KVR Audio

umps · Post by **umps** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 5:06 am

Let's say we start with a waveform and we want to convert it into mp3. My question is what is the best way to do this, assuming you want to encode it at 128kbps? Now before you say " there is no difference you idiot mp3's are mp3's no matter how you encode it", I will just direct you to wikipedia's entry on mp3 ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mp3 ) which indeed states that "the quality of MP3 files depends on the quality of the encoder and the difficulty of the signal being encoded."

So with this in mind, does anyone know what the "best" way to encode your WAV's into MP3's if there is such a thing as "best". I've always used the mp3 encoder on fruity loops and accepted it as sufficient but lately I've began to wonder...

This post was actually kind of inspired by the "what hosts sound better" threads because maybe some people are listening to the exported mp3 files and comparing them. Since mp3 encoding can be different on different host, maybe this is why some people hear the difference?
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kagemusha · Post by **kagemusha** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:46 am

The Fraunhofer codec is said to be the better codec.
The LAME MP3 Encoder is said to be the best free encoder and I think it uses the Fraunhofer codec.

If your wave file is in 16bit and is good on it's own (eg if it was converted with dithering etc) the Fraunhofer is a good solution.
I always use variable bitrate (VBR) at 128kbps but I don't know this is an option in the lame encoder

Ciao

Lagrange · Post by **Lagrange** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:50 am

Most lame encoders that come with DAW's do not have VBR.. but the standalone lame encoder/decoder does..

C

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:56 am

There are huge differences between MP3 converters, and their settings make a difference as well.

Lame is just the encoder/converter, and regarded as THE best one. Fraunhofer is another one, not too bad actually. You'd have to ask Gol which encoder is used in FL.

RazorLame is a popular GUI front-end to be used with Lame. Now you go googling and comparing

dougsyo · Post by **dougsyo** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 12:25 pm

I render to wav then drag it into razorlame.

I just did a search for lame*.dll and found references under FLStudio 6 as well as my Lame installation. It's also used by the free "cwenc" if you don't want to pay Cakewalk for the MP3 encoder, but since I use the razorlame instead I haven't bothered. IIRC MusicMatch jukebox also uses Lame under-the-covers.

Doug

833-45 · Post by **833-45** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 12:37 pm

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/ind ... opic=28124

AKJ · Post by **AKJ** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:16 pm

the lame encoder is by far better than the fraunhofer.
But I would choose at least vbr 128 to 256. to same file size use joint stereo. if you happen to have 24 bit files directly convert from 24/44,1 to mp3. a good encoding tool/gui is cdex.

brandondrury · Post by **brandondrury** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:22 am

I use Razorlame as well. I don't see much reason to research the issue any further. By default, you know you are losing sound quality with MP3s. It's part of the trade off.

For me personally, my mixes are always the weakest link. I couldn't imagine the difference between MP3 encoders being to be anywhere near an issue.

Brandon

what is the a best way to render to mp3?