File Size: Turn Ons, Turn Offs

[WhiteRabbit]

I was wondering what everybody thought about acceptable file sizes for downloads. In an effort to get the audio quality up, we switched to stereo for our last show, but between the extra long show, and the stereo encode the mp3 was around 35 megs. Even in mono the audio quality would have been better because of changes we made to the recording setup, but I thought that stereo gave it just a little something extra. I personally don't have a problem with downloading a 30-35 meg show but I wondered if others do? Curious to hear what the general consensus is on this one.

[jeffoest]

Hmmm.. this is a good question.

On one hand, my downloads generally take place when I'm asleep so I don't really care. On the other hand I think I'd consider it a bit 'rude' to go past today's conventional 'standard' of music-128kbps and talk-64kbps if the recording quality can't take advantage of the extra size. In other words (I guess) if you're providing 'value' for the additional 'burden' then it's a trade-off worth considering.

The other thing to consider is your bandwidth limitations as well.

[alissa]

we made ours 2 20 minute segments last time. to give people the option of downloading or not.

however, my feed is getting 'munched' and i have no idea why

[Version3]

We are at the 30-35 meg mark each week doing 64K stereo. The show sounds good, but we've got a few modem users complaining of 2 hour plus downloads. I think we are going to offer an alternative download and alternative stream for a 32K mono file to keep the dialup people around. We've gotten good feedback from dial-up users on all other points, so I really don't want to leave them out.

[speechless]

I would think that the size of the file should reflect the requirements of the show. You should encode your show at whichever bitrate you feel is good enough to get the message across. I generally won't listen to a music show encoded below 128. It bugs me...the message is getting lost for me. Vocal only content can get squashed a great deal more since I can parse the message out of low bit stuff.

To quote Obi-wan: "You must do what you feel is right, of course."

(Geek!)

[gozar]

I personally don't have a problem with downloading a 30-35 meg show but I wondered if others do? Curious to hear what the general consensus is on this one.

Our 30 minute show is just under 14MB at 64K stereo recording. That is the mp3 used in our rss feed. We also have a 16K mono recording (just under 4MB) available at the website for those on dialup. I'm ready to add a low bandwidth RSS feed but haven't had any requests.

[bazookajoeshow]

I do a daily podcast that is 90% talk with a once a week segment featuring a musician or band. For the rest of the week the MP3s are set for 64 kbps while the music segment is 128 kbps.

I also do two music podcasts, one of which is two hours while the other is three hours. Clearly, 128 kbps makes for a huge file. The two hour show, for example, weighs in at 121.4 mbs at 128 kbps. I've opted to post those shows at 64 kbps to keep the file size down (59.9 mbs).

I decided on 64 kbps because that's what Adam Curry does for his show and the music he features sounds okay. Not great, but okay. On the other hand, one listener likes to play one of my podcasts at his coffee shop but complains about the audio quality. I'm still on the fence on how to resolve this one.

In closing, you have to make your own judgment but at least use variable bit rate when encodng your files.

Bazooka Joe
small WORLD
http://feeds.feedburner.com/smallworld

solipsistic NATION
http://feeds.feedburner.com/solipsisticNATION

The Bazooka Joe Show
http://feeds.feedburner.com/bazookajoeshow

[theFerf]

My 2 Cents:

1. I have an iPod that holds too many Podcasts.
2. I listen to a lot of podcasts on my computer too.
3. It is my opinion that listeners should almost never know when you produce a new podcast. It would be nice to know every day by 8 am, but the way i see it (and the true power of podcasting) is that it doesnt matter.

My podcatcher automatically downloads every thing to my computer and loads them into itunes. First thing in the morning I start in with the "25 newest Added" playlist in itunes and listen to them they as they come to me.

if im looking for a specific show i either check my iTunes playlist for that cast or the recently download show log in iPodder.

**Note to Podcasters**
Create a file that is 5kb or 5gb, my iPodder will download it and as soon as itunes sees it is there, I will prolly listen to it. To take it one step further, I think the iPodder app is too big and not neccessary. All i want is something that runs in the background and downloads the feeds i want it to. No interface neccessary :)

<steps off soapbox>

[yaz]

we did a two hours show last week which seems a bit ridiculous, i think we can go longer, maybe next week...

[cc_chapman]

These things have file sizes?

I'm only half kidding. I never notice or look at the size of the show in MBs. It just doesn't matter to me because I have plenty of space on my computer and the iPod. They download in the background all the time so I don't care.

I clean them off my iPod after I listen to them so I never notice.

Like Luke said, encode what is appropriate to your content. I'm doing mostly music so I have to do it at a high bit rate so that audio quality doesn't suffer too much. But, a mainly talk show would not have to do the same.

[Version3]

I think the only real discussion for file size comes into play when you are talking about dial-up users. We've actually had a few people tell us that they love the show, but they aren't going to download anymore because 2 hours is too long to commit their internet connection (and phone line) to doing just that, twice a week.

[yaz]

yea, people comment on the length of our shows for the same reason, we have thought about releasing them as two part shows, because we normally get about an hour and a half, i just wish we could get together more than once a week to do several shorter shows, but because of our different schedules we only have saturdays...

[el]

i don't think there's a right or wrong bitrate to encode in. its all down to the users themselves and whether the casters will want to meet the needs of their listenerage.

Personally, I'm still experimenting and until I get comments to the contrary, I'll carry on messing with different bitrates till i find one that suits everyone.

[speechless]

I think one thing you need to be aware of is that different encoder settings can make a big difference in audio quality at the same bitrate. Most encoders offer a balance that you can set between speed of encoding and quality.

I've heard a few 128bit songs that sound like 96 or even 64, tinny and warbling.

I suppose the message is RTFM. :wink:

[ExtraLife]

20mb, for 40 minutes. Good place to be.

[Insomnia Radio]

You dial up users probably hate me, don't you :-/

[joelthecomic]

We keep our show to around 70 minutes, so people can burn it to a CD, and it's around 30MB at 56k mono. I think it sounds pretty good. It is mostly voice though. I see no need to make it a larger or smaller file. It's a 2-3 minute download on broadband. No big deal.

Why people use stereo for talk, I have no idea. There's really no advantage, and people don't record in true stereo anyway, unless they're using two mics. I don't mean one mc per person, but actually miking a person with two mics and mixing into stereo. This almost never done even in commercial broadcasting.