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Main => Audio/Jukebox/MP3 Forum => Topic started by: tubthumped on October 08, 2003, 08:31:38 pm

Title: MP3 Encoding... What S/W
Post by: tubthumped on October 08, 2003, 08:31:38 pm

Hi.. newbie here , so be nice!  8)

What s/w would you guys recomend for ripping CDA and WAV files to MP3?

Looking for some specific s/w rather than something like MMJB that just has it built in.

Thanks guys!

Title: Re:MP3 Encoding... What S/W
Post by: Random24 on October 09, 2003, 12:19:34 pm

I have found that I get the best results form exact audio copy and the LAME codec.

Title: Re:MP3 Encoding... What S/W
Post by: walls83 on October 09, 2003, 10:19:50 pm

I second that. Exact audio copy rocks..

Title: Re:MP3 Encoding... What S/W
Post by: TalkingOctopus on October 10, 2003, 04:31:53 pm

I use CDex - a free program - and the LAME codec.

Title: Re:MP3 Encoding... What S/W
Post by: SirPoonga on October 21, 2003, 01:04:22 am

I use CDex also.  Very easy to program.  With the lame encoder you get the best possible quality.

Title: Re:MP3 Encoding... What S/W
Post by: zzsprade on October 21, 2003, 06:42:12 am

I know this can be a very personal thing... but what bit rate do you commonly use for your ripping?

My appologies for highjacking the thread a little, but I am curious. Soon I am going to have to be doing some serious ripping and traditionally I have always used 128 bit.

-Alex

Title: Re:MP3 Encoding... What S/W
Post by: X-0 on October 21, 2003, 07:55:49 am

You're right --it is a personal thing, and you really have to do testing of different bitrates on your own gear before you know what's best.  With the latest version of lame, I have been using 256 for quite awhile.  

Title: Re:MP3 Encoding... What S/W
Post by: milatchi on October 21, 2003, 11:00:57 pm

 I use iTunes and encode at 192 Kbs VBR. I heard a guy from Dolby say in an interview that  192 Kbs VBR was optimal for .mp3 and going above or below that was just stretching the compressor. I tried LAME but I thought iTunes encodedaudio sounded better. That's just me though, whatever sounds good to you.

Title: Re:MP3 Encoding... What S/W
Post by: zzsprade on October 22, 2003, 03:55:12 am

I never realised that you could set VBR to an average bit rate. Shows you how much more experimenting I have to do.

With VBR I have heard that are sometimes complications with concern to playback. Is this true or can anyone further elaborate on this?

-Alex

Title: Re:MP3 Encoding... What S/W
Post by: SirPoonga on October 22, 2003, 01:42:55 pm

Me too.  I encode at VBR 192.  For the speakers I listen on that's fine.  I have some decent Paradigm Phantoms hooked up to my computer.  Sounds great.
http://www.audioreview.com/Main,Speaker/Paradigm,Phantom/PRD_120360_1594crx.aspx (http://www.audioreview.com/Main,Speaker/Paradigm,Phantom/PRD_120360_1594crx.aspx)
I matched up with a cheap PC sub to get the lows.

Title: Re:MP3 Encoding... What S/W
Post by: zzsprade on October 23, 2003, 01:23:33 am

SirPoonga,

Any complications with playing back VBR 192 if it is burnt to a CD or in general?

-Alex

Title: Re:MP3 Encoding... What S/W
Post by: SirPoonga on October 24, 2003, 04:44:07 am

nope, even plays fine on my set top box.