Improving the quality of audio files?

[Brandon]

I was just wondering, I have audio files on my computer and some of them have horrible sound quality. I can here static on some of them and when I burn to a CD the static stays with it. Is there any audio converson software to improve the sound quality of an audio file? I don't necessarly need to burn at the same time though I could probably stand to upgrade some seeing as how I am using Windows Media Player to burn CD's and I'm guessing that there are much better alternatives. Anyway I was told by someone that no such software exists. I used to have software called CDEX150, which I know you could use to convert WAV to MP3 but im not sure if you could improve sound quality at the same time. I never learned how to use the software because at the time I was running a copy of Windows 98 with an 8 gig hard drive. If anyone knows of any software like that I could definitly use it.

[Jman123]

You can either use mp3gain to lower the volume of the files or just redownload the music at a higher bitrate.

[martina]

the perceived bad quality can be due to many things:

e.g.

1) a bad rip

2) a bad encoder

3) suboptimal encoding setting

4) clipping (due to a too high volume)

5) a buggy decoder

6) other bugs/failures in your software/hardware listening chain

7) placebo effect

---------

1) to minimize the chances for 1) carefully clean your CDs prior to ripping and use a secure ripping application (e.g. ExactAudioCopy (EAC), CDex, dBpoweramp Music Converter).

http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/en/

http://cdexos.sourceforge.net/

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/

2) for MP3: LAME 3.97, for AAC: Nero or iTunes, ...

have a look at the listening tests here:

http://www.rjamorim.com/test/

3) have a look at the encoding stickies here:

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php

4) I second Jman123's suggestion to try MP3Gain (or AACGain for AAC) to lower the volume (down to maybe 90 to 92 dB). this process is non destructive.

http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/index.php

http://www.rarewares.org/aac.html

5) what software player do you use? Winamp with it's default decoders might be worth a try in any case. but as long as the decoders are not very very old, chances are they will be all right.

http://www.winamp.com/

6) e.g. HDD issues, other hardware parts failing...

7) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo

unlikely in your case I guess.

Is there any audio converson software to improve the sound quality of an audio file?

no, transcoding (reencoding) will not improve sound quality. the contrary is true.

I used to have software called CDEX150, which I know you could use to convert WAV to MP3 but im not sure if you could improve sound quality at the same time.

if you rip from a original, clean audio CD, yes, this might be the case. otherwise no.

[shought]

I don't know if you tried using different boxes, if not that might be the problem. If you don't want to upgrade your boxes it's worth trying a sound enhancing program like SRS Audio Sandbox to make them sound a bit better, and if you really like it then just record the output sound(not with a mic but just with an audio recording program) and save it to a new file.(If you don't know what i mean just ask, i'll explain) Also for winamp i recommend using a plugin(which i use myself too), it really does enhance music. It's called 'Enhancer 0.17 and you can find it on their plugin website. Here's the link to the plugin: http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details/81361 and you can find SRS Audio Sandbox with the fix on the forums ;-).

[martina]

I don't know if you tried using different boxes, if not that might be the problem.

as the OP only has sound problems with specific files (if I understood him right) it doesn't seem to be necessary to upgrade his boxes IMO.

it's worth trying a sound enhancing program like SRS Audio Sandbox to make them sound a bit better... ...Also for winamp i recommend using a plugin(which i use myself too), it really does enhance music.

the use of any equalizing or "enhancing" software most likely won't solve the original problem.

but others might find you post useful :-)