I haven't found much, if any, reduction in file size. Perhaps, this is because I have only converted loud files.
I have found some problems with mp3 files in the game; skipping, incomplete play, and occasionally, no play at all.
For that reason, I have always used FileFactory to convert all my mp3 files to ogg.
If someone knows of a good (i.e. free) program to change the volume of ogg files, I would like to know.

[frau kaleun]

Thanks for all the info.

I've just reinstalled SH3 on a new system and I'm getting ready to add GWX and whatever other mods look interesting to start out with. I'd only had the game for about a month before getting the new rig and hadn't got beyond the Academy and a couple of uneventful first patrols. Hadn't even scratched the surface of everything that would be possible especially with mods installed.

I do have quite a bit of music in both .ogg and .mp3 formats already that I was hoping to add to the Gramaphone mix once I really get going with it - was just trying to decide if it was worth converting .mp3 files to .ogg before adding them in. Seems like maybe the .ogg format may be a bit more stable.

I do still want to make sure that it's okay to delete/replace any Gramaphone files that are installed with the stock game and GWX. Also I seem to remember that the ones that came with GWX had file names that started with 01, 02, etc., does that indicate a "track number" that has anything to do with the order in which they're queued when you play the Gramaphone in the game?

I also want to echo other sentiments I've read in the forums here about how welcoming and patient everyone is with newbies like me. Does a lot to keep one's interest in the game and site alive and kicking when info and support (and general kamaraderie) is available in such a friendly atmosphere. :salute:

[irish1958]

fk,
I assume you are of the fairer sex; if so you need to get an avatar to match. The moderator should be able to help you with this.
You can delete all the files in the gramophone folder without harm. The numbers on the file are the order in which they will play. When you start the gramophone, they will always play in this order. To randomize the files you need a separate program such as SH3 Commander or SH3 randomizer

[Jimbuna]

Some complaints were made in the past that sometimes MP3s skip to the next song before the last one is done. Others have said they've never had that problem.



The fact remains the problem has been reported on more than a few occasions.

My advice would be to stick with ogg.vorbis.

[frau kaleun]

fk,
I assume you are of the fairer sex; if so you need to get an avatar to match. The moderator should be able to help you with this.
You can delete all the files in the gramophone folder without harm. The numbers on the file are the order in which they will play. When you start the gramophone, they will always play in this order. To randomize the files you need a separate program such as SH3 Commander or SH3 randomizer

Lol, Herr Admiral, I'm actually enjoying watching my avator change and looking forward to finding out what sort of promotion and/or indignity might pop up next. I was almost sad to see Popeye the Sailor Man disappear although if I log in one day to find I've become Poopdeck Pappy I may feel differently. :O:

Thanks to everyone for the info provided - definitely answers all my questions so far. I'm pretty sure the file converter I've got will let me turn everything into .ogg but I'm not crazy about the program's interface, so I'll definitely check out FileFactory as well.

[Draka]

I'm using MP3 2 Ogg Lab 2004 - which I found on the 'Net - mostly works fine, but in some cases it must have re-sampled the rate because the result sounds like the Chipmunks! Other than that I'm very happy with .ogg files as opposed to .mp3

[Jimbuna]

I convert my music with this free software application:

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/download.htm

If you decide to give it a try, don't forget to download the codecs:

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central.htm

[frau kaleun]

but in some cases it must have re-sampled the rate because the result sounds like the Chipmunks!

Lol, the Chipmunks for SH3... I guess that would be Simon, Theodore, and BERNAAAAAAARD!

[frau kaleun]

I convert my music with this free software application:

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/download.htm

If you decide to give it a try, don't forget to download the codecs:

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central.htm

Danke!

[Jimbuna]

Danke!

Your welcome http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

[Draka]

Just switched to that program and re-did all the .mp3 files - no more Chipmunks - good find - thanks.

[Jimbuna]

Just switched to that program and re-did all the .mp3 files - no more Chipmunks - good find - thanks.
SINK EM ALL!! http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif