Microsoft to open own stores, take on rivals Apple and Sony

[GTSRboy]

Lol, microsoft store. Wonder where they got that idea

[twilyth]

This is off topic, but what bit rate do you need to make a digital recording indistinguishable from analog.

Here's why. Let's say that I'm old enough to remember when CD's first came out (hypothetically speaking you understand ). I didn't like CD's because the sound was way too 'crisp'. I don't know how else to put it. I just sounded like it didn't have the same depth. I don't know what that translates to - complex harmonics maybe? But I would rather listen to my scratchy, dynamically compressed vinyl than a CD. It was great for electronica and such, but for acoustic instruments it just didn't cut it.

[Serpentarius]

i don't mind Microsoft if they reduce their product prices by 50%

[Soulburner]

This is off topic, but what bit rate do you need to make a digital recording indistinguishable from analog.

Here's why. Let's say that I'm old enough to remember when CD's first came out (hypothetically speaking you understand ). I didn't like CD's because the sound was way too 'crisp'. I don't know how else to put it. I just sounded like it didn't have the same depth. I don't know what that translates to - complex harmonics maybe? But I would rather listen to my scratchy, dynamically compressed vinyl than a CD. It was great for electronica and such, but for acoustic instruments it just didn't cut it.

In those links I provided there is information suggesting that a LAME VBR MP3 will be indistinguishable from the original file over 200kbps. Now for those who don't know about VBR and are about to knock a "puny" 200k MP3, don't confuse this with a 200kbps MP3. There are still passages in this file that will run up to 320k. It's a variable bit rate, and you only see the average. Some quiet parts may be 160kbps, and highly demanding parts 320k. That is the magic of VBR.

i don't mind Microsoft if they reduce their product prices by 50%

By that Logic Adobe should cut theirs as well. Microsoft develops an entire full-featured operating system and sells it for $200. Adobe makes an app that only lets you create and edit images and sells it for $600. Make any sense?

[twilyth]

In those links I provided there is information suggesting that a LAME VBR MP3 will be indistinguishable from the original file over 200kbps. Now for those who don't know about VBR and are about to knock a "puny" 200k MP3, don't confuse this with a 200kbps MP3. There are still passages in this file that will run up to 320k. It's a variable bit rate, and you only see the average. Some quiet parts may be 160kbps, and highly demanding parts 320k. That is the magic of VBR.

So I assume that means that a 320kbps recording will be indistinguishable from an analog master recording - correct? But how is that possible when uncompressed cd audio is at least 1400kbps? I've never checked, but it seems that if you're getting 60-70% compression that you should be able to sense the difference even if you can't say exactly what it is.

Plus, if the width of the data is only 16 bits, then you only have 1024 frequencies. That doesn't seem like a lot, but I don't know. Is that really the most we can distinguish? Our hearing range supposedly goes up to 22khz so it seems odd that we could only hear 1024 frequencies.

These are probably stupid observations and I'm not trying to argue - just understand.

[Soulburner]

Because the compressed data is outside the range a normal human ear can hear, or most headphones can reproduce. You pretty much guessed it.

Note I say "normal" and "most" so I don't get any golden ear freaks jumping on me.

[MaxxxRacer]

Because the compressed data is outside the range a normal human ear can hear, or most headphones can reproduce. You pretty much guessed it.

Note I say "normal" and "most" so I don't get any golden ear freaks jumping on me.

For what its worth, my dad has tested DVD-A and SACD in the studio vs. CD-A and there is a noteable difference when played through professional equipment and you are listening to non pop/rock music. It is most noticeable on classical, jazz and blues, and other misc. music where the music is not sound compressed to hell and back and mastered to oblivion.

[[XC] Lead Head]

For what its worth, my dad has tested DVD-A and SACD in the studio vs. CD-A and there is a noteable difference when played through professional equipment and you are listening to non pop/rock music. It is most noticeable on classical, jazz and blues, and other misc. music where the music is not sound compressed to hell and back and mastered to oblivion.

*cough*death magnetic*cough*

[twilyth]

Wow, Metallica is still around? Maybe there really is a T-virus.

[[XC] Lead Head]

Yeah they are, but their new album has terrible sound quality. Just constant clipping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&h...ACDCc1I&fmt=18

But somehow the Guitar Hero 3 version came out fine...

[MaxxxRacer]

*cough*death magnetic*cough*

Unforgiven III FTW.. But FWIW, that had a an orchestra.

[zanzabar]

Because the compressed data is outside the range a normal human ear can hear, or most headphones can reproduce. You pretty much guessed it.

Note I say "normal" and "most" so I don't get any golden ear freaks jumping on me.

there is more to sound than what u hear, u cant hear everything on a sub but u can feel it, and in inaudible tones can change the way that audible sound

This is off topic, but what bit rate do you need to make a digital recording indistinguishable from analog.

Here's why. Let's say that I'm old enough to remember when CD's first came out (hypothetically speaking you understand ). I didn't like CD's because the sound was way too 'crisp'. I don't know how else to put it. I just sounded like it didn't have the same depth. I don't know what that translates to - complex harmonics maybe? But I would rather listen to my scratchy, dynamically compressed vinyl than a CD. It was great for electronica and such, but for acoustic instruments it just didn't cut it.

its imposable to get an analogue sound out of a digital means, the closest thing that i can think of is tube amps, u can get all of the digital amplification and simulation that u want but they sound different.



ontopic-
the sony metrion store is dead in a few months maybe MS will take its spot they used to have store 2 blocks down from there at the dev office in SF