File bit rates & Midnight Express

snowhoper · January 18th, 2010, 15:20

Hiya all.

I love the new Midnight Express (thank you thank you thank you), and noticed the bitrate was 320 kbps. The original lifeflow series came in at 192. I wondered if Michael and Lifeflow have plans to re-release the original files at a higher bitrate?

Thank you!
Marc

GilesC · January 18th, 2010, 15:23

I hadn't noticed that. However, is there much need for a higher bitrate on the Lifeflow tracks? They work just fine as they are.

Hugs

Giles

snowhoper · January 18th, 2010, 15:25

Reading around, bit rates make a difference. Certain other programs recommend copying their cd's lossless otherwise the effects are weakened.

The Lifeflow do work extremely well, and who knows, the higher bit rate may turbo charge them.

Best wishes.
Marc

GilesC · January 19th, 2010, 15:13

There's been discussion about this before and the effects of Lifeflow are not corrupted by the lower than CD quality bitrate that they are provided at. 192 is plenty sufficient quality for them.

Itlandm · January 21st, 2010, 18:37

I believe the added "thickness" that some have reported from the Midnight Express track may result from the higher bitrate. However, the actual level and degree of entrainment will be the same. Some seem to find the experience more pleasant though. I notice the new Classical Magic product also has the higher bitrate.

mwjames · January 24th, 2010, 08:47

Originally Posted by GilesC

There's been discussion about this before and the effects of Lifeflow are not corrupted by the lower than CD quality bitrate that they are provided at. 192 is plenty sufficient quality for them.

There is, however, a substantial difference in the *experience* of listening to audio encoded at 192kbps compared to higher bitrate encodings, assuming quality content, decent playback equipment, and not-yet-ancient ears.

While I appreciate the work being done here, I wouldn't buy LifeFlow again precisely because its downloadable version is constrained to 192k. OTOH, assuming the masters are higher quality than that, my enthusiasm would be reignited if the LifeFlow series were re-released at a higher bitrate encoding. (256k MP3 is the bare minimum IMO.)

GilesC · January 24th, 2010, 23:28

Perhaps that's a little harsh to say you wouldn't buy it as 192kbit rate, when you actually consider the point of the tracks.

The 1st point is that the tracks are primarily for use during meditation, where you ideally shouldn't be focusing on the content of the track, but just letting it play in the background, so as long as the binaural and other beats are being effective then that's all that really matters.

The 2nd point is that most people would not really be able to differentiate between the current quality of lifeflow tracks and anything of higher quality, especially in conjunction with point 1 where the focus will be on the meditation.

However, each to their own, so I'm sorry to hear that you don't find them to your liking, yet I do hope that you have found benefit from them regardless.

Hugs

Giles