Audio Compression Blind Test Phase 2

[az]

I've gotten a few music pieces now, and since I can't decide which ones to use, and using all of them is not really an option, I'm putting up this vote. You can find the files here:

http://www.fieras.de/murc/audiotest/carminaburana.mp3

http://www.fieras.de/murc/audiotest/mozart.mp3

http://www.fieras.de/murc/audiotest/heroesdelsilencio.mp3

http://www.fieras.de/murc/audiotest/klaushofmann.mp3

http://www.fieras.de/murc/audiotest/newmodelarmy.mp3

http://www.fieras.de/murc/audiotest/ozzy.mp3

http://www.fieras.de/murc/audiotest/valkyries.mp3

http://www.fieras.de/murc/audiotest/nancywilson.mp3

http://www.fieras.de/murc/audiotest/direstraits.mp3

http://www.fieras.de/murc/audiotest/toccata.mp3

http://www.fieras.de/murc/audiotest/yello.mp3

and then vote which pieces will be used for the final test (I think it'll be two or three samples max. 30 seconds each, this is quite a lot in .wav). You can vote for as many as you want, I'll use the two or three most popular ones then.

Oh, if anyone has Mad World by Tears For Fears, can you send this to me? I think the intro could be a nice test case as well.

AZ

[Jon P. Inghram]

That .rar is corrupted, one file won't extract.

[az]

Damn. I'll look into it.

AZ

[az]

I see, the upload went wrong :/

I'll upload it again (will take some time, my upstream is only 128k), try again in 1.5 hrs, I'm going to bed now.

Good night

AZ

[az]

Seems my upload isn't working properly, I'm uploading the mp3s separately at the moment, you can find the download links in the first post (including dire straits, for which the poll didn't have any room left ).

First three files are up now, in an hour the rest will be, too. Please don't distribute the links, and sorry for any inconveniance.

AZ

[az]

I think all the mp3s are now safe to download.

Again, sorry for the inconveniance ('$§%# ftp upload *grumble*)

AZ

[Maggi]

I'm missing Dire Straits in your poll, so you could count +1 on them as well ...

Thanx for your effort so far, very much appreciated !

[spadnos]

Originally posted by Maggi
I'm missing Dire Straits in your poll, so you could count +1 on them as well ...

Thanx for your effort so far, very much appreciated !

Or Alan Parsons (Jigue and/or Re-Jigue are excellent system stress tests )

- Steve

[Maggi]

my point is that there's a song from Dire Straits to download, but no option to vote for it after rehearsal ...

[az]

The poll only allowed for 10 options

Anyone who wants to vote for the Straits, just post

Spadnos, I did ask all of you to send me your favourite music for this test... (I think I could even find the APP songs in my girlfriend's music library, but I'm too lazy and I think we already have enough... although I'd still love to hear Mad World)

AZ

[Maggi]

Looking at the intermediate results, I'd like to suggest that the final result of this poll should be taken to select the most popular song "per genre".

I see very little reason to conduct this test with e.g. two or three classical pieces of music, but I'd rather have it mixed to get one song for each genre, meaning one classical song, one rock song, one pop song etc.

Opinions ?

[az]

I've had the same thought, especially as classical music is, contrary to popular belief, not a very good test for audio compression.

AZ

[Jammrock]

Added Dire Straits to the poll and gave it a few votes.

[Jammrock]

Originally posted by az
I've had the same thought, especially as classical music is, contrary to popular belief, not a very good test for audio compression.

AZ

Usually because most classical music sounds like @$$ when compressed. When I test out sound systems I have a system for what CDs and songs I bring and use:

One that demonstrates exceptional female voice (Solvig's Song from Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Track 14+15 from the Fifth Element soundtrack ( Lucia Di Lammermoor + Diva Dance)).

One that demonstrated exceptional male voice (Three Tenor's, opera or the like).

One that has complex symphonic structure (a full symphony playing the full range of tones (bass, baritone, tenor, treble, alto, etc, whatever else there is), usually The Firebird Suite, San Seans Symphony #3, The Moldau by Smetana, Mozart's Requiem, or something of the like).

One with a mix of vocal plus full symphony (Opera).

Techno ... just because I listen to it a lot.

Metal ... just because I listen to it a lot.

Rock ... you get the point


That way you can get a feel for the full range of what the audio equipment can do. I would think the same sort of test like that would work. That way you could get a good feel for each aspect of music and how compress causes them to change.

Just my $0.02.

Jammrock

[Paddy]

Having listened to them all, I think that the Mozart would be the best.

The other tracks are either recoreded with less than optimal conditions such as ozzy & nancy williams. I would be tempted to gor a piece with a diversity of instruments and vocal ranges. I think I know the track from the Fifth Element that Jammrock is referring to and I think it would be a good choice....

I dunno... If you are using tracks that were recorded fifty-odd years ago they aren't going to sound as clean as a more recent classical composition. I guess what sounds good for you will depend on what type of music you listen to... I just think that any differences in compression will be more eveident with the mozart.

Does that make sense???