Hi, is LAME still the best free MP3 encoder for PC? I have LAME and it works well, but i never seem to get the kind of compression that Tony, for example, gets with his commercial encoder. Maybe i haven’t figured out the sweet spot in the settings yet.
Or can you recommend another free encoder?
I know Orbis/Ogg is what we should be using but MP3 is still required.
Thanks,
g
Glauber,
I use Simple MP3 Maker. It’s freeware and does a good job for my purposes. I don’t know anything about compression rations but the price is right.
Mike
use the recording feature of kramixer. it’s a dj program, but all you need to do is play your file through it while recording. compresses them to a rate of 144kbps (or whatever the units are).
I haven’t kept up with the latest on compression schemes. I’ve asked people to use mp3 to keep files small. If the Orbis/Ogg thing works well and people can access the files no problem, them I’m up for it.
Currently, the vast majority of the files people send me are huge and I run them through goldwave to shrink them to 1/2 or less. If I receive Ogg files that are comparable in size to the mp3’s, sound ok, etc, I’ll post them. I haven’t even looked to see if goldwave handles those. I think it does. (I’m at “work” at the moment.)
Tony
Well, the Orbis/Ogg thing was tongue-in-cheek. I don’t use it yet myself, but it has the advantage of being a free format, unlike MP3 which is encumbered by patents, threats, maledictions and voodoo. Orbis is being developed as a free alternative to MP3. Supposedly it’s better quality too. But that’s all i know.
BTW, here’s a LAME preset that gives good compression for simple whistle stuff without distorting too much:
--alt-preset 80 -m m -h
BTW#2, it’s Vorbis, sorry.
g
“CDEx” is free and quite good. It comes with a number of CODECs and does the variable bit rate stuff very well.
John
CDEx uses Lame, to create MP3s. But yes, great product for ripping CDs too.
CDEX also doesn’t work with Windows XP. Unless a new, fixed version is out.
Supposedly it works with XP, though i’ve had sporadic crashes.
I like “Easy CD Ripper”. It’s very simple and straight forward (I’ve never had to look at the documentation to use it). It gives you plenty of choices for Sample Rate and Bit Rate. It works fine on with both Windows98 and WindowsXP.
You’ll find a demo/shareware version for free download at Qwerks](http://www.qwerks.com/Product.asp?ProductID=3472%22%3EQwerks) Website. The full version is on sale right now. Qwerks has a couple of other MP3 programs available too; I haven’t tried those.