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Dither for mp3 - is it needed ?

February 12th, 2020 BY 

Sometimes a video is just so good, you have to share it.

And this is one of those. It answers a question I often get asked:

Do I need to use dither before encoding to mp3 ?

I always say "Yes, just in case" when people ask me that - but am I right ?

In this video, Dan Worrall answers that question and many others about dither, using simple, real-world tests. For example you'll find answers to questions like "is it OK to dither twice ? (or more)" and "what happens if I forget to dither ?"

And if you're reading this and thinking "WTF is dither anyway?", don't worry - he answers that question, too !

Fantastic stuff from Dan, as always - and if you want to jump straight to the answer about dithering for mp3 encoding, click here.

And if you want to know more about why I think dither really is important (but not worth losing sleep over), here's another post you may like:

Why there are no "stair steps" in digital audio - IF you use dither

...but these are only if you're a real glutton for punishment !

When should you use dither ?

When in doubt, dither

 

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ABOUT IAN SHEPHERD

My name is Ian Shepherd - I'm a professional mastering engineer with over 25 years experience and I run the Production Advice website with over 50,000 readers each month

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