Ogg Vorbis vs. MP3 you be the judge - Sounds Samples + Poll

[Corey]

OK I have my own conclusions but I will save them, you decide for yourself. I have prepared a nice quick little reference test (CLICK here to get the file) for you guys so you can decide if there's a difference. Users with really good speakers or headphones may get more accurate results. OK so:

1. I downloaded a midi file and rendered it through my midi setup to get a nice clean sample to work with.

2. I created two files from the exact same source file, no processing was added after the MIDI conversion.

3. One copy is MP3, 96 KPS 44,100 stereo. The other os OGG, again at 96 KPS. The file sizes are both within a few K of 520K, in other words ostensibly the identical file size for both.

4. Now we're comparing apples with apples. Check out the attached samples for yourself, you might not hear the difference, you might, you be the judge. Give us a vote if you have time.

One useful observation I made here is that regardless of which you sound file prefer, if you have clean source you see here you can get very high quality at about 10K per sec which is pretty decent. That's only 1.8 MB on a 3 minutes song, so either format is reasonable for sure.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[eric_darling]

I have got to admit that after close analysis, the actual fidelity of the OGG format is better, has more sparkle, more life. However, I also have to say that in the OGG version I hear a lot of "clicks" where keys on the synthesizer were pressed - almost like a contact closure connection noise. It's disturbing to hear, and interferes significantly with the enjoyment of the piece. So, I'd have to say that the MP3 version actually sounded better to me, either because it didn't render something as accurate (and therefore missed the zero crossings), or because it simply interprets electronically produced notes more smoothly.

Either way, the MP3 got my vote in this sample.

[Corey]

FYI Those "clicks" are part of the original keyboard sound in the Supertramp hit faithfully reprodcued by me and my VST... Ilove that keyboard sound.

Anyhow point was sonic fidelity, material aside... But I see what you mean, you either dig vintage Rhodes or no, same with Hammond B4 et al...

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[AXXESS]

With OGG... You're bloody well right!

Seriously, I think they are very close, too nominal of a difference for most listeners.

Since we are now using OGG, I vote OGG! :

BTW, nice jammin', Corey!

[Corey]

No I didn't play that, I downloaded it. Although I can play it fairly close to that, just not as crisp with the timing because I never practice.

But here's a recent one I did play on, a cover I did of Stevie Wonder's higher ground: http://216.234.163.212/mix.ogg

Was fun but I had to quantize some parts so it's a bit stiff but the bass is HUGE. It's an interesting mix audio wise, very bassy but with lots of headroom for the B3 lead. Kind of like modern day Booker T.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[JimS]

Nice choice, that Supertramp is my all time favorite piano intro. For me, your samples illustrate what I love most about VST. For all it’s problems, it does, in my opinion anyway, a superb job of rendering MIDI files. I don’t have anything else in my studio that even comes close to that kind of quality.

I never really got into the whole MP3 thing, so humor me a little here. I do like the OGG encoding better, but what is the cost? I don’t mean in dollars, I mean in compatibility. Will most, or at least many of the popular MP3 players, play that format? My version of Windows Media Player won’t. I didn’t take the time to go through all my audio utilities, but a quick trip through my most popular audio apps has left me wondering. Acid2, Vegas, AMS4, and even VST won’t read it. The only popular app that I have that will, is Sound Forge 6.

It reminds me a bit of the Amiga, at the time it was technically superior to the PC and MAC, but was never able to compete in terms of popularity. Perhaps a better analogy would be BetaMax vs. VHS.

Like I said, I never really got into the MP3 scene, so I’m probably really showing my ignorance here. But then again, my excessive ignorance won’t be that much of a shock for anyone who has read any of my previous posts.

[AXXESS]

OK, was the Stevie Wonder version or the Red Hot Chili Peppers? Still pretty cool, Corey.

Ever play any of the stuff on SnakeNet Metal Radio??

[Corey]

It's all VST but not all of it was MIDI, I tend to play a lot of stuff live from one computer running a VST *into* a second computer running audio recording software, so much of it is MIDI triggered but not sequenced...

Ogg will be everywhere soon, you'll see. Take a look, I bet it's available for many of your apps already. I use it in CEP all the time, free plug-in works seamlessly into the file functions. My main player, winamp plays them back very well, etc... Anyhow you'll see, Ogg is here. Cubase SX supports Ogg BTW. I agree with you though, most people won't hear the difference. People have no sense of sonic quality anymore, where have all the flowers gone?

As for the cost, I would say nothing. Nada, zip zero, zilch. El zilcho signor...

I know nothing abut Amiga but I have heard they were WAY ahead of their time in terms of sudio. SO far in fact that they no longer exist.

Hey AXXESS, no, Stevie. Stevie is a hero of mine, his playing is outta sight. As for the metal, yeah all the time. I shred everyday, even if only for a few minuutes. Once the training CD is done I'm going to start recording again, I'll post some stuff in a few weeks.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software