LAME MP3 Encoder 3.100.1 reviews
Nope. Fraunhofer still sounds considerably better at 128kbps CBR compared to LAME. Much better using VBR encoding.
128kbps CBR should be outlawed.
I did a fresh windows 7 install before re-ripping all of my CD’s I installed the 3.99.1 lame_enc.dll into the Windows\System32 folder audio grabber found it and my other audio programs use it as well. Hay for you audio files out there the Windows 7 has a problem with there Sample Rate Converter I have tested it with a spectrum analyzer the converter creates artifacts into the converted audio.
You can find the Hotfix at http://hotfixv4.microsoft.com/Windows%207/Windows%20Server2008%20R2%20SP1/sp2/Fix389997/7600/free/441951_intl_i386_zip.exe
Ok before any update back up your files.
Sadly, at least in my view, CD ripping will eventually become a thing of the past.
For a good amount of time now, studio recordings exceed what are currently offered on CD's.
Nero already offers the HD AAC as part of Nero 11. Eventually, other software will offer the same.
I think the only major holdout in the case of major software is the when, not if, when both iTunes for Windows and Winamp include HD AAC.
People still wonder why not many companies offer either .ALAC (Apple Lossless) or .FLAC albums. Simple really, they are holding off until cloud providers get more well etablished (i.e. like iCloud from Apple), and two they are waiting for more major countries (including the U.S.) to have a more nationwide pure fiber-optic Internet setup (similar to Japan).
Then both uploads and download speeds will make what most people consider "high-speed" broadband seem as slow as people see a 33.6kb/ps dial-up modem seems to them now. At that point, the mere concept of CD's or even Blu-Ray discs seem completely obsolete.
I still love LAME, but someday, maybe sooner than expected, disc based media will become something a thing of the past.
Sad but absolutely true, my friend!Well said!!!
& you'll get the best encoder working always properly
1.Lame is the best (lossy) mp3 encoder existing this moment!!It's last STABLE version (3.98.4) surpassed in quality even encoders you pay for..Brilliant people are working onto its next versions (3.99-4.00) so as to make our lives better..RESPECT this!!
2.It's FREE,supporting the most popular format on the planet
3. It works sweet with Audiograbber,EAC and a lot of other 'hosts'
4.The Lame executable and the DLL that comes with it (when you download it) cannot run by themselves-usually you put them in the folder of the application you are using for music transcoding /playing
5. Although boring..Try to READ the installation instructions or tutorials where necessary.
6.Clean your system of old codecs,codec packs and everything else that might decrease its performance or get in the way of neutral software functionality and make things complicated-driving you crazy
6.Re-Install the software you use for transcoding and point again the right path to the Lame exec. and DLL
7.Lame encoder comes with certain "switches".Learn how to use them (it's all in the "read me" document) and you will be able to SHAPE the encoding process in the EXACT WAY YOU LIKE!!
If you are getting bad quality output from a good quality input, or the encoding is slow, then its you that is doing something seriously wrong, not the encoder! LAME only takes a few seconds per song, and that is encoding with q=0 (the slowest but best precision).
The default precision is q=5, but thats by no means bad!LAME isnt the best encoder out there in terms of quality of output, however it IS the best MP3 encoder! If you encode a wav file using the options:V=3 q=0you will get a very good quality variable bitrate file that retains all the nice audio acoustics without the mp3 artifacts. Even at V=4 or V=5 you wont get these!
Variable bitrate is the way to go as you dont waste bitrate. If you need a definitive file size, use ABR 2-pass instead.
Note the capital and lower case letters, v is a different option to V, as q is different to QThe problem with a lot of even new encodes people do out there is they use grossly outdated software (for some software 6 months can make it grossly outdated!) or the wrong encode settings (or the wrong combination of settings).
Using a 6 year old LAME you wont get the same quality or speed as the very latest 3.99 builds.The best encoder out there at the moment is NeroAACenc, which is an AAC reference encoder. It is far superior to the Apple (iTunes) AAC encoder. Thing about AAC is, instead of getting the artifact sounds it will gradually cut out the frequencies that gives the audio its depth or warmth. The iTunes AAC encoder even at higher bitrates shows this tendency, and again a VBR mode should be used (like NeroAACenc q value, q=0.5 default, higher=better quality).
iTunes AAC has probably held back the uptake of AAC, just like Quicktimes h.264 implementation i believe has held back h.264 uptake (encoding quality is pathetic)!So, use LAME 3.99a14 or newer, use the correct output settings (V=3 or 4, q=0), and make sure the input quality is good! For the average song, these settings will be around 150BKPS or so, but the quality will be superior to some mp3 files ive heard even at 320kbps.Psychology also plays a part of it.
People will often swear one audio file (same works for video) is superior or inferior to another if they think its codecencoder A vs B, if they for some reason dislike encoder B they will swear its inferior, or that A is superior, but wht you could really be showing them is an identical audio file :)
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/LAME_ACM_Codec.htm
or LAME Directshow filter:
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/LAME_Directshow_filter.htm
or preferably both. Follow the installation instructions on the pages, unless you're doing something more complicated.
And an excellent codec, all needed components available too! :)
But It's the most popular in the world, simply becouse *.mp3 is the de facto standart for lossy(compressed) audio. Of course there are such encs like Ogg Vorbis(aotuv) and AAC(from Apple), but Apple's isn't free (like LAME for instance) and Ogg is not so popular.
Perhaps in time the lossles formats will become the choice of the mainstream user (assuming the tendency for larger capacity storage media continues to expand).
however, should be mentioned that to work w/ ie. Exact Audio Copy u need the lame3.98.2-vc6.zip (from RAREwarez), since the verison deriving from latest compiler seem to malfunction with ie. EAC.
Admin's Note: The version you mentioned (lame3.98.2-vc6.zip - from RareWares) is a "bundle compiled with VC6/Intel Compiler 9.1 - intended for older Windows OSes."
