Winamp 5.5

[Asher]

I got suspicious when I saw claims that it processes up to 32-bits, rather than 16-bits like the Winamp decoder.

Here's a newsflash...even if you decode a 16-bit mp3 file in a 32-bit decoder, it's still 16-bits..

[Q Classic]

Eh, at least this one is free. If they charged, that'd be something to be upset about. Most of the DSP effect generators that claim to be fantastic aren't, but they charge like they are.

[Asher]

I think this thing is essentially an upsampler. They use dithering to try to guess the rest of the bits (eg, make 16-bits 24-bits). I think that's nonsense, same reason I don't use my X-Fi "Crystalizer" which does the same thing for all inputs.

[SlowwHand]

I use MMD3 skin.

[Mercator]

Originally posted by Asher
According to this site, Winamp 2.7 and later correctly decode mp3s..I don't see why you'd need another decoder?

http://mp3decoders.mp3-tech.org/overall.html

That table shows that Winamp decodes with perfect 16-bit accuracy, while the MAD plug-in can decode with "fair" 24-bit accuracy.

And then judging from this page:

http://mp3decoders.mp3-tech.org/24bit.html

All it'll do is reduce rounding errors on the least significant bit...

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Q Cubed
It's always been there, and I doubt you'd've missed something like that--what exactly are you referring to?

Here's where it is on Bento:

You're right. I guess teh makers of teh skins that I use (Merv4, among others) just didn't bother to implement it

[Asher]

Originally posted by Mercator

http://mp3decoders.mp3-tech.org/overall.html

That table shows that Winamp decodes with perfect 16-bit accuracy, while the MAD plug-in can decode with "fair" 24-bit accuracy.

And then judging from this page:

http://mp3decoders.mp3-tech.org/24bit.html

All it'll do is reduce rounding errors on the least significant bit...

Do you have any 24-bit MP3s? I certainly don't.

If all it has is 16-bits.......

[DRoseDARs]

"Winamp: It really whips the llama's ass." ???

Wiggety-what? When did they start using this version? So they replace "kicks" with "whips" and leave the word "ass"? F*ck my fellow Americans and their illogical pussified ways.

[Asher]

It's been whips for as long as I can remember, dating back to the 90s...

[LordShiva]

Indeed. Perhaps Togglechaps needs a better MP3 decoder

[DRoseDARs]

I distinctly remember in the olden days when Winamp was newborn, it was "Winamp: It really kicks the llama's ass." The "kick ass" portion is what has always stuck with me through the years. I'm not the only one who remembers; I've found numerous references to the "kick ass" version. Near as I can tell, it may have been circa v1 of the player that it was used. WinAmp started in '97.

[DRoseDARs]

Here's one of oldest refs to it that I can find. The poster "oomp" posted in June '03 that his first version of WinAmp "was probably the one that came with win amp 'Winamp it really kicks the llama's ass' "

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/archive/index.php/t-60222.html

Here's one from September '02. This poster (who never learned to speak his own native tongue, Christ his postings were painful to sift through...) makes mention of the switch from "kicks ass" to "whips ass" in the demo.mp3 in post#42 on that page.

http://www.newgrounds.com/bbs/search/author/sir-eatsalot/2

[DRoseDARs]

Here's one from November '01 where the poster claims there's been 2 or 3 version of the demo file.

http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?postid=396164

This blogger from this past August also remembers when his friend turned him to WinAmp when it still had the "kick ass" demo file.

http://medhatriad.blogspot.com/2007/08/what-hell-is-modem.html

[Sirotnikov]

Originally posted by Asher
I think this thing is essentially an upsampler. They use dithering to try to guess the rest of the bits (eg, make 16-bits 24-bits). I think that's nonsense, same reason I don't use my X-Fi "Crystalizer" which does the same thing for all inputs.

Perhaps.
I really haven't dedicated lots of time to research.

When I installed the plugin, I made a small experiment, trying to differentiate between MAD decoded and regular decoded MP3 files. Sometimes I seemed to notice a slight change. It could be attributed to different loudness though...

Having not spent a serious amount of time understanding how it works, I believed the "upsampling" mumbo and assumed it might have some slight effect that is hard to discern from a moment's audio, but is perhaps noticeable when used constantly.

And I was sure that it didn't make the sound worse, and it was free, so I changed it.

Also it got high ratings on some audiophile forum

[Q Classic]

I miss Sonique, now and then.

At the time, it sounded better than Winamp 2...