Any files I personally encode for Jane Music are 192kb/s Stereo MP3 files. I recommend that all users do the same if they're not familiar with MP3 encoding. (If you are, it makes sense to only encode a mono recording in mono mode, etc.) I don't personally recommend VBR or Joint Stereo.

As explained on the MP3 vs CDR page, the only downside of MP3s as a transfer method for entire shows is that if you rip a live (no gaps between tracks) CD to multiple MP3s, you will not be able to get them to add back up again perfectly. (Trust me). There is, however, a way around this.

(This method paraphrases the excellent www.r3mix.net "Live Mix" page).

The seven step method for perfectly duplicating a live CD

A. ripping and encoding

  • Rip the CD to one big .WAV file and .CUE file
  • Encode this wave file to MP3
  • Store the one MP3 and the .CUE file

B. listening as MP3

  • Play the one MP3 file and enjoy the uninterrupted play
  • (Optionally) Split the MP3 file using Musicutter, and rejoin later with mp3cat if you want to. (Not recommended)

C. make a replica of the original live or mixed cd

  • Decode the MP3 to a wave file
  • Use the .WAV and .CUE to burn to a CDR

For those who don't know, a .CUE file is a text file that describes the length of "tracks" on a CD image. If you need to know any more than this, or want method information, please check www.r3mix.net. A tutorial and all the required software will be up sometime soon.

There are a lot of people out there who will only trade on a certain brand of cassette etc - I'm nowhere near that pedantic. Music is music and the more of it the better. If you have some MP3s you've obtained and can't rip a perfect copy yourself, or that aren't 192kb/s, please upload them anyway.

In most cases you'll just be ripping a CDR - for transferring cassette tapes to CDR, I'll write something when I've tried it.

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