Understanding Constant Bitrate Encoding
Constant Bitrate Encoding is an encoding method that varies the quality level in order to ensure a consistent bitrate throughout an encoded file.
How does Constant Bitrate (CBR) Encoding Work?
In order to maintain constant bitrate throughout the file, difficult passages (for example, passages containing a relatively wide stereo separation), may be encoded with fewer than the optimum number of bits. When encoding easy passages, (for example, passages containing silence or a relatively narrow stereo separation), the Encoder uses more bits than necessary in order to maintain the constant bitrate. Consequently, difficult passages may experience a decrease in quality, while easy passages may include unused bits.
When to Use Constant Bitrate (CBR) Encoding
Use CBR encoding when you need to limit the size of the MP3 file or produce consistent and predictable file sizes.
Constant Bitrate (CBR) Encoding Benefits
CBR encoding produces MP3 file sizes that are easily predicted by multiplying the bitrate by the duration.