as i understand it,
variable is better as low-signal parts (e.g. silence) are encoded into a smaller space, leaving more for the high-signal parts. what i don't know is the difference between variable and average bit-rate encoding...

oh. and have some more spam: glassco.cx/tabs/

EDIT: gmail invites for anyone who wants *shrug*
gmail.google.com/gmail/a-ef9788e319-d1c5f4daef-f3f0364625
gmail.google.com/gmail/a-ef9788e319-9d1b14ab18-bcc08c0198
( robtoo is all out of gum, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 21:14, archived)

That tabby thing is most handy.

(MooCow_Byter, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 21:35, archived)

Thanks for the G-Mail linky
.
(Remedial_Gash, Fri 10 Sep 2004, 0:08, archived)