Software to Convert from WAV to MP3

[xKelemvor]

Greetings,

I'm looking for a nice, simple program that can convert WAV files to MP3 format and also REDUCE the size of the file. We have a program that only stores info in WAV files and they are taking up tons of room. I know MP3 files shoudl be able to be much smaller with still having high quality but most of the converters I have found don't reduce the file size or even make them bigger.

Can anyone post a link to any software (preferably freware or shareware) that will do the conversion and also make the MP3's smaller? If there are any certain settings to use in the program, please post those as well.

Thank,
--Mike

 

[PliotronX]

Are you looking to compress the WAV files for editing later? Are you using them for say recording editing, or just playback?

 

[xKelemvor]

These are strictly for playback. I work in a call center and we have a system that records calls. If we need to export them, it only exports in WAV format and the files can be from 5 - 10 megs in size. THis isn't bad, but when we have 200 reps, it gets big. We're looking for a way to store them in a smaller format. They would never be edited or anything, just played back using WinAmp or wahtever soudn player happens to be on a given PC.

THanks,
-Mike

 

[new2AMD]

Musicmatch (musicmatch.com) Download it...then go to File-->convert and it defaults from a wav file to mp3@128 kbps. You go the other way if you need to later or you can convert to wma or at any kbps for even smaller sizes.

 

[PliotronX]

I would personally recommend RazorLAME (freeware) because it gives you a lot of parameters to play with so you can tweak your MP3s, but Musicmatch is a bit easier to use. Since phone systems are of such low quality, you can use a ridiculously low bitrate like 16Kbps (unless you don't want artifacts, because there will be artifacts, but the voice will be very intelligible).

edit- in case you wish to use RazorLAME, I suggest starting off with these switches:

-b 16 -a -h --lowpass 8

(in RazorLAME, go to options, the Expert tab, and insert the above commands into the custom options field & check "only use custom options")

Since RazorLAME is a frontend for the LAME encoder, you will need the LAME executable. You can get it at Dmitry's page. Scroll down and download the 3.89 beta version, then extract the lame.exe file to the RazorLAME directory.

 

[Shagga]

I use CDex. It seems to do the job nicely.

 

[GigaCluster]

If you want the best compression and the best sound quality, I suggest you use the Ogg Vorbis format. It rawks!

 

[syzygy]

cdex, eac, razor lame are all excellent. i loathe musicmatch - had a bad run in with it