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[JonnyRedHed]

What would be best dithering setting for converting 24bit 96Khz (and some 192Khz) flac files to MP3 16bit 44.1 (CBR) 320 kbps, with restrict encoder to CBR,  for a flash stick to plug into a car infotainment system.  (with DSP volume level only enabled) (Car manual states 320/CBR)   

TPDF or JRiver bit-exact default.

...or doesn't it matter for mp3 for a car infotainment system.

[Awesome Donkey]

Personally, I use TPDF dithering. Either way you go, I'd also recommend enabling the SoX resampler as well.

[JonnyRedHed]

Personally, I use TPDF dithering. Either way you go, I'd also recommend enabling the SoX resampler as well.

Yes, SoX enabled.   Thanks for the help.

[RD James]

Always TPDF for quality.

[JonnyRedHed]

Can I ask, if TPDF is for best quality then why is it not the default in JRiver. 

[RD James]

Can I ask, if TPDF is for best quality then why is it not the default in JRiver.

I have pushed for that for a while now.
I can only think that it is because "Bit-exact dither" (RPDF) will not dither the output under certain conditions.
 
Formats like MQA probably don't play correctly if TPDF is selected, even if you have no DSP enabled and volume is at 100%, while it probably works with RPDF under those conditions.
This is because Media Center doesn't seem to actually disable dither if no other DSP is being performed. Doing that will have no effect on audio quality, but can affect encapsulated formats.

[JonnyRedHed]

I have pushed for that for a while now.
I can only think that it is because "Bit-exact dither" (RPDF) will not dither the output under certain conditions.
 
Formats like MQA probably don't play correctly if TPDF is selected, even if you have no DSP enabled and volume is at 100%, while it probably works with RPDF under those conditions.
This is because Media Center doesn't seem to actually disable dither if no other DSP is being performed. Doing that will have no effect on audio quality, but can affect encapsulated formats.

I see. I've tried both now using the convert file DSP window and the option checked to use DSP, with just volume levelling applied.  Converting from 24bit 96khz to MP3 320 CBR and then tested in the car.  I can't tell any difference.    My ears, MP3 sucks, not great stereo electronics and speakers in the car.  Or all of these and more.


Do yourself or anyone else here have any good tips for creating a flash drive of MP3's from high quality flac's for the car.    I've found 'Anerty's Lair - DriveSort' very useful for re-ordering albums and tracks that don't play nice on the actual flash stick (not the PC).  And of course very well done tagging using JRiver, once I figured out the file setting to embed the cover art into the file (MP3 or Flac).

*idea, maybe a prompt (tip bubble) whilst in the tagging section and hovering over the cover art that you can embed the cover by turning on that option.

I think I have a pretty good process so far,  convert flac to mp3 using convert format DSP with just volume levelling on, to 320 CBR.  I've had to use the DSP parametric EQ to raise some album volumes JRiver just didn't bring up enough, but not many.

[JimH]

Why not MP3 VBR?

[JonnyRedHed]

Why not MP3 VBR?

Good question, and the way I would of started out but the car manual said the infotainment system prefers 320 CBR over VBR, although it supports it. As it turns out not so well, nothing but odd random skips. Which for a 2016 car was perplexing for me, along with not supporting flac or gapless playback.

[JonnyRedHed]

I have pushed for that for a while now.
I can only think that it is because "Bit-exact dither" (RPDF) will not dither the output under certain conditions.
 
Formats like MQA probably don't play correctly if TPDF is selected, even if you have no DSP enabled and volume is at 100%, while it probably works with RPDF under those conditions.
This is because Media Center doesn't seem to actually disable dither if no other DSP is being performed. Doing that will have no effect on audio quality, but can affect encapsulated formats.

So, are any of these conditions triggered for flac (24bit 96-192Khz) to mp3 conversion.   

[RD James]

So, are any of these conditions triggered for flac (24bit 96-192Khz) to mp3 conversion.

No, you should use TPDF dither for conversions to MP3.

[JonnyRedHed]

No, you should use TPDF dither for conversions to MP3.

I see, thanks for the help. 

Next pass I'll re-do all the conversions using TPDF. Unfortunately, I'd done almost 60GB of a 64Gb flash stick of MP3's done with JRiver default dither.  Took quite a while, inc the tagging.

[jherbert]

Took quite a while, inc the tagging.

Hope you tagged your sources...

[JonnyRedHed]

Hope you tagged your sources...

Not sure what you mean by sources.  All the flacs are, and then post conversion I go back in an 'analyse audio' the mp3's, and also go thru all the tags again plus checking the embed the 500x500 cover art.

[jherbert]

Not sure what you mean by sources.  All the flacs are, and then post conversion I go back in an 'analyse audio' the mp3's, and also go thru all the tags again plus checking the embed the 500x500 cover art.

There should be no need to recheck the tags then. Conversion does not touch them. The conversion process itself should be automatic, fast and painless.