Malice Mizer FLAC files?

DarkestRafflesia

-member-
-member-
Joined
Jan 20, 2010
Messages
332
I recently discovered the website us.7digital.com. This website sells higher quality versions of songs than you can rip from a cd or download from iTunes. iTunes is 256kbps and CD is 320kbps but music on this website goes as high as 24-bit (although everything I've bought so far has been 16-bit FLAC files). The difference in quality of FLAC compared to mp3s 256kbps-320kbps is remarkable especially with earphones/headphones. Malice Mizer was not featured on this website, but I can't help but wonder if there are any Malice Mizer audio files out there that are above 320kbps.
 

flowersofnight

-moderator-
-moderator-
Joined
Aug 4, 2004
Messages
13,919
Location
Vintage Live House, 1994
I'm not finding anything, but Nippon Columbia has a list of places that sell FLACs in Japan.
https://columbia.jp/download/
The term of art seems to be "high-resolution" (ハイレゾ) music.

Unless you're playing it on a hi-fi system that costs as much as a luxury car, and your ears are in the 99.99th percentile of sensitivity, a high-bitrate MP3 is indistinguishable from uncompressed anyway.
 

DarkestRafflesia

-member-
-member-
Joined
Jan 20, 2010
Messages
332
hmm interesting. I just have regular Bose earphones and the best way I can describe the difference between 320kbps and 16-bit is that there is more space in between the different timbres and they stand out against each other more clearly. everything is just more crisp. I bought "Challenger" by Perfume on iTunes and then again on 7digital and the 16-bit is just soo clear. probably on speakers the difference is not as noticeable.
 

ghostpepper

-member-
-member-
Joined
Jul 12, 2017
Messages
107
Location
Tokyo
There are no hi-res malice mizer releases but I wonder if the master tapes have been digitally preserved for such a future release.. the best of selection album from columbia was not remastered if I recall correctly yah?
 

sanctum

-member-
-member-
Joined
Mar 10, 2005
Messages
2,013
I think those masters are long gone.

Speaking of masters, did you hear about how the cut footage from the original Wicker Man movie was dumped into the foundations for some highway?
 

Hampo

-member-
-member-
Joined
Jan 11, 2019
Messages
286
If I found cut footage of the original Wicker Man from some dumpster I would probably think it was a cursed film or something.

Maybe I'm getting old, but I'm pretty satisfied with the MM albums as they are. I don't understand you kids with your odd vorbises and flask files.
 

DarkestRafflesia

-member-
-member-
Joined
Jan 20, 2010
Messages
332
I ripped my MM CD's in uncompressed FLAC, is that any different than what you guys are talking about?
That is a good question! I'm going to have to open my copy of Merveilles and test that out.
 

Demanufacturer

-senior member-
-senior member-
Joined
Nov 29, 2004
Messages
1,957
Location
The Hague
Keep in mind: if the source is a CD then the quality will never be better than than that quality, FLAC or not.
Ripping a 320 mp3 and converting it to wav or FLAC will not make it better. In fact, like a jpg, the more often you process it the worse it gets.
The audio on CD usually is 16b@44.1kHz. So, ripping it in any 'better' file will not result in an upgrade.
Keep it at wav for playing it on desktop, and mp3@320kbs for your phone etc.
If you don't have any super high grade audio equipment then you will not hear a difference.
 

ghostpepper

-member-
-member-
Joined
Jul 12, 2017
Messages
107
Location
Tokyo
Im sure they still have the masters but I wonder if they are properly stored and such ::kozi::
Most people cannot tell the difference between hi-res and cd quality though, and most people do not have hifi speaker setups anyways so meh.::gaku::
 

flowersofnight

-moderator-
-moderator-
Joined
Aug 4, 2004
Messages
13,919
Location
Vintage Live House, 1994
Dunno, been doin' pretty good after 3 Priest shows and 1 Maiden show in a 3-year span, among other shows.
TYPE LOUDER, I CAN'T HEAR YOU ::ash::

By the way, I hope all you enthusiasts are at least using Exact Audio Copy to rip your CDs into WAV.
 

DarkestRafflesia

-member-
-member-
Joined
Jan 20, 2010
Messages
332
Keep in mind: if the source is a CD then the quality will never be better than than that quality, FLAC or not.
Ripping a 320 mp3 and converting it to wav or FLAC will not make it better. In fact, like a jpg, the more often you process it the worse it gets.
The audio on CD usually is 16b@44.1kHz. So, ripping it in any 'better' file will not result in an upgrade.
Keep it at wav for playing it on desktop, and mp3@320kbs for your phone etc.
If you don't have any super high grade audio equipment then you will not hear a difference.

I was mistaken in assuming CD quality was 320kbps. I assumed that was the case because iTunes automatically compresses CDs to mp3 format. I recently discovered that Apple has its own version of FLAC called Apple Lossless Audio File. I changed the default to rip in Apple Lossless format and the kbps is much higher: in the 600kbps-1100kbps range. Needless to say I spent a day re-ripping all my MM CDs to this lossless format.

The completionist in me can rest easier knowing that my collection is one step closer to perfect. every kilobit counts ::zetsubou::

edit: as it turns out, the website I mentioned earlier, that sells 16bit FLAC files, while it doesn't have any Malice content, does have a Kanon Wakeshima song for something called 7th DragonIII Code: VFD ::meev:: she sure gets around.
 
Last edited:

Hampo

-member-
-member-
Joined
Jan 11, 2019
Messages
286
I think it's possible that master tapes for Merveilles exist out there somewhere, as it was released by a bigger label. Is there enough financial interest to find them and use them is a the bigger question, I guess.
TYPE LOUDER, I CAN'T HEAR YOU ::ash::

By the way, I hope all you enthusiasts are at least using Exact Audio Copy to rip your CDs into WAV.
I never really even thought about what program to use when ripping CDs. I just use foobar. Is this good, y/n?
 

sanctum

-member-
-member-
Joined
Mar 10, 2005
Messages
2,013
My uncle works for Nintendo and he said the tapes were just recorded over for Mars, Gackt's smash hit debut.

By the way, I hope all you enthusiasts are at least using Exact Audio Copy to rip your CDs into WAV.
That takes me back, I remember ripping the demo/ep of a band and being one of the very few people to discover the hidden pregap song.
 

flowersofnight

-moderator-
-moderator-
Joined
Aug 4, 2004
Messages
13,919
Location
Vintage Live House, 1994

sanctum

-member-
-member-
Joined
Mar 10, 2005
Messages
2,013
Foobar is going to give you the best no-frills rip. EAC will pick-up and rectify any bad sectors or wear and tear on the disc.
 
Back
Top