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View Full Version : What is the best Bitrate for Audio only podcasts?



Podnutter
03-06-2013, 10:42 AM
What Bitrate should I be recording my shows at? I have seen people do 32k all the way to 256k? Is there a perfect bitrate?

andrewzarian
03-17-2013, 03:12 PM
I would generally stay between 64 and 128. It also depends if your listeners are listening to your show via Mobile .

Dahalabit
03-17-2013, 03:22 PM
Is there a significant difference between 96k and 128k

andrewzarian
03-18-2013, 07:38 AM
Depends. Are you playing music or just talk ?

Podnutter
03-18-2013, 03:56 PM
thank you Andrew! Does it matter if its streaming audio or if its a downloadable mp3?

andrewzarian
03-18-2013, 05:27 PM
As far as a stream goes I would go with 64k MP3. Downloadable content can be up to 96k MP3

sunkast
03-19-2013, 10:07 AM
What Bitrate should I be recording my shows at? I have seen people do 32k all the way to 256k? Is there a perfect bitrate?

When you record, I would recommend at least 256. The keyword here is recording. Having a master quality at a high bit rate is really nice because after you record, you can transcode the bit rate to whatever you would like. Whether it be 64, 96, or 128. This is also great for having a nice high quality archive version of your show. And later if you end up moving to a higher bit rate, you can have a higher bit rate for all of your past shows.

Recording at a higher bit rate gives you the flexibility to distribute your show in whatever bit rate you'd like.

Podnutter
03-22-2013, 07:53 AM
Thank you Sunkast!

Donovan
03-22-2013, 12:55 PM
I record in 44.1kHz mono WAVE and then compress the final version down to 80kbps mono. I'm an oddball, I guess, because I found that I liked 80kbps as a middle ground. I agree with Sunkast that your original should be the highest bitrate that you can achieve - which is why I use WAVE. It's uncompressed; can't get higher than that. :)

andrewzarian
03-29-2013, 09:33 AM
at one point we were recording our audio in garageband. We stopped doing it that way when we added more shows. We currently rip the audio from our video recordings

jamesdelfresco
04-04-2013, 08:20 PM
I was recording my shows at 320kbps.. now i know its too high. I saw a few other members say they recorded at a high bitrate because it would mean higher quality.

Donovan
04-05-2013, 03:16 AM
Always record your show at the highest bitrate - uncompressed WAV is best. But after you've completed your post production requirements, export the final mp3 file to something between 64kbps to 128kbps, depending on if it's mainly talk, mainly music or a mixture of both. As I've said before, since my shows are mainly talk, with the exception of the intro/outro music, my final mp3 is 80kbps mono. I find that's a good middle ground for quality versus file size.



I was recording my shows at 320kbps.. now i know its too high. I saw a few other members say they recorded at a high bitrate because it would mean higher quality.

kennyboy37
06-14-2013, 11:29 PM
64bit is good for music streaming. I am streaming at 128k on ncirradio but shoutcast can't handle 128 so the stream is sent to the server via shoutcast at 96k. Any more then that tends to not work with alot of buffering

andrewzarian
06-19-2013, 06:05 PM
I'm getting ready to add a ACC stream next month.

markinrussia
07-10-2013, 09:38 AM
I use Shoutcast and there is no problem whatsoever using 128kbps. I suppose that if your internet speed when you are listening is bad, then you might buffer, but not with an average connection. I disagree with one of the previous posters that 64kbps is good enough for music; for most people's ears 64kbps is definitely not good enough for music, although you could pull it off in an AAC stream.

kennyboy37
07-10-2013, 11:22 AM
My server will stream at 128kbps HOWEVER Shoutcast tends to buffer when set for more then 96kbps to my server in St Louis. So yet I'm streaming 128kbps,Shoutcast on Sams Broadcaster is set at 96kbps.I invite you to listen to my stream at www.ncirradio.com I do a live weeknight show called "The Nightlight" from 9P-12A Eastern Time that's when I am streaming with Shoutcast. I use Crossfire for both my streaming and webpage hosting.They are a great company using Centova servers with the latest software updates.They guarantee to beat anyones price out there. My webpage costs me $13.00 A YEAR. They are an authorized Sams Broadcast dealer and even offer dedicated servers both in the states and over seas.