@jakedude182 Thanks, Jake. I wish all audio gear comparisons started out with an ABX session to ensure that there are real audible differences, but I guess that won't happen.
I am wanting to compare tracks recorded at different bit rates. Your video is very helpful in showing how to use the foobar2000 utility with the ABX comparator. Thanks!
One other thing for newcomers: foobar2000 no longer comes with the ABX comparator component in the installer. Now you have to grab foo_abx.zip from the official components repository, go into Preferences, Components, click Install, and point it to the .zip.
At the end, the narrator is careful to qualify his statement, concluding that he can't hear any difference "in this sample". A high score on the test (low probability of guessing) would prove that a difference exists, but his failure to achieve that only proves that he can't hear a difference in these circumstances; it doesn't mean there is no difference, or that someone else wouldn't hear the difference, or that he'd get the same result with a different sample or different playback volume.
@commentleaver I try to remember to point out the difference between a high score positive and my failure to identify difference. Can't prove a negative, as they say. Thanks for adding your reminder.
At 3:43 the narrator says "gotta turn it up" while conducting the first test. It's good he did this, because it's important to keep the playback volume the same for every test. Also, the clips themselves must be the same volume, hence the availability of ReplayGain in the initial window of the ABX comparator (you first ReplayGain-tag files of different volumes before the test, then when starting the test, enable ReplayGain in the first window, the one he dismisses at the beginning of the video).
@franguidry ReplayGain info (which is just loudness & peak measurements) is stored in tags. The tagging of WAV or AIFF files is difficult and not standardized, so you generally have to use FLAC, ALAC, or other lossless compression method to get the audio into a ReplayGain-tag-compatible container. By definition, the lossless formats decode during playback to the exact same stream of PCM samples as were in the original WAV or AIFF, so there's no harm.
@commentleaver Thanks for the info. I actually go to some trouble to match levels when I'm creating these clips, so I'm not sure that an algorithmic gain manager would add much to this particular process.
interesting stuff (great vids and guitar) - FWIW tried to compare 2 phono preamp w. Audacity - one unit with CCS + tubes, other = Music Hall - required amplifying WAV on unit with less gain. Recordings sounded somewhat different - not sure on if one could be told from other if switched. OTOH, noted a loss in quality between pass-through sound of tube PA vs playback in 44/16 ~same with Sony 501ES 25 years ago - It does take concentration - LOL - if we had 2K years to live then could ABX
Love your video thanks :)
jakedude182 2 weeks ago
@jakedude182 Thanks, Jake. I wish all audio gear comparisons started out with an ABX session to ensure that there are real audible differences, but I guess that won't happen.
Fran
homebrewedmusic 1 week ago
Very good and detailed video, good presentation as well.
TreyArc 1 month ago
I am wanting to compare tracks recorded at different bit rates. Your video is very helpful in showing how to use the foobar2000 utility with the ABX comparator. Thanks!
Darkoshi 2 months ago
One other thing for newcomers: foobar2000 no longer comes with the ABX comparator component in the installer. Now you have to grab foo_abx.zip from the official components repository, go into Preferences, Components, click Install, and point it to the .zip.
commentleaver 2 months ago
@commentleaver Very useful info, thanks. I'll update my blog post to reflect the change.
Thanks,
Fran
franguidry 2 months ago
At the end, the narrator is careful to qualify his statement, concluding that he can't hear any difference "in this sample". A high score on the test (low probability of guessing) would prove that a difference exists, but his failure to achieve that only proves that he can't hear a difference in these circumstances; it doesn't mean there is no difference, or that someone else wouldn't hear the difference, or that he'd get the same result with a different sample or different playback volume.
commentleaver 2 months ago
@commentleaver I try to remember to point out the difference between a high score positive and my failure to identify difference. Can't prove a negative, as they say. Thanks for adding your reminder.
fran
franguidry 2 months ago
At 3:43 the narrator says "gotta turn it up" while conducting the first test. It's good he did this, because it's important to keep the playback volume the same for every test. Also, the clips themselves must be the same volume, hence the availability of ReplayGain in the initial window of the ABX comparator (you first ReplayGain-tag files of different volumes before the test, then when starting the test, enable ReplayGain in the first window, the one he dismisses at the beginning of the video).
commentleaver 2 months ago
@commentleaver I don't have any experience with ReplayGain. Does it work with PCM files?
By the way, I'm "the narrator."
Fran
franguidry 2 months ago
@franguidry ReplayGain info (which is just loudness & peak measurements) is stored in tags. The tagging of WAV or AIFF files is difficult and not standardized, so you generally have to use FLAC, ALAC, or other lossless compression method to get the audio into a ReplayGain-tag-compatible container. By definition, the lossless formats decode during playback to the exact same stream of PCM samples as were in the original WAV or AIFF, so there's no harm.
commentleaver 2 months ago
@commentleaver Thanks for the info. I actually go to some trouble to match levels when I'm creating these clips, so I'm not sure that an algorithmic gain manager would add much to this particular process.
Fran
franguidry 2 months ago
Thanks for the vid!
KicknGuitar 1 year ago 4
I hope you use it to save a lot of money on gear purchases.
Fran
franguidry 1 year ago
@franguidry First I'll need to make the money!
KicknGuitar 1 year ago
interesting stuff (great vids and guitar) - FWIW tried to compare 2 phono preamp w. Audacity - one unit with CCS + tubes, other = Music Hall - required amplifying WAV on unit with less gain. Recordings sounded somewhat different - not sure on if one could be told from other if switched. OTOH, noted a loss in quality between pass-through sound of tube PA vs playback in 44/16 ~same with Sony 501ES 25 years ago - It does take concentration - LOL - if we had 2K years to live then could ABX
gnativerson 2 years ago
im stupid...yes its free...
squidskunk 2 years ago
is foobar2000 free...?
squidskunk 2 years ago