LogFAQs > #950171465

I can handle lo-fi, but that is a bit of a different issue than low quality MP3 files. I listen to a lot of music where the recording budgets were dang near non-existent and it sounds lo-fi. But I want to capture that in all of its glory, and a low quality MP3 further distorts the original idea.

It shouldn't be too difficult for me to find higher quality copies of this stuff. I could also purchase some stuff which I don't mind doing, to support the artist but also ensure I get high quality mp3 files or FLAC.

One of the easiest ways I've discovered to tell if an MP3 is low quality is the cymbals on the drums. They have artifacts on their sound in low quality mp3...like a low level whine that just shouldn't be there.

Somebody asked me once why care about audio quality when the stuff you listen to is lo-fi from the studio, and the answer is I want the artists actual ideas to come out, and putting basically a sock in the vocalists mouth with a low quality MP3 is not that original idea.

I am no expert into audio quality, so this may not be 100% correct, but thats my take.