MP3 Conversion Quality with Pro Tools 2022 x Pro Tools HD10.3.10

[Alécio Costa]

Hi,

a) Since MP3 conversion is a software task, I imagine that changing clock source from internal to a most robust external clock will not provide better results. Is this correct?

b) Will there be a quality difference between bouncing a 48K 24 Wave file to MP3 320 Tweak head x Selecting the target waveform and exporting it directly to MP3 320 with the right Wave table menu in Pro Tools?

c) Also, and at last, Doing this procedure with Pro Tools 2022.x ( latest) versus Pro Tools HD 10.3.10. IS there a difference in quality?

Thanks

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by Alécio Costa

Hi,

a) Since MP3 conversion is a software task, I imagine that changing clock source from internal to a most robust external clock will not provide better results. Is this correct?

Yep.

b) Will there be a quality difference between bouncing a 48K 24 Wave file to MP3 320 Tweak head x Selecting the target waveform and exporting it directly to MP3 320 with the right Wave table menu in Pro Tools?

What the heck is a "target waveform" or a "Wave table" menu? What exaecly are you talking about... if nothing else use the names of things/different options etc. actually shown in the UI.

c) Also, and at last, Doing this procedure with Pro Tools 2022.x ( latest) versus Pro Tools HD 10.3.10. IS there a difference in quality?

Shouldn't be. But what do you actually mean by "HD". HD TDM systems have increased risk of digital clipping and have an old fixed point mixer.

[Rich Breen]

Originally Posted by Alécio Costa

...
b) Will there be a quality difference between bouncing a 48K 24 Wave file to MP3 320 Tweak head x Selecting the target waveform and exporting it directly to MP3 320 with the right Wave table menu in Pro Tools? ...

Exporting dithers, Bounce does not. That would probably be the only difference. I have not confirmed if mp3 codec in PT require 16bit dither on input or not - one would hope PT's codec handles it correctly, but I don't know of anyone who has done the tests.

[Alécio Costa]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

Yep.

Thanks for your replies!

What the heck is a "target waveform" or a "Wave table" menu? What exaecly are you talking about... if nothing else use the names of things/different options etc. actually shown in the UI.

JUst to clarify, target waveform I meant the song file that I will do the cnversion. Wave table menu I meant using the export function directly at : CLIPS > EXPORT CLIP AS FILES > selecting :MP3,interleaved 44.1k or 48k or 48k Tweak Head).


Shouldn't be. But what do you actually mean by "HD". HD TDM systems have increased risk of digital clipping and have an old fixed point mixer.

[Alécio Costa]

Originally Posted by Rich Breen

Exporting dithers, Bounce does not. That would probably be the only difference. I have not confirmed if mp3 codec in PT require 16bit dither on input or not - one would hope PT's codec handles it correctly, but I don't know of anyone who has done the tests.

But exporting an MP3 with Dither is pretty curious, right?