Freesound Forums

I am starting this topic about sample quality to make a few suggestions concerning this matter.

I see that quite a lot of different formats are used at the freesound site. Next to that I did read about some users who have diffeculties downloading large amounts of data. Finally I think it is only natural to want the best possible sample quality available.

These things make me think about the following suggestions and questions:
- unless the original recording is 'only' an MP3 file, which is of inferior quality, or you have serious trouble with you upload bandwidth, please upload your samples in het highest possible quality (bitrate and frequency)
- why not convert the high quality WAV and AIF files to a lower quality MP3 or OGG format for those who struggle with limited bandwidth?
- is it possible to upload 24 bit or even 32 bit float WAV of AIF files?
- ...

http://www.ampcast.com/music/25765/artist.php

Maybe let them download the preview, Bram! Damn that was a good idea... Also I would like to recomend that users find the normalize function on their editing software and use it. Some samples are so low you crank up the headphones then you hit a high pitch sound that's normalized and almost blow your eardrums out... Some might say "I only record pure sound and normalizing the signal would be altering it bla bla bla..." truth is whomever downloads it can scale it back to the recomended volume of the uploader... it's digital folks... it will be ok.

I know I uploaded a few sounds that weren't normalized and I voted them a 3 or 4 to remind myself to put up a quality sample. I'm not talking compression here, just make the loudest part of your sample be at the maximum volume without clipping. Also some sounds have long silent data in front that's robbing drive space for nothing. Just an observation...

P.S. Even the highest quality MP3 is still essentially a compression codec that eliminates frequencies and artifically extrapolates the missing data from surrounding frequencies, causing that nasty metallic hi to mid range flange. Again some users might be looking for that so I'm sure there will be other opinions about that.

P.S. Jovica, you are an uploading maniac!

If users are looking for that mp3 artifcats then they are idiots because its so easy to create yourself
But actually what your asking for (direct url to the mp3 preview) is in fact allready possible. However not currently on the official site but with mootcher.
The pd version of mootcher (the only app sporting the crazy cool mootcher API) has an option to output the url of the mp3 preview!
Another reason to check out Jorns nice project!.
Perhaps somebody from the community here would feel challenged to create a minimalist freesound. No fancy forum shoutbox's etc. Just a search engine (maybe a bit googlesque and output links to the mp3 previews.
Its all possible now! Why hasnt a webguru got off his darn lazy ass and create a freesound search that you can add to your own website

Anton
(just trying to provoke <grin>

Jovica

- unless the original recording is 'only' an MP3 file, which is of inferior quality, or you have serious trouble with you upload bandwidth, please upload your samples in het highest possible quality (bitrate and frequency)

Yes please!

- why not convert the high quality WAV and AIF files to a lower quality MP3 or OGG format for those who struggle with limited bandwidth?

But that's what the preview is for isn't it? I don't want to offer downgraded quality to users, as I think it's a really bad idea.

- is it possible to upload 24 bit or even 32 bit float WAV of AIF files?

Of course it is. You can upload ogg, wav, aif or mp3, and most formats work fine. There's a few (like ADPCM compressed waves and waves with weird samplerates like 12kHz) that don't work. But all linear non-compressed formats of AIF and WAV should work w/out trouble.

- Bram

Bram,

Is it possible to upload >2- channel audio files , like 6 channel experiments with 5:1 surround ?

euuuuuuuhm I don't know!
If you have some, let's give it a shot!

- bram

Mbazzy
Bram,

Is it possible to upload >2- channel audio files , like 6 channel experiments with 5:1 surround ?

You could do that for sure...long as it's clearly known it's part of a pack. Only weird thing would be if someone search's or just downloads one track or something. Long is you make it clear what it is it should make a great 5.1 pack. Heck I may do a few myself. Good Idea.

Have uploaded a 6 channel audio file as a test ... it's called ..test.aiff

I hope this test.aif works out. I its works out, then I will prepare a 5.1 package...

Btw this file (it's not up yet though) doesn't contain any surround information ... it's only the 6 channel audio file ...

looks like the engine doesn't understand the file... I'll investigate this week, we'll see if I can teach it to understand

- bram

mbazzy / jovica:
http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=199

- bram

So are we back to sample quality again Bram?