[Kristupas]

What kind of audio files do you upload to Soundcloud/Youtube.

I remember I used to upload just my mp3 files.
But  was disappointed with both platforms..

Now I'm reading that in soundcloud, they transcode the files to mp3 128kbs, so if I upload the file of the same quality, will they still be re-processing it ?

Also they recommend to upload in loss-less format, but I don't trust their transcoding, or maybe I shouldn't...
Unless you make it downloadable, they keep the same format. :
http://help.soundcloud.com/customer/portal/articles/94796-i-just-uploaded-and-my-track-is-distorted-

Could anyone clarify?
What quality is the best to upload ?

[Boydie]

If the song is just going to be streamed from soundcloud I usually upload an MP3

If I am wanting someone to download the track (which will download the original file) I tend to go for CD quality - ie a 44.1kHz 16bit WAV file

However, due to a faster internet connection I have taken to just uploading the CD quality file (usually around 45mb for a 3and a half minute song)

[tone]

I upload aif. or wav. files to soundcloud and never had a problem. Maybe it's distorting because there's no headroom? I know Spotify has this problem, so you should leave around 0.5db headroom to account for their 'normalising' stage of processing.

Worth a try at least?

[Neil C]

I upload as a WAV but it takes ages down the copper. I then check how the mix and master sound on that platform indeed i remember an article somewhere Sound on Sound perhaps where people master for different platforms.
 
Neil

[James Nighthawk]

This is from a mastering document I have my clients, after my own experimentation:

Some advice for online streaming sites  - As of writing (Summer 2013) the BEST files to use for Soundcloud and (New)MySpace are the 16Bit Wav files (As they encode their end), whereas ReverbNation submits and streams best at 128k MP3. All sites stream at 128k. This may change as High Speed Broadband gains momentum, so do check your streams a few times a year for odd encoding sounds.

Basically, SC re-encoded everything. So handing them a full wav means they start from the top and encode best.

By handing them a 128MP3, they don't dump this direct, they RE-Encoded this, adding artefacts.

I do ALWAYS check my uploads on good headphones before promoting. My most recent upload, 2 months ago, was a WAV of course, and streams fine

Hope that helps

[Kristupas]

Greaat, thanks guys for the replies.

James > Interesting, next time I'll try to compare the 16bit wav and 24 bit .

Have a good day