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Author Topic: What is the best encoder to use?  (Read 1348 times)

natethelen

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What is the best encoder to use?
« on: April 30, 2003, 01:57:15 pm »

I am not sure which encoder to use for ripping my CDs to MP3.  I have done searches all over the place and have come up short.  What do you recommend?

Thanks,
Nate
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xen-uno

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Re: What is the best encoder to use?
« Reply #1 on: April 30, 2003, 02:03:51 pm »

LAME 3.90 or 3.92 or 3.93.1 (MC default). 3.93.1 is supposed to be much faster that the former's. No other mp3 encoder beats LAME for quality...but plenty do for speed. I still use 3.92 cause I'm stubborn & resistant to change.

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natethelen

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Re: What is the best encoder to use?
« Reply #2 on: April 30, 2003, 02:29:25 pm »

Actually, that is what I have heard: LAME.  I don't see it in the encoder list or on the plug-ins page, is that the default "MP3 Encoder"?  Also, what does VBR stand for?

Nate
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LisaRCT

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Re: What is the best encoder to use?
« Reply #3 on: April 30, 2003, 03:20:05 pm »

VBR stands for 'Variable Bit Rate', as opposed to the standard option of 'CBR' or 'Constand Bit Rate'.
What is the difference you ask??        ?

CBR has been fairly widely used and thus most mp3 enabled devices and software can play it, whereas some devices may not be VBR enabled (older devices I expect).

CBR uses the same encoding bitrate regardless of the music quality, so, sections where there is little sound or dynamic range still encode at a higher than necessary bit rate. By the same token, sections with alot of data and dynamic range may not be permitted  additional bitrate necessary to avoid losses.  This allows for a predictible file size, but quality may vary throughout the song.

VBR focuses on quality, adjusting the bitrate as necessary to encode the dynamic range, peaks, etc at the exoense of file size being unpredictable.  As the source material increases in range the bitrate increases, in the quieter passages the bitrate is reduced accordingly to maintian the quality without unecessary space wasted.

VBR is a little slower to encode than CBR.
VBR can produce better quality, but filesize may be a bit larger.

Best advice, encode the same music with both and see what your ear says.
Personally I use VBR as I value quality more than filesize.


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whoeveryouare

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Re: What is the best encoder to use?
« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2003, 03:52:10 pm »

LAME also does average bit rate (ABR), which may be better than VBR and CBR.
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natethelen

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Re: What is the best encoder to use?
« Reply #5 on: April 30, 2003, 04:10:24 pm »

So where can I get LAME?
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KingSparta

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Re: What is the best encoder to use?
« Reply #6 on: April 30, 2003, 04:16:24 pm »

Lame Is The "MP3 Encoder" from the plugins Page
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