MP3 QUALITY

[lawson857]

When downloading MP3s from YouTube, is there an option to select the audio quality manually? How does the program determine the 'best' audio quality?

[nayandas69]

Hi @lawson857,

When you select the MP3 option while downloading from YouTube, the program uses the yt-dlp library to fetch the best available audio quality. Here's how it works:

1. Selecting MP3 Automatically:

In the code, when you type mp3 as your choice, the following options are set for yt-dlp:

ydl_opts = {
    'format': 'bestaudio/best',
    'outtmpl': os.path.join(download_directory, '%(title)s.%(ext)s'),
    'postprocessors': [{
        'key': 'FFmpegExtractAudio',
        'preferredcodec': 'mp3',
        'preferredquality': '192',
    }],
}

• 'bestaudio/best': This ensures that the best-quality audio stream available is selected, regardless of its original codec (AAC, Opus, etc.).
• 'preferredquality': '192': This defines the desired MP3 audio quality after conversion, where 192 stands for 192 kbps. It is a good balance between size and quality.

2. Manual Selection of Audio Quality:

Currently, the program doesn't allow for manual selection of the input audio quality when converting to MP3. However, if there's interest, this feature can be added in future updates to let users manually specify the desired audio format and bitrate before conversion.

For example, we could modify the program to:

• Let users select an audio format ID (e.g., Opus, M4A) from YouTube before converting to MP3.
• Offer more bitrate options for the MP3 file (e.g., 128 kbps, 256 kbps).

3. Determining 'Best' Audio Quality:

The bestaudio/best option means:

• The program evaluates all available audio formats for the video.
• It picks the stream with the highest bit rate and/or the best-quality codec.

This ensures the best possible sound is selected as the input for the MP3 conversion, regardless of what is available on YouTube.

If you'd like to see a feature to specify exact audio quality or other improvements, feel free to suggest it, and we'll consider it for future updates!

[lawson857]

Thank you for the response! Just to clarify, does the program automatically select the highest bitrate available for MP3 downloads, or is it possible to specify a preferred bitrate manually (e.g., 320 kbps)? If manual selection isn't currently supported, do you plan to add this feature in future updates? It would be helpful for users who want more control over audio quality. Thanks again for your hard work on this tool!

[nayandas69]

Thank you for your follow-up! I appreciate your interest in improving user control over MP3 audio quality. Here's some clarification on your questions:

1. Does the program automatically select the highest bitrate for MP3 downloads?

Yes, when you choose the MP3 option, the program automatically selects the highest-quality audio stream available on YouTube. This is determined by the bestaudio/best format in the yt-dlp configuration. It ensures that the best input source (based on bit rate and codec) is used for conversion to MP3.

After selecting the input audio, the program converts it to MP3 using FFmpeg. During this conversion, the program sets the target bit rate to 192 kbps, as defined by the preferredquality: '192' parameter. This choice offers a balance between audio quality and file size, suitable for most users.

2. Can users specify a preferred bit rate manually (e.g., 320 kbps)?

Currently, the program does not allow users to manually set the output MP3 bit rate (e.g., 128 kbps, 192 kbps, or 320 kbps) or to choose specific input quality from available YouTube streams. However, this feature can be added to give users greater control.

3. Plans for manual bitrate selection in future updates?

Yes, adding manual selection for MP3 quality is a great idea, and I’m considering including it in a future update. The planned changes could include:

• Letting users specify the output MP3 bitrate (e.g., 128 kbps, 256 kbps, 320 kbps).
• Allowing users to manually select the input audio quality from YouTube streams before conversion to MP3.

If this feature gets implemented, you’d be able to fully customize the audio quality based on your preferences.

Let me know if you have additional feedback or specific suggestions your input helps improve the tool!

Thanks again for your thoughtful questions and support! 💝

[lawson857]

Thank you for the detailed explanation and for considering my suggestions! I appreciate the balance you’ve struck with the default 192 kbps setting—it does make sense for most users. The planned features for manual selection of input audio quality and customizable MP3 bitrates sound amazing and would definitely enhance the flexibility of the tool.

If I may suggest, having an advanced settings menu or command-line argument for power users to tweak these parameters would be a great addition. That way, it won’t complicate the tool for casual users while still catering to those who want more control.

Looking forward to seeing how this evolves! Please let me know if there's anything I can do to support or test new features. Thanks again for your hard work!

[nayandas69]

Thank you for your thoughtful suggestions and kind words! I’m glad the current setup works well for most users and that you're excited about the planned features. Your idea of having an advanced settings menu or a command-line argument for power users is fantastic and aligns with the direction I’d like to take this tool in the future.

If you’re interested in staying updated or contributing further, feel free to join My Discord Community at HERE. It’s a great place for discussions, feature requests, and early testing of new updates!

Looking forward to seeing you there and collaborating with you on making this tool even better!