On reducing file size for mp3 files.

So first off yeh, this post will be about how to reduce your music file sizes by 70% tops(3x more music on your music players!) or 15% depending on the bitrate, without significant quality reduction on 70% yeh ?

So if your interested read on yeh ?

Figure 1 : File size before conversionFigure 2 : File size after conversion

Results:

System Of A Down - Chop Suey.wma(96kbps, 2,525KB, streamable)

System Of A Down - Chop Suey.aac (96kbps, 2,500KB)

System Of A Down - Chop Suey.mp3(320kbps, 8,322KB, streamable)

The objective is to convert the older mp3 file format, to either newer format, aac or wma, and to lower the bitrate. Yeh ?

Materials needed would be Winamp (preferably 5.54) and your mp3 file (a 320kbps would be able to shave 70%, 128kbps with only up to 15%).

Procedure :

1. Open your winamp, if you don't already have it, you can get it at http://www.winamp.com/player.

2. Add your music file into the playlist. [Shortcut Key : L]

3. Right click the file in the playlist, select Send To: , then choose Format Converter.

4. Here you would have a choice, either you want to choose the Apple's AAC format [iPod compatible] or Window's WMA format. They both would end up the same-ish. If your choosing WMA proceed to section Procedure[A]: else if your choosing AAC then proceed to Procedure[B]: .

*Note* Some older music players might have compatiblity issues with the AAC file format, lower bitrates, and the newer WMA 10.0 encoding format.

Procedure[A] :

1. After you have the Format Converter Configuration windows open, set the configuration as follow.Figure 3 : Configuration for WMA format

2. Customise where needed then press Ok.

3. The output file would be in .wma format and the size would have a significant change without audible quality loss.

Procedure[B] :

1. After you have the Format Converter Configuration windows open, set the configuration as follow.Figure 4 : Configuration for AAC format

2. Customise where needed then press Ok.

3. The output file would be in .aac format and the size would have a significant change without audible quality loss.

Discussion:

On the older music players should the problem of File Format Error occur, change the Encoder Format to Windows Media Audio 9.2.

Conclusion:

The newer WMA,AAC format > MP3 format.

I personally choose 48kbps as my bitrate as I don't use earphones much. This saves me 85% size and 6x more songs :/ compared to 96kbps.

Fin.