MP3 Encoding

confounded

Member
Dec 10, 2000
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What do think is the best MP3 encoding software program available? (Could have posted elsewhere but nobody goes there)
 

Mixxen

Golden Member
Mar 10, 2000
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You should do a forum search ;)

Anyway the LAME encoder is the best encoder out there.

This program is very good and encodes with LAME...

CDex 1.3
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
29,491
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You probably will get answers that will point to every encoder that is out there.

For my self I too for Lame, or Lame with Razor Lame (if I need an Interface).

Lame is Freeware, so you can try for nothing.

You can find description of the software, and download links here:

http://www.ping.be/satcp/softwaredae01.shtml#LAME
 

confounded

Member
Dec 10, 2000
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I always start with divergent thinking then proceed to convergent thinking. The more diverse responses at this point, the better. Thank you all!
 

kylef

Golden Member
Jan 25, 2000
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I remember using something called "Mplifier" a couple years ago. It was BLAZING FAST!

Unfortunately, I think it got shut down because it was illegally distributing the Xing encoding engine with the package. The Xing engine was NOT freeware or shareware, and Mplifier was... *oops*!

I've since lost my copy of this program (sigh).

But I remember it could encode at 128 kbps a 5 minute song in about 1.5 minutes on a PPRO 200 Mhz!

Now that was fast! I seem to remember the quality was pretty good too...

Kyle
 

kylef

Golden Member
Jan 25, 2000
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Really? How so?

Well, never mind me anyway, as I'm only reminiscing... Like I said, it was a few years ago, when MP3's were in their "infancy" and Napster didn't exist and computers were powered by a hand crank... :)

Why is lame so slow, if anyone knows?

Kyle
 

gnognugs

Banned
Feb 17, 2001
810
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lame or blade with their various front ends
just make sure you get the latest versions that can do VBR
 

Shmorq

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2000
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Lame for encoding and EAC for ripping. This not only produces the best quality, but it's legally free too! Check out this link for a comparison between all the encoders. Just stay away from ANY Xing encoders.
 

Zucchini

Banned
Dec 10, 1999
4,601
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If you look at any site that does extensive quality testing, xing ends up around the bottom. It encodes so fast because its cheating on quality:p Lames not all that slow, the good encoders(lame/audiocatylst(fraunghoffer) are slower.
 

kylef

Golden Member
Jan 25, 2000
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Ok, I'll just be blaming my ignorance on my speakers shortcomings :)

Actually, I shouldn't be complaining about how "slow" LAME is. I remember when I encoded my first MP3 back in July of 1996 with the original freeware Fraunhaufer tool that was limited to 112 kbps and it took more than two HOURS for a five minute wave file!

I should be applauding the improvement in speed since then!

Kyle
 

ForeverSilky

Banned
Apr 6, 2000
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Damn LAME is really good. I just ripped a music cd I had then converted the wav files to mp3's (320kbps) and burned them on a disk. I couldn't tell the difference!
 

Zucchini

Banned
Dec 10, 1999
4,601
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batman,

your right, it does, i fuxored. I havn't used the other programs for a while so i can't remember what the fraunghoffer program was called.
 

chuckieland

Diamond Member
Sep 30, 2000
3,148
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i vote for musicmatch jukebox
it's an all in one, rip, encode mp3, convert mp3 to wav.
it's fast too
 

esung

Golden Member
Oct 13, 1999
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I was using Audiocatalyst, then I switched to LAME.. it made a big difference (provide that you have speakers that cost more then $5 that is.) Xing's codec wasn't that bad, since it's out for a long long time now. but it's just wasn't up to the current standards. I also tried MusicMatch, wasn't as good as LAME's quality. Now if there's a good package that intergrace a good ripper and LAME all together, then it'll be perfect (*sigh*, we are not in a perfect world)
 

AMB

Platinum Member
Feb 4, 2000
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I use the Xing encoder through Creative Digital Audio Centre, I dont have any problems with it, and the quality sounds OK!

Looks like I shall have to change to LAME though!

aMb
 

OCNewbie

Diamond Member
Jul 18, 2000
7,596
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Yeah, I was gonna say AudioCatalyst 2.1 as well. Everything I've ripped with it sounds great to me, I usually use the highest VBR setting. And indeed AudioCatalyst DOES use the Xing encoder, since it's an Xing product, it combines the Xing MP3 Encoder with AudioGrabber. I'll have to try that LAME one out though, never heard of it before.
 

Dennis Travis

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,076
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Lame seems to be the best but the Franhoffer is pretty darn close in quality. Music Match used to use the Xing but switched to the Franhoffer. I like the way Music Match works overall. The new version 6.0 is even easier to use and now that they ditched the Xing in favor of Franhoffer I use it a lot. Lame is for an Encoder the best overall in the tests I have read but Franhoffer is no slouch either. I have never seen the Xing do well in any test of encoders. Problems with the high end and some say stereo separation and imaging also. I have a hearing problem and can still hear the difference between the Xing and the Franhoffer leave alone the Lame.
 

Quickfingerz

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2000
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if you are looking for optimal filesize use LAME VBR with settings of:

lame.exe -V 1 -b 128 -h -m j -q1 (you'll get around ~ 175 kbit/sec)

for optimum sound quality 256kbit/s CBR under LAME.

this is all according to the audiophile's at r3mix.net forums.
 

Workin'

Diamond Member
Jan 10, 2000
5,309
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Good God!! Is anyone else getting tired of idiots asking "What's the best mp3 encoder?" I mean, come on, this has been beaten to DEATH, just do a freakin' search of the forums, it's been spelled out six ways to Sunday. If I see one more person post that Xing or MusicMatch are good, I'm going to go nuts!! Too late, already gone!!! ARRRGGHHHHH!!!!

Sorry. I'm OK now.
 

ucdnam

Golden Member
Jan 28, 2000
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If you have decent speakers and decent ears, you can hear the difference between LAME and Xing and other speed enhanced encoders.


As for those wanting to integrate LAME, so that ripping and encoding is easier, you should look into frontends like those mentioned. I've used Audiograbber with the LAME .DLL and this creates an all in one solution for me.

It does the CDDB lookup, ripping, and encoding.