Display current bitrate of played VBR (variable bitrate) file

[darkred]

Currently for VBR (variable bitrate) files, MB only displays the average bitrate of the VBR file being played (in the Track Information panel).

My suggestion is to display the average bitrate when not playing (as it currently does), and display the current bitrate when playing.
Its value would be updated 2-3 times per second to avoid flux.
The current bitrate would be displayed in the Track Information panel and status bar.

This would make it easier to realize that the currently played file is VBR, and also give a better sense of how the VBR encoding works in the current file,
as the quality of the sound drops significantly during portions of silence or simple sound and rises during more complex sounds to reduce the size of the file, while maintaining high quality.

It would be offered as an option to turn off if someone found it distracting.


For reference, I attach and two screenshots from MB's Track Information panel and status bar:



and a screenshot from foobar2000's status bar:



PS. Old related question post from 4 years ago: live track bitrate visualization

[KangNi]

+1

[psychoadept]

This would make it easier to realize that the currently played file is VBR,

The fact it says VBR doesn't do that?

I don't object to the request but it seems like a neat novelty feature more than meaningful info.

[darkred]

This would make it easier to realize that the currently played file is VBR,

The fact it says VBR doesn't do that?

I don't object to the request but it seems like a neat novelty feature more than meaningful info.

The bitrate fluctuation would help visualize the VBR concept. In contrast, a static "VBR" string might escape the user's attention altogether, and they might not realize that the file they're listening to is VBR.
In my example above, a static "231k" bitrate string might give the false impression that the file is 231k CBR.

[sveakul]

This would make it easier to realize that the currently played file is VBR,

The fact it says VBR doesn't do that?

I don't object to the request but it seems like a neat novelty feature more than meaningful info.

The bitrate fluctuation would help visualize the VBR concept. In contrast, a static "VBR" string might escape the user's attention altogether, and they might not realize that the file they're listening to is VBR.
In my example above, a static "231k" bitrate string might give the false impression that the file is 231k CBR.

Agreed.  And, what's wrong with "neat"   ?

[voodoopunk]

In my example above, a static "231k" bitrate string might give the false impression that the file is 231k CBR.

And what possible difference could that make to anything?

[hiccup]

It seems as valid request to me.
But you can already have 'VBR' displaying for vbr files. So if it's about being able to know if a CBR or a VBR track is playing, there is no need for this.
And personally I don't think I would like having such a continuously changing (and distracting) value in a track information panel.
Just my opinion.

[darkred]

In my example above, a static "231k" bitrate string might give the false impression that the file is 231k CBR.

And what possible difference could that make to anything?

For people who don't care about the technical details of their digital music library, probably none.
But I believe there are users who want to know the encoding method used (VBR vs CBR) in terms of audio quality. So displaying the current bitrate is a way to get the user's attention.

personally I don't think I would like having such a continuously changing (and distracting) value in a track information panel.

That's why I mention in the OP that It would be offered as an option to turn off if someone found it distracting.

[psychoadept]

Agreed.  And, what's wrong with "neat"   ?

Nothing at all; I might even make use of it if it were implemented. But I would find the removal of VBR to make it harder to tell that it's a VBR recording, regardless of other changes.

[voodoopunk]

For people who don't care about the technical details of their digital music library, probably none.
But I believe there are users who want to know the encoding method used (VBR vs CBR) in terms of audio quality. So displaying the current bitrate is a way to get the user's attention.

Valid point, I guess I don't care about the technical details, but surely you're aware of how the music you own is encoded, for instance I do not have any VBR in my library.

[darkred]

Agreed.  And, what's wrong with "neat"   ?

Nothing at all; I might even make use of it if it were implemented. But I would find the removal of VBR to make it harder to tell that it's a VBR recording, regardless of other changes.

So I think the best approach for clarity would be to keep the "VBR" when playing (i.e. when displaying the current bitrate), and maybe append a symbol like ~ to the average bitrate value when not playing,
e.g.
When playing: 195k VBR → 224k VBR → 203k VBR (and so on)
When not playing: ~231k VBR