[vorbis] RC3?

[Craig Dickson]

EdB wrote:

> Just to clarify:  I was only suggesting a format for idiot-menu'ing 
> OggDrop.  My categories are only "for example"...
> 
> >>EdB wrote:
> >>
> >>>How about the traditional fare that goes with MP3 bitrate descriptions?
> >>>Quality setting / Description:
> >>>1 / Voice Grade
> >>>2 /
> >>>3 / FM radio
> >>>4 /
> >>>5 / Near CD
> >>>6 /
> >>>7 / Audiophile

And as such, I think it's a good start. Although I think 1 is far better
than merely 'voice grade' -- I've heard 128kbps MP3's (which the public
considers "near CD quality") that sounded worse than -q 0, let alone 1.

In fact, I'm starting to wonder if 3 isn't too high for the default;
maybe 2 would do? I personally prefer to record higher than that (I need
to do some detailed testing at 4-6 to see where my personal sweet spot
is), but I think the average listener, for casual listening purposes,
would be quite happy at 2.

How about this as a scale:

0 - voice grade
1 - FM radio
2 or 3 - casual listening (default)
5 - near CD
6 or 7 - audiophile
9 or 10 - archival quality; minimal loss

I'm actually tempted to call 0 FM radio quality, but I've only tested a
couple of songs at that level, so I'm not sure it would be consistently
good enough. Of course, the notion of "radio quality" is fairly weak to
begin with, since the compression and distortions of radio broadcast
bear little resemblance to lossy compression artifacts, but from what
I've heard so far, I don't think Vorbis at -q 0 overall sounds worse
than FM broadcast. Certainly not if you're listening to the radio on an
average car stereo.

Craig

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