Switching between MP3 and Wave

[Eric Anastas]

The majority of my digital music collection is made up of WAV files either recorded from my old vinyl, or downloaded from sites like Beatport. Obviously WAV is not the most efficient format to store audio, and I've been considering re-encoding my collection to FLAC or 320 mp3.

If I did this is there any easy way to re-map my existing collection to the new files assuming the file names stayed the same and only the extension changed? It would be a pain to have to go through an setup all my queue points and stuff like that again for every track.

- Eric

[RoJeC]

You will get new files only. There is no link to the old.
So it's a lot of work....

Each converted file will have changes to the duration, even if only small.

I think you should do the change gradually if you do it.
In my opinion FLAC is the best choice to make. I'm still regretting to have chosen MP3 256/320 in the past. In environments with good soundsystems I've found out that FLAC 'feels' way better. Especially brass and snare instruments will be more alive and not be cut off when low volume.

Given costs of disk space nowadays you might even want to forget about this step and just add new music with new standard and have your wav as is...

[daniel clark]

Given costs of disk space nowadays you might even want to forget about this step and just add new music with new standard and have your wav as is...

thinking this is more favorable

[DJ Vintage]

The "storage is nearly free" is really only true for desktops and laptops and external HDs. If you want SSD, only know is it becoming interesting in price to buy more than 128GB. If you use iDevices, it's been outright expensive to get models heavier on GBs than 32GB.

And with the average WAV being an easy 40MB, you can fit 25 in a GB. So, if you have a 32GB iPad, with 24GB free (after iOS, apps), you could bring 600 tracks. While I am all for a compact collection, I still need/want between 1000-1200 tracks in my core collection.

And I want my core collection to fit on any medium, i.e. RekordBox USB stick (or Engine), iPad/iPhone/iPod, MacBook Pro SSD (128GB).
Assuming WAV and 1200 track, I'd be looking at 48GB. While possible on the SSD, I know some (older) CDJs won't accept 64GB sticks and my 32GB iPad would also not be able to hold my core collection.

So, just me of course, I feel that compression is valid. I also don't subscribe to the difference in sound on 98% of the club/PA systems being audible at volume. Too many listening tests (personally and by renown platforms) have showed that AAC256/320MP3/WAV can not be consistently told apart.

FLAC being a great format is a problem as you can't stick it in iTunes. And iTunes having the best papers for managing your DJ collection (yes, it is a really bad piece of software, but unfortunately it can do what it must and is supported by EVERY serious bit of DJ software and iDevices of course), that means FLAC is out. Apples lossless alternative is not supported on all DJ gear, so also not a real option.

At the end of the day that leaves 320MP3 and 256AAC as the only viable options for me. Qualitywise they are identical.

What is important though is to encode with good software with the best codecs, to set it to CBR not VBR (constant versus variable bit rate), to set it to full stereo and to use source material that you know is of the highest possible quality (i.e. original WAV or lossless from original WAV).

My personal workflow these days (as I like to get my tracks in WAV from stores or CD rips) is as follows:
1) Store a copy of the original WAV on my NAS (Network drive). That way I will always have access to the original, non-processed material if I need it for some reason.
2) Run the WAV's through Platinum Notes. PN is set to save the tracks as 320MP3 (but can be set to AAC, AIFF, FLAC, WAV).
3) Use MP3 tagging software to make sure all tags are set correctly.
4) Run the 320MP3s through Mixed in Key (MiK).
5) Import the tracks into my iTunes (I use iTunes ONLY for DJ tracks, nothing else!).
6) Import tracks into Cross (the location for the tracks in iTunes and Cross is the same) and do the necessary work (checking starting beat, beatgrid, setting cue points, etx.).

Finally I make sure I keep a copy of my iTunes/Cross collection data on both my Network Drive and in online storage.

Just my two cents as usual.

[RoJeC]

Pretty complete reply by DJvintage.

Though I'm in favor of FLAC, I agree that this requires the overall environment and equipment to benefit of this. I made the switch only after testing it for myself. Pretty basic testing by playing identical tracks in MP3 and FLAC simultanous. In like 30% I 'guessed' right which was the FLAC, by 'better feeling' (rather than sound). The other 70% seemed equal.

As my gigs aren't so much loud, but also lot of socializing and 'wall paper' I found it worth the effort.

I would also recommend to tag as early in the process as possible (some formats don't have tags). By this you know that any conversion will use the right tags, or at least should be able to use...)

And my phone/tab/memstick have MP3/AAC(M4A).... some even lower Q to make it fit... Decreasing a selection always is harder than adding new... Must be my management side... rather make big mistakes than minor decisions...