Topic: Best software for mp3 encoding (Windows or Mac)

[themicah]

I have a 24 bit 96khz WAV file I recorded the other day of my wife's final grad school recital.  Some friends and family want mp3s of portions of it. 

I know how to use Audacity to edit the WAV file (splitting tracks, etc.) and export it as mp3.  But is Audacity the best choice for mp3 encoding?  My understanding is that LAME (which Audacity uses) makes pretty good quality and reasonably compact mp3s, but in Audacity the only setting I seem to be able to change for mp3 encoding is absolute bitrate (no VBR, no choice of mono/stereo/joint stereo, etc.).

Should I just go ahead and export the mp3s using Audacity?  Or would it be better to use Audacity just to break up the WAV file into smaller chunks and use something else to convert the WAV files to mp3?  I have both Windows XP and OS X based computers, so I can use software on either platform.

I found a little program called BonkEnc that looks like it might be a good choice, but it almost has too many choices of settings (I have no idea what the difference between ABR and CBR is, for example).  Are there other options folks here recommend?  And what settings do you recommend for producing mp3s for non-technically-oriented listeners who are probably going to be listening either directly on a computer or on an iPod?  Do you use ABR/CBR or VBR?  Joint or true stereo?  What bitrate?

[Tenn Man]

I don't know if its the best or not but this is what I use. I have seen it mentioned here several times before.

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/

I use a VBR with a preset of "alt preset extreme' or something like that.

[Tenn Man]

Additional info:

I edit in Audacity, split tracks with cdwave and convert to MP3 using dbpoweramp.

[OFOTD]

Trader's Little Helper
http://tlh.easytree.org/


It should be on every members Windows computer.   

[boojum]

I use foobar2000 (foobar2000.org)  You can also be sure you are using the most recent LAME MP3 encoder by getting the most recent copy from hydrogenaudio.org and dropping it into the foobar directory.  Both pieces of software are free.

In addition, foobar is an excellent playback program with a minuscule footprint.  It also organizes, transcodes, labels, does ABX comparisons and a number of other things too numerous to list.

[georgeh]

say this add here
foxtab
http://soft.foxtab.com/music-converter/ga/sg/?adnm=15862233226&lg=EN&cc=US&c=1&d=1&cid=_660784912&kw=&mn=taperssection.com&Network=D&expr=&agid=_6284533444

anyone using it? I just used TLH, because I use it for other conversions and check sum, fix sbe......

[newplanet7]

Foobar or TLH.

[page]

on the OSX side, XLD works great at batch encoding to a variety of formats (including LAME's algorithm with a variety of settings).

[scb]

use VBR AAC

[notlance]

I know how to use Audacity to edit the WAV file (splitting tracks, etc.) and export it as mp3.  But is Audacity the best choice for mp3 encoding?  My understanding is that LAME (which Audacity uses) makes pretty good quality and reasonably compact mp3s, but in Audacity the only setting I seem to be able to change for mp3 encoding is absolute bitrate (no VBR, no choice of mono/stereo/joint stereo, etc.).

What version of Audacity are you using?  The latest version (1.3.13) allows you to select VBR and other options.  Look under File, Export, then select MP3 as 'Save as type'.  In the lower RH corner is an Options... button that allows you to select MP3 encoding options.

I use Audacity to encode all my MP3 files.  I use a constant bit rate of at least 192 kbps and I've never had a complaint about the sound.  However, the general public is used to 128 kbps (or worse) which is pretty awful so 192 kbps must sound wonderful to them.

[newplanet7]

say this add here
foxtab
http://soft.foxtab.com/music-converter/ga/sg/?adnm=15862233226&lg=EN&cc=US&c=1&d=1&cid=_660784912&kw=&mn=taperssection.com&Network=D&expr=&agid=_6284533444

anyone using it? I just used TLH, because I use it for other conversions and check sum, fix sbe......

LOL!
I think we all missed this post, which is why the thread was brought back to life.
Nope haven't used it. May give it a shot this weekend.

[F.O.Bean]

Trader's Little Helper
http://tlh.easytree.org/


It should be on every members Windows computer.   

100% Agreed!!!!!!!!!!