MP3 bit rate for SQ

[ingresman]

What would any sguggest would be the minimum bit rate to keep the SQ encoding intact in an MP3 track.
I've got access to so some SQ tracks that are at 256k, just wanted to know any ones thoughts before I start decoding.

 

[winopener]

Tests done many years ago showed that the SQ encoding was still there at 192.

 

[ingresman]

thanks winopener - off to work I go !

 

[Dylan Berichon]

In terms of keeping SQ encoding intact, the bitrate isn't as important as making sure that the mp3 you are encoding doesn't use "Intensity Joint Stereo" or narrow the stereo image.

I'd also make sure that Mid Side Joint Stereo is enabled. It will produce better results.

 

[winopener]

I'm not into mp3 at all, how do you check if the file has been compressed with such things?