Cubase v4- A question about mp3 sample rates

I have a question about using mp3 samples in Cubase.

Say, for example, that I have 3 audio samples loaded in different channels. One sample was recorded at 128kbps, one at 196, and one at 320. I want to save the entire audio mixdown of all three channels as a 128kbps mp3. Is there a way to set Cubase so that it does not reduce the quality of the file already recorded at 128kbps?

The way things are rigt now the quality of the 128k sample will again be reduced resulting, in a file that doesn't sound very good.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Anton

hey anton :)

if you render at 128kbps only the higher bitrate files will be affected. the 128 will stay exactly the same.

if you render a 128k file to 128 and test it against the original it will be exactly the same as no compression will be needed.

Cubase re-samples mp3 to wav when adding them to a project, so they are not exactly mp3 files, but what Rhythmtech said is correct.

is that the same in protools (without the mp3 option from the toolkit)?



(sorry, didnt mean to edit you there chris)

how you getting on with cubase 4?

Planning on switching soon, just have a few projects to complete first..

Was quite excited reading about it. Sounds like they've simplified a lot of the messy stuff...