...shrink an 8 MB mp3 to around 4 or 5 MB so that it can be shared online? I have Cool Edit Pro2 on hand, if that helps.
.....or open the original 8Mb mp3 file and then render it with a lower bitrate to decrease the file size (and the overall sound quality..)
Lwb — Mar 27, 2012.....or open the original 8Mb mp3 file and then render it with a lower bitrate to decrease the file size (and the overall sound quality..)
True. I've found (on very expensive stereo equipment) that I can't reall tell the difference between 192kbps and above, but below that you definitely can. YMMV. :)
I go with 160 for online listening... that's a pretty good ratio of listenability to mp3 junk. Cool Edit Pro won't do anything for you, download something like CDEX or another front-end to the LAME codec. I also like VBR--you can specify a minimum bit rate, maximum bit rate (I'll do 32 minimum, 256 maximum, and then set the VBR to something like 5 or 6--parts that are less musically complex will get lower bit rates, more musically complex get higher bit rates).
Zipping will not compress an MP3 more than maybe 1%... it's already compressed.
ditto, re-render at lower bit rate using whatever you use to do that. Charger recommended CDEX years ago and it still works great for me if I'm doing an already rendered file. If I"m in a music program that does it, (your recording software for example) it's easier to just re-render the original track from there.