What bit rate do you use these days ?

[digmen1]

A few years ago 128 was the most popular bit rate (because of file size).

These days I like to get files with 192 bit rate.

What do you do ?

Is it worth going the full hog for 320 ?

What bit rate has the best availability on the web.

Please do not mention vbr (I am not interested in those)

[1000possibleclaws]

Why are you not interested in VBR?

I can only think of reasons to switch to VBR, not the other way around.

[Glitterstep]

according to me its 320...coz i get my EDM music in 320 bit rate

[Skiz]

"320" is a constant bitrate (CBR). There is absolutely no reason to use or suggest 320 CBRs.

Mp3 files are made up from 100's of small audio chunks, called frames. Whilst encoding a variable bitrate (VBR) file, the encoder decides which bit rate to use for each frame. The bitrate can drop down to lower value when it is permissible (if there is not much audio going on), and switches up to a higher value when required.

This trickles down to less drive space for a potentially better sounding tune.

Drive space is cheap for your PC, but not so much for items such as iPods. Not only will VBR allow you to add more music to your device but it will actually save battery life it as well.

Most mp3 players load a certain amount of music into the buffer so that the disks can be shut down to save damage to the whilst on the move and to save battery life by not accessing the disks so often. If your files are smaller, the device isn't working as hard and thus saving battery life.

[n00bz0r]

A few years ago 128 was the most popular bit rate (because of file size).

These days I like to get files with 192 bit rate.

What do you do ?

Is it worth going the full hog for 320 ?

What bit rate has the best availability on the web.

Please do not mention vbr (I am not interested in those)

VBR is way better than sticking to lame 192s
go for V0 or V2 if you have space constraints. They offer better quality for the space they occupy.

[digmen1]

Please do not mention vbr (I am not interested in those)

Thanks for the replies. but see my original post.

Which bit rates (other than vbr) do you use these days ?

[The_Martinator]

Wow, you guys know your stuff. I download Flacs. These range (afaik) from 800 something and up.

[djerholler69]

if you've got super ears, or a super sound system or have lots of harddisk space, going FLAC is a worthy option. If you're not intending to do any transcoding, I guess 320kbps is fantastic enough, since you don't want vbr

I use 320kbps when I can't get v0/v2, until a day where petabyte storage solutions are in mass production and filesharing has bloomed to a standard for all earthlings. I will do FLAC then Or maybe by then, there is a new container that makes it much more size efficient! ahh, daydreams...

[1000possibleclaws]

Is there any basis in it being CBR? I mean I'll get whatever bitrate I can if I can't get a v2/v0. Preferably Flac to convert to v0, or else 320 or 192. I just don't like seeing 224 or 256 CBR in my collection. Probably because those are what v0 and v2 respectively average around.

So Flac, 320, and 192. Or if it's lower than 192 i'll get the highest I can find. I personally don't think it's worth going to 320. The file sizes are huge and not efficient. 192 CBR is in no way bad quality, and if you're not interested in VBR 192 CBR will still sound great.

[Jezebel]

I primarily download V0s, secondarily 320s if I for a reason or another can't get V0.