We had a few complaints that the MP3s of our last record wasn’t encoded at a high enough rate. Some even suggested we should have used FLACs, but if you even know what one of those is, and have strong opinions on them, you’re already lost to the world of high fidelity and have probably spent far too much money on your speaker-stands.
It’ll be interesting to see if this philosophy holds up as the band moves into more digital-only releases, as they’ve done with a couple of single tracks in the last couple months. It’s all fine and good to not care about MP3 quality when audiophiles can just buy the CD instead, but what about when it’s the only option? It’s not just super nerds who would prefer at least a -v0 bitrate instead of 160CBR.
The whole interview is worth reading (it’s a short one), as Greenwood discusses his personal listening habits and how the band listened to a bunch of 90′s hip-hop via AirTunes while they recorded In Rainbows. [New Yorker via Kottke]
PinballLes
September 4, 2009 at 8:18 AM
I am so sick of complaining audiophiles. The other day I had to sit in the car on the way to the meeting and listen to my two bosses crap on about their high quality cd players and the sound of a cd over a mp3s. What a joke.
The bitrate, or the compression on a song doesn’t make a bad song good. It’s the actual song, the notes played, the lyrics sung that make the song good. As shit song, will still sound shit, at 300kbps, and a good song will still sound good at 128kbps. Some of the best songs have been recorded using dodgy equipment, practices, or studio, so upping the bitrate ain’t going to do shit.
Music is about emotion, and passion, and feelings, not about pristine audio quality. Anyone who rates the quality of the audio, over the quality of the song, isn’t a fan of music.
Report PermalinkGurbachen
September 4, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Have a listen to The Black Keys – Thickfreakness. Recorded very roughly in an abandoned rubber factory
Report PermalinkGurbachen
September 4, 2009 at 2:39 PM
The album Thickfreakness I mean, not just the song
Report PermalinkRudi
September 4, 2009 at 9:01 AM
I am so sick of people claiming that they “could care less”.
The phrase is “couldn’t care less”.
Think about it.
Report PermalinkRudi
September 4, 2009 at 9:03 AM
intriguing that the RSS item I commented on in my previous post read “could care less”, and then this site suddenly says “couldn’t care less”.
Bravo to whoever spotted that before I opened my big yap.
Report PermalinkDousatsu
September 4, 2009 at 9:56 AM
I’m with you…hate it when people say that.
Report PermalinkGurbachen
September 4, 2009 at 2:40 PM
could care less is not incorrect. it just carries different connotations than couldn’t care less. it’s more sarcastic
Report PermalinkGlenn
September 4, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Wow, all of a sudden people of who would like to listen to CDs or the equivalent standard are audiophiles! Vinyl advocates must be shaking their heads in disbelief.
The MP3/portable generation have really been dumbed down to accept an inferior product and idiots like Jonny Greenwood just reinforce that idea.
PinballLes, some people want to experience their music in the best possible way, not the 2nd rate way. You probably think HD video is a waste of time as well.
Yes, MP3 and similar formats bring convenience, but for the critical listener, there are better alternatives.
Report Permalinkmatt
September 4, 2009 at 10:00 AM
what ever, just cause your too cheap to host the bigger flacs… its EASIER publishing to flacs as you don’t have to worry about the sound changing in the encode. He says he actually likes the aliasing mp3 adds! what? seriously when the mp3 encoder can be counted as a member of the band, I’ll think I’ll pass…
Report PermalinkJames Smith
September 4, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Realistically 160 kbps sounds pretty decent to 95% of people. And I would rather enjoy thinking about lyrics and chord progression then stressing about how ‘warm’ something is.
Report PermalinkAJ Lazaro
September 4, 2009 at 2:26 PM
95% of those people are still using their stock ipod buds connected to the crappy ipod headphone jack
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