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R/E/P => R/E/P Archives => Budget? Budget? We Don't Got No Steekin' Budjet => Topic started by: floodstage on January 15, 2006, 08:49:12 PM

Title: .mp3 codec
Post by: floodstage on January 15, 2006, 08:49:12 PM

Need a .mp3 encoder to convert .wav's into .mp3's.

Any suggestions for a good PC software for this?

Millions of programs seem to do it.  Which ones sound good?

(inexpensive would be considered a positive feature, btw)

Title: Re: .mp3 codec
Post by: James Duncan on January 15, 2006, 09:49:03 PM

I use the L.A.M.E. codec that comes with Wavelab, but I think it is "freeware" somewhere. I also bought the Frauhofer (sp?) codec since it is the original, but I have heard from lots of other folks that the L.A.M.E codec is actually better, and it's free!

Title: Re: .mp3 codec
Post by: James Duncan on January 15, 2006, 09:50:29 PM

Look here for more info on LAME:

http://lame.sourceforge.net/

Title: Re: .mp3 codec
Post by: Brendan Thompson on January 16, 2006, 05:42:56 AM

Yes, LAME is good, and free.

Title: Re: .mp3 codec
Post by: floodstage on January 16, 2006, 08:22:36 AM

Is LAME 128 kbs only?

Title: Re: .mp3 codec
Post by: James Duncan on January 16, 2006, 11:16:59 AM

floodstage wrote on Mon, 16 January 2006 08:22

Is LAME 128 kbs only?

No, I regularily encode at 320 kbs.

Title: Re: .mp3 codec
Post by: Fibes on January 16, 2006, 11:20:51 AM

I've been using the L.A.M.E. codec exclusively through DP. It works great and to my ears does what it should with minimum issues.

Title: Re: .mp3 codec
Post by: floodstage on January 16, 2006, 12:32:16 PM

I went to the LAME site James reccomended

LAME apparently needs an application to run

I tried the first one on the list (AudioGrabber)

It seems to work well, but only does 128.

Any apps (free ones please) that anyone suggests?

PC only please.

Title: Re: .mp3 codec
Post by: NelsonL on January 16, 2006, 02:46:23 PM

Hey Flood,

I use LAME in Audacity-- works well in OSX for me. BUT... it originated on the PC side so I bet it works well:

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Anyway, I refuse to pay Digi for their mp3 option. What a joke.

Title: Re: .mp3 codec
Post by: John Jeffers on January 16, 2006, 06:37:12 PM

floodstage wrote on Mon, 16 January 2006 17:32

I tried the first one on the list (AudioGrabber) It seems to work well, but only does 128.

I use AudioGrabber with LAME all the time, and it's definitely not limited to 128.  It can do whatever bitrate you want.

Title: Re: .mp3 codec
Post by: sekim on January 18, 2006, 11:53:22 AM

Get the Razor Lame gui (it's free)  The pair make a nice little stand alone conversion app and you can set most of the LAME parameters with it.

Title: Re: .mp3 codec
Post by: smorgdonkey on January 18, 2006, 11:38:23 PM

floodstage wrote on Mon, 16 January 2006 10:32

I went to the LAME site James reccomended LAME apparently needs an application to run I tried the first one on the list (AudioGrabber) It seems to work well, but only does 128.

Audiograbber is completely adjustable...just click on the mp3 icon in audiograbber and move the slider to the bitrate that you desire...multiple settings between 32 to 320...there you go!!

Title: Re: .mp3 codec
Post by: floodstage on January 19, 2006, 11:32:21 AM

I must have gotten a wierd version of LAME or something.  Audiograbber only did 56 k.  Then I downloaded LAME and it does 128 and some other stuff, but the version I got only goes to 128.  (It does have a 160 option that isn't LAME, but no 192 and higher (that I can find yet) Must have downloaded an old version of LAME.  I'll keep on it.

Title: Re: .mp3 codec
Post by: Ronny on January 20, 2006, 03:09:56 PM

LAME used to LPF all frequencies above 12.5k. Fraunhofer doesn't cut until 15k. LAME adds more gain to the encoded signal than Fraunhofer does also. Check your before and after gain, you are going to get more overs with LAME if your pre-coded material is close to -0dBFS. Not a bad idea to have peak level at -1dB or a little less when using LAME.