INTERACT FORUM

MC cannot predict the encoded file sizes, but you could collect the files to a playlist first and use a constant bitrate when transcoding. Just monitor the total playback time and keep it below the disc limit.

Here is a table of the approximate maximum playback times for a 700 MB disc:

Code: [Select]

  Bitrate        Time
128 kbps   12 h 26 min
160 kbps    9 h 57 min
192 kbps    8 h 17 min
256 kbps    6 h 13 min
320 kbps    4 h 58 min
Leave some safe margin. Files are always a bit bigger than their theoretical size because of the tags.

For DVD discs you can multiply the times with a proper multiplier.

Quote

11.1.122 (02/15/06)

13. NEW: Added option to use super-fast Go-Go encoder to MP3 encoder. (2x-3x faster for doing on-the-fly conversion for handhelds, UPnP, etc.)

Thanks. It looks fine:



I suppose many users will like this option whenever time is short.

I tested the Go-Go speed with various settings @ 192 kbps:

Test PC: a 2.8 GHz P4
Test file: a disc image wave file, 477 MB, 47 min 20 s (Enigma - Voyageur).

Go-Go

-a -b 192 -m j    50 s     (abr 192, joint stereo)
-a -b 192 -m j -q 2    62 s    (abr 192, joint stereo, high quality)
-b 192 -m j -q 2    62 s    (cbr 192, joint stereo, high quality)
-b 192 -m j    53 s    (cbr 192, joint stereo)
-b 192 -q 2    68 s    (cbr 192, high quality)
-b 192    52 s    (cbr 192)

LAME (standard MC options)

VBR High, Fast    191 s
ABR 192    198 s
CBR 192    196 s

Go-Go is 3-4x faster. I think I'll use the "gogo.exe -a -b 192 -m j -q 2" custom command line for the CD-RW discs I burn for my car stereo. It should produce the highest quality at about 192 kbps. Though, I am going to try an ABX listening test soon.

I have now encoded a few albums with Go-Go using "gogo.exe -a -b 192 -m j -q 2". The results are very promising. I have compared the original ape files and the mp3 files. With high-end headphones I can occasionally hear some differences, but when I listen to the mp3 files separately I don't notice anything annoying. The mp3 files may be slightly different, but in general the audio quality is just fine. I think they are good enough for my car and portable MP3 CD players.

It would be nice if the iPod users could try this setting. Since it is ABR and has less bitrate fluctuation, it is possible that it fixes the high bitrate LAME VBR skipping problem.

On my P4 system it is over 3x faster than LAME VBR High Fast and because the encoding mode is ABR the resulting bitrate is more predictable too. The smallest file has been about 180 kbps and the biggest about 200 kbps so far. The average bitrate seems to be very near the 192 kbps target value.

Any target bitrate is possible so command line strings like "gogo.exe -a -b 165 -m j -q 2" and "gogo.exe -a -b 208 -m j -q 2" are fine.