Topic: FLAC/SHN > mp3/m4a converter?

[Jamos]

I've been using xACT for decoding shn's and flac's to AIFF, and then dropping them into itunes to convert to high quality mp3.

I tried going from flac > mp3 right in xACT, but it seemed to take way longer than doing it with the method above.
Is that in my mind, or is it actually slower?

Anyone else found a good batch converter?

I am using a mac w/OS X 10.5.5

thanks!

[rowjimmytour]

I think that is the fastest way but you could take your CDR (If you burned one) of the show and open the CDR in itunes. Then convert the wav>mp3>HD and be done w/ it. This is what I do and it seems to go pretty fast.
Peace

[RRobar]

On my intel based macbook xACt is pretty fast at the flac/shn>vbr MP3 conversion. On my PPC mac mini it does take a bit longer. But all in all it's not really that long and I'd rather save the step and have a better conversion. xACT use LAME VBR MP3 encoding I'm pretty sure iTunes does not it offers a VBR mode. But I'm pretty sure it's not LAME. I used to do it as your first step mentioned. But really was cumbersome. I like xACT alot!

[Jamos]

I like xACT too...and I couldn't tell if it was just my perception that it actually took longer doing the conversion to mp3, or if it really did.  itunes uses a VBR, but doesn't mention LAME encoding.  I'm pretty happy with the >256 VBR encoded files that it produces.

I've actually read that there are superior methods to the LAME at this point.  Not sure if that's true or not though.

All the files I'm converting are in folders on an external drive, not on discs, so it's nice to be able to drop 100+ files in xACT and just let 'em go.

Takes a while either way I guess.

[3-Fan]

I've been using this and have found it pretty good.

It does VBR

http://www.nch.com.au/switch/

[keytohwy]

I've used a couple of tools...

Toast (yes, drop them in a burn window, but then hit export and choose format),does not support SHN, I think, and, if present, it strips metadata from FLAC files.

Max http://sbooth.org/Max/ This also uses LAME encoders for MP3 and Core Audio for MP4 and ALAC.

The Max website also has links to sister products that allow you to edit FLAC metadata, etc.

Lastly, I have a couple of Automator workflows that export AIFF/WAV to mp4 audio using core audio.  They are handy as they are saved as Finder plugins, so I can right-click on a file, and off they go.  I'm a mp4 audio guy, not mp3, so this works for me.

Hope that helps,
keytohwy

[Jamos]

thanks for the suggestions keytohwy...
why do you use mp4 audio files?

[keytohwy]

thanks for the suggestions keytohwy...
why do you use mp4 audio files?

As opposed to MP3?

LAME notwithstanding, AAC is a much newer technology that generally gives better audio at comparable bit rates.  It also works on all of my devices, so there is no need to use anything else.

keytohwy

[Jamos]

thanks for the suggestions keytohwy...
why do you use mp4 audio files?

As opposed to MP3?

LAME notwithstanding, AAC is a much newer technology that generally gives better audio at comparable bit rates.  It also works on all of my devices, so there is no need to use anything else.

keytohwy

I guess I just haven't experimented to much with AAC or Apple lossless yet.
How do you find the file size of a 256k VBR AAC file compares to a 256k VBR mp3?
And you think they sound better?

[Jhurlbs81]

I use Max to convert my flac filesets to Apple Lossless.  Works great and transfers metadata.

[scb]

I've been using xACT for decoding shn's and flac's to AIFF, and then dropping them into itunes to convert to high quality mp3.

I tried going from flac > mp3 right in xACT, but it seemed to take way longer than doing it with the method above.
Is that in my mind, or is it actually slower?

Anyone else found a good batch converter?

I am using a mac w/OS X 10.5.5

thanks!

xACT uses LAME, which takes longer than the encoder iTunes is using

[keytohwy]

I've not run side by size comparisons.  But in theory, a 256k file would be same size with either encoder, but it's the encoder that will dictate the quality of the audio.  You could use Max to encode a few different ways all at once and do some comparisons.

With storage as cheap as it is now, size doesn't matter like it used to.

keytohwy

thanks for the suggestions keytohwy...
why do you use mp4 audio files?

As opposed to MP3?

LAME notwithstanding, AAC is a much newer technology that generally gives better audio at comparable bit rates.  It also works on all of my devices, so there is no need to use anything else.

keytohwy

I guess I just haven't experimented to much with AAC or Apple lossless yet.
How do you find the file size of a 256k VBR AAC file compares to a 256k VBR mp3?
And you think they sound better?

[Jamos]

xACT uses LAME, which takes longer than the encoder iTunes is using

Scott, I tried encoding some mp3's with the VBR feature in xACT set at the "largest" quality, and they come out around 224k.
Any way to implement VBR at higher bit rates?

I just encoded the same 44.1 AIFF to a 256k VBR mp3 and a 256k VBR AAC.
I played them all back on a mac, with a Digidesign Mbox feeding some Meyer Sound Labs HD1 near field monitors.

It's pretty tough to tell the difference...esp between the two VBR files.

It's interesting that iTunes takes twice as long to encode the AAC as it does to encode the mp3.

[scb]

what kind of audio was it?  I thought I remembered LAME doing well above 300 at the highest VBR setting...but maybe it all depends on the kind of track...