?s about Soundcloud and uploading in general

[BrianS.]

Hello experts!

I just purchased a cheap Tascam DR-05 for recording my bands rehearsals and maybe some gigs. So far I've found that the sound quality is pretty impressive for such an inexpensive recorder (I paid 50 bucks on sale at GC).

I have some basic questions that I'm hoping can be easily answered by you digital recording experts. Here goes:

1. I've recorded everything in WAV format. Now it is taking forever to upload to Soundcloud. Am I better off sticking with the MP3 format for uploading? The main goal is to be able to share the recordings with bandmates online so we can critique the performances.

2. Can I convert what I've already recorded in WAV to an MP3? Can that be done with the computer or the recording device?

3. There seems to be quite a few options for MP3 quality (32 kbps up to 320 kbps). Is there a happy medium that sounds good between low and high quality?

4. What is your general opinion of Soundcloud? I've noticed that that is what most of the folks here use to share music.

5. Any other advice?

Thanks.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: ?s about Soundcloud and uploading in general

1. Record as WAV, then convert to MP3

2. Yes, assuming you have the right software to do the conversion.

3. 128k works well enough for most uses

4. As the administrator of the SDUGF group (see link below), I'd be bound to say it's good. There's also a forum plugin that allows SoundCloud files to be embedded directly into posts. Look for it under the advanced edit option.

 

[infrared72]

Re: ?s about Soundcloud and uploading in general

I use soundcloud quite a bit and I really dig it. I would agree that wav files take way too long to upload. I encode all my tracks to 192kb mp3 files, then i upload that to soundcloud. SC supports cross posting to different sites and social networks so that when you upload your files it will post to twitter, facebook, tumblr, and probably others.

I get their newsletter, and they are close to launching a new site soon. So that should be interesting to see what enhancements they make. If you watch their email newsletter, they sometimes provide a code that will discount the cost to upgrade your account, which I do recommend at some point. All the web statistics you get accesss to with an upgraded account are pretty interesting.

You should be able to convert existing wav files to mp3. I use the free version of winamp with the free chun yu mp3 writer plugin. I have used both of those for years to make mp3 files from wav. You setup the chun yu mp3 writer as an output plugin, then load your wav files into the play list, push play and it will convert all your files into mp3.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: ?s about Soundcloud and uploading in general

You should be able to convert existing wav files to mp3. I use the free version of winamp with the free chun yu mp3 writer plugin. I have used both of those for years to make mp3 files from wav. You setup the chun yu mp3 writer as an output plugin, then load your wav files into the play list, push play and it will convert all your files into mp3.

Holy crap that might as well be in a foreign language! Thanks, though! Thanks, Chris, too.

I guess the next question, which infrared72 gave one answer, is what software to use to convert to mp3?

Thanks again, guys. I'm a learnin'...

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: ?s about Soundcloud and uploading in general

I use Cool Edit Pro to do my conversions to MP3. It's old but does the job. It was bought out by Adobe back in 2003 and was re-badged as Adobe Audition, which is now quite an expensive product. They did do a lightweight version called Soundbooth, but that looks to have been discontinued now.

I'm sure there are other products around, but I'm afraid I don't know anything about them.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: ?s about Soundcloud and uploading in general

I downloaded winamp, but the chun yu thing wouldn't download for some reason. I am running Windows 7.

Any other cheap/free ways to convert wav to mp3? Thanks.

Oh, as a sacrifice to the gods of the forum, here is a clip I uploaded from a rehearsal. Not for public consumption yet, but, the gods demand it:

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: ?s about Soundcloud and uploading in general

You could take a look at Sony's Sound Forge Audio Studio - it's relatively low cost and has plenty of other uses too. It is Windows only though.

 

[infrared72]

Re: ?s about Soundcloud and uploading in general

I use Winamp and the Chun Yu mp3 output plugin on Windows 7 home premium no problems. You have to place the DLL file for Chun Yu in the pluging folder for Winamp. Try downloading it from here:

http://www.winamp.com/plugin/mp3-output-plugin/33396

Make sure that you first download the free winamp and install it before you add the CY MP3 plugin.

 

[ginormous]

Re: ?s about Soundcloud and uploading in general

Audacity (freeware) does convert from .wav to mp3, but you need to download an encoder to work with it (called LAME; also freeware). You can do some editing, fades, compression, EQ, etc. as well.

You may need some limiting to squeeze the higher-fidelity file into something mp3 can handle. When encoding, I use mp3 bit rates not less than 192kb/sec., to retain decent quality.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: ?s about Soundcloud and uploading in general

Okay, I got the Chun Yu deal to download. Apparently I needed to "run as administrator" for something.

Thanks again guys!

Brian