MP3 conversion analyzer

[zuja9]

Hey folks,

I convert 44kHz 16bit Mono WAV files to 96Kbps MP3s. I'm looking for a utility that would analyze an mp3 and compare it to its originating WAV. A graphical app would be great if it could show the difference between the original and the converted MP3's waveform.

Thanks in advance
Zooya

[zuja9]

Anyone here who could help?

[filmboss80]

To my knowledge, there is no application that automatically indicates the differences between a source wav and an mp3 conversion. However, if you have an audio editing program that includes a spectrum analyzer, you could manually compare the two. The last version of CoolEdit that I owned offered a spectral view. You'll just have to search which audio applications have that feature.

All in all, does it really matter? As long as your ears can't tell the difference between source and converted audio file, then you've made a good mp3 encode.

[Ai Haibara]

I think foobar2000 has an option to compare two sound files. Haven't tried it, though (I don't normally use foobar).

[olyteddy]

You could do it manually in Audacity. Load both files as separate tracks, invert one then sum them. If you listen to the result it will be the difference or you can graphically display the difference as a waveform or spectrum plot.