I agree that a FLAC option offered for the downloadable Lifeflow tracks would be a fantastic idea! FLAC offers full quality but with more manageable sizes that I believe the server should be able to handle. If not you could always go with some sort of private password-protected torrent option maybe? Anyways, I definitely second this request for a lossless download option.
My research since my original questions has led me to the same conclusion as mwjames - That stereo mode rather than joint stereo is a better option, although I believer there was some disagreement on this in the hydrogenaudio forums. As far as bitrate, there are differing opinions that I will post below. However it seems that most audiophiles agree that even tones outside of our hearing range shape how we hear music. Perhaps the vibrations effect the other sounds as it travels towards your ear (assuming your speakers/headphones can play back those tones). I'm not sure. Also, CBR (constant bit rate) seems preferred to VBR (variable bit rate). Although I don't see why a high quality vbr encoder (lame3.98) wouldn't do a good job maintaining the integrity of the binaural beat with a high setting (-V0). Especially since VBR would recognize any high/low frequencies and keep them if necessary rather than CBR just chopping straight across the top or bottom. Anyways, "lossyness" seems like it'd be an important issue with something like binaural beats.
Not a scientific test by any means, but I have tried another binaural track in mp3 format and CD format and the CD one did seem more effective during my meditation. This was a totally subjective non-controlled study and I don't remember at what quality the mp3 was, so this is probably worthless but I thought I'd mention it. Maybe I was just having a good meditation day.
RESEARCH
(Below are quick summaries of what other companies/sites have said regarding MP3 compression. I have left out the names of the companies as well as the links to the pages where these summaries were taken from as per the rules of the board regarding other binaural companies. I have saved the links and will make them available to anyone who wants to do more in-depth reading. Just PM me.
1. MP3 compression works by removing high-frequency components from the sound. Since binaural beats are created in the brain by the differences between 2 audible beats, mp3 compression has no degrading effect on output as long as compression is applied to both left and right channels independently.
2. A little beat of a leak from one channel into the other doesn't hurt, since 100% stereo-separation isn't necessary.
3. "After extensive talks and testing with my sound engineer we have discovered that mp3 compression can affect the binaural beats. IF the creator uses too much compression or does not encode the channels independently it will affect the audio."
"After significant research we know that we can compress the mp3 while encoding the channels seperately and still have the binaural affect but this is only possible due to having the best professional software which allows this."
Best professional software? Pretty sure all you need is the latest version of LAME mp3 encoder and know how to type in the desired settings.
4. "We don't recommend converting the audio tracks to MP3 format because the compression process can interfere with the brainwave technology on the CDs, but converting to an uncompressed WAV or AIFF is perfectly fine."
Because most of the binaural frequencies on the CDs are located in the highest and lowest ends of the spectrum, and because the precise combination of frequencies play such an important role in the effectiveness of the CDs, any clipping that occurs in those ranges can reduce the overall effectiveness. The missing data isn't as noticeable t the listener, but any missing data can cause noticeable differences in the effects.
5. (Via an e-mail from someone at one of the companies). "Our producer says that constant bit rate is preferred and 192kbps is fine."
6. It helps to avoid joint stereo.
7. "You may get an mp3 using this method, but the dose won't be effective. When you create an mp3, the file is compressed and it loses the separate binaural tones... the dose will be useless."
Hydrogen Audio Forums:
Audio nerd talk regarding binaurals. Although the references are mixed with binaural recordings (music) and binaural beats (brain entrainment).
I'm wondering if LifeFlow's addition of the isochronic tones has a role to play in any of this as far as using compression/bit rates.
So this is all I've dug up from google. Sorry for the long post!
