MP3 vs. AAC for Podcast delivery: Is 320kbps still the industry standard for high-end audio?

Hi everyone,

I’ve been doing some testing lately within Audition regarding export settings for web-based audio delivery. While most platforms still default to MP3, I’m seeing a significant shift towards AAC (M4A) for better transparency at lower bitrates.

In my recent workflows, I’ve found that a 320kbps MP3 is almost indistinguishable from the master, but the file size can be a bit much for heavy mobile users. On the other hand, a 192kbps AAC seems to hold the high-end frequencies (16kHz+) much better than an MP3 at the same bitrate.

I’d love to get the community’s perspective on a few things:

1. When exporting for web or social media, do you still stick to the classic 320kbps MP3 for maximum compatibility, or are you moving towards AAC?

2. Has anyone noticed any significant 'dithering' issues when converting high-sample rate (96kHz) projects down to standard 44.1kHz during the final export in Audition?

3. What's your 'sweet spot' for bitrate where you feel the quality-to-file-size ratio is perfect?

Looking forward to hearing how you guys are managing your final exports!"