re: Windows Explorer changes MP3s from VBR to CBR when editing tags
Friday, October 30, 2009 at 11:23 am
Posted by C K
(6910 messages posted)
I just did a test of this issue and Explorer didn't change the VBR to CBR. The size
of the file stays the same, so not sure what is going on in your system. Windows
however, doesn't report the MP3 in the correct size for VBR from my observation.
A VBR that was encoded to 160 to 200 for instance with LAME, is reported 320 by
windows. XP was developed before VBR was coming onstream, therefore, I wouldn't
trust Windows to not have an issue with VBR. VBR was in flux and had issues for
a while after it was introduced, and had many issues with compatibility for some
years after it's introduction until issues and compatibility were ironed out. I've
had no issues with Windows editing labels for CBR, but there are better free programs
for editing. Windows rewrites the file when tags are edited, at least that's what
I have seen when I have done it.
That said, if the file has been re-encoded or changed to CBR from VBR, it can't be
transformed back to a proper VBR as CBR will throw away some of the data that VBR
uses to retain the complicted parts of the wave form (and has to change the data
where VBR will have less information than CBR has). When it's gone, it's gone.
The MP3, if it has been changed to CBR, will have to be re-encoded from the source
material in VBR to get the VBR quality and size correct again. Just my experience.
Some of the ripping and audio forums may be able to answer the question better than
this one.
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