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[Alex B]

I have tested using the Helix MP3 encoder as an external encoder with MC. It is originally based on the famous Xing encoder, which was later obtained and developed by Real Networks. The current encoder is now released as an open source. http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=35531&st=0

It is blazingly fast: roughly 10x faster than Lame. Actually it seems to encode faster than MC can decode. It has a quality drop when compared with Lame. I would not recommend it for 96-128 kbps, but at 192-320 kbps the quality difference is smaller. I tested a 256 kbps MP3 CD in my car and the quality was good enough. The source files were lossless and "Q8 Insane" MPC files. I didn't notice anything annoying when compared with standard Audio CDs.

It would be nice if the External Encoder plug-in could be used for MP3 CD, Portable and Library Server conversions.

[Alex B]

I edited the subject a bit. Perhaps this gets more attention now. I would like to think that speedier transcoding would be welcomed.

[rpalmer68]

I have all my files in a lossless format on my PC, but sync to my iPod which needs MP3s.  At the moment a full resync takes about 4 days! 

So YES for faster encoding from me!

Richard

[jgreen]

Here goes any hope of getting a Christmas card from Alex B, but I'd rather have the quality.  The lame encoder sure does poke along, but that's what overnight is for.  I'm not entirely thrilled with the 192's lame did, and might re-crush to 256 VBR for my pod.

Alex B, aren't you supposed to be working on new cue specs/individualized EQ settings for MC playback?  Isn't that what's next up for Senor B?  I think getting more out of lossless is a better go than this mp3 thing, which isn't really broken as it is.

[EpF]

I'd rather have the quality.

Fair enough, but for files that I listen to on my walkman I could definitely take a slight quality drop to gain that kind of speed increase; I'm going to test it out now!

Cheers Alex B! 

[EpF]

Alex; could you explain fully what to download to use it?  I saw a lot of stuff about compiles and binaries and versions, but wasn't sure what was a usable executable...

[KingSparta]

If Someone Would Build A Install For The MP3 Encoder I Will Host It At www.spartasoftware.com

Know the lame encoder is much better in quality, but a faster encoder would be nice. there was a GoGo encoder that took advantage of dual CPU chips i guess that went away.

[raistlin2k]

Would it be possible to use this encoder not only via the external encoder plugin, but as an internal encoder as well?? Since the source code is available, this should be possible, no??

THIS WOULD BE REALLY GREAT!! ( I always loved Xing for it's speed, but it was never available as internal encoder for MC  )

Thx
Raist

[Alex B]

I have used this revision for testing: mp3enc_r11_exe_icl9.rar ( 156.54k )

Here is the download link: http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=1659

In real life when using high quality VBR settings it is more like 5x faster. I am still impressed. I got this test result:

Code: [Select]

Source: Wave file, length: 44:26  (Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here, Remastered, complete CD image file)

Lame encoding time: 5:32  Lame 3.96.1, VBR, average bitrate 198 kpbs, settings: --preset standard 

Helix encoding time: 1:09  Helix r11 ICL9, VBR, average bitrate 198 kbps, settings: -V121 -X -U2 -HF2 -F18000
Besides using it as an external encoder it is possible to replace lame.exe with renamed Helix encoder in MC's plugins folder, but only the Custom Command Switches can be used because the other MP3 options are different.

Here is the command line reference from the encoder's help text:

usage:  mp3Enc wave_file mpeg_file -Bbitrate -Mmode -Vvbr_scale
          -Nnsbstereo -Sfilter_select -Aalgor_select
          -C -X -O -Help
          -D -Qquick -Ffreq_limit -Ucpu_select -TXtest1 -EC
          filename use - for stdin or stdout

B[bitrate]Per channel bitrate in kbits per second.
          Encoder will choose if -1. (default)
M[mode]   Select encoding mode: mode-0 stereo=0 mode-1 stereo=1 dual=2 mono=3.
V[vbr_scale]
          Selects vbr encoding and vbr scale.  Valid values are 0-150.
N[nsbstereo]
          Applies to mode-1 stereo mode only.  Number of subbands to
          encode in independent stereo.  Valid values are 4, 8, 12, and 16.
          The encoder limits choices to valid values.  The encoder
          will make a default selection if nsbstereo = -1.
          Valid values for Layer III are 3-32.
S[filter_select]
          Selects input filtering:  no filter = 0,  DC blocking
          filter = 1.
          if filter = -1 the encoder will choose (default)
A[algor_select]  0 = track input, 1=MPEG-1, 2=MPEG-2, xxxxx=sample_rate
C         c0 clear copyright bit, c1 set copyright bit
O         o0=copy, o1=original
X         MPEG compatable Xing header, -X2 with/TOC
U         u0=generic, u2=Pentium III(SSE)
Q         disable_taper, q0 = base, q1 = fast, q-1 = encoder chooses
D         Don't display progress
F         Limits encoded subbands to specified frequency, f24000
HF        high frequency encoding. Allows coding above 16000Hz.
          hf1=(mode-1 granules), hf2=(all granules), -B96 or -V80 need
TX        tx6, test reserved 6 or 8 seems best (startup_adjustNT1B)
            ** v5.0  TEST 1  as of 8/15/00
            ** v5.0  TEST 2  8/18/00
            ** v5.0  TEST 3  default tx6 (prev = tx8)
            ** v5.0  TEST 4  mods to short fnc_sf, ms corr. hf enable > 80
            ** v5.0  TEST 5  fix odd npart, ix clear
            ** v5.0  TEST 6  add reformatted frames
            ** v5.0  TEST 7  drop V4 amod
EC          Display Encoder Setting

I'll post more later. I am a bit busy with other things now.