https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=218.101.84.129&feedformat=atomHydrogenaudio Knowledgebase - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T14:53:02ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.22.7https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=EAC_Vs_CDex_SecureModeEAC Vs CDex SecureMode2005-03-25T21:25:40Z<p>218.101.84.129: </p>
<hr />
<div>This test is aimed at knowing if these programs can guarantee a perfect audio extraction from an audio CD when it is possible, in other words, do they really warn the user as soon as any error occurs?<br />
<br />
The test was run with Windows 98, Aspi layer 4.71, and a Memorex DVD-Maxx 1648 IDE drive, that supports C2 and have no cache according to both EAC and Feurio.<br />
<br />
A CDR that was becoming barely readable was used. As the results seemed strange, a quick test was made with a scratched CD, and another CD with a hole in it, in order to ensure that CDex is working properly. Here are the results of these tests first, then the real test about secureness.<br />
<br />
[[CDex]] was set in full paranoia, Feurio has C2 error detection enabled, [[EAC]] was in secure mode, accurate, no cache, C2.<br />
<br />
==CD with a hole in it==<br />
<br />
<center>[[Image:Hole.jpg|frame|center|Figure 1: A CD with a hole in it]]</center><br />
<br />
<br />
===CDex===<br />
<br />
The drive makes strange noises at 82 % of track 2, the extraction slows down completely, no jitter error is detected, I cancel, afraid to damage the drive.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Feurio===<br />
<br />
C2 error reported at 71% of track 2. I check ignore all. The drive makes noises at 87 %, the extraction completely slows down at 89%, I cancel.<br />
<br />
<br />
===EAC===<br />
<br />
Error detected at 71%, uncorrectable error at 73%, then endless error correction takes place. I cancel.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Scratched CD==<br />
<br />
<center>[[Image:Scratch.jpg|frame|center|Figure 2: A CD with a scratch]]</center><br />
<br />
<br />
===CDex===<br />
<br />
This time, jitter errors (2) are reported. Extraction takes forever.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Feurio===<br />
<br />
A C2 error is reported, then the extraction takes forever<br />
<br />
<br />
===EAC===<br />
<br />
Read error, takes forever.<br />
<br />
Now the interesting part is the<br />
<br />
<br />
==Bad CDR==<br />
<br />
One of the tracks is bad enough to produce clicks, but not enough to stop the extraction.<br />
<br />
<br />
===EAC===<br />
<br />
"There were errors".<br />
<br />
Reports 16 isolated suspicious positions, and 2 whole ranges of suspicious positions. Track quality 94.5 %<br />
<br />
No C2: "there were errors", reports 16 isolated suspicious positions, and 5 whole ranges of suspicious positions. Track quality 96.7%<br />
<br />
No C2 + cache: I canceled the extraction after 2 hours of error correction.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Feurio===<br />
<br />
Reports 9,462 C2 errors!<br />
<br />
<br />
===CDex===<br />
<br />
Zero errors!<br />
<br />
In order to check if there were really no errors in the CDex wav, and in order to get an idea of the sound quality, the track was extracted again with EAC and CDex, so that we have now 6 wav files : 2 from CDex, zero errors, 2 from EAC with C2, some errors, and 2 from EAC without C2, some errors.<br />
<br />
If there are really zero errors in the CDex files, there should be no differences at all between them. Let's check with EAC's compare wav:<br />
<br />
<center>[[Image:Comparecdexfull.png|frame|center|Figure 3: EAC wav compare]]</center><br />
<br />
<br />
Notice the scrollbar at the right side of the window. There is obviously a problem with CDex here, all these errors went unnoticed through the full paranoia mode. It is active though, since two errors were reported with the scratched CD.<br />
<br />
Using SoundForge, let us invert one of each pair of wavs, and mix-paste it over the other one, so that only differences remain. All remaining noise will be read errors, but the absence of noise won't mean no error, since the same error can have occured the same way in both wavs. Since the result can vary from nothing to twice the error (if the sample was misread with opposite errors), the result gives an idea of the average read errors.<br />
<br />
<br />
===CDex===<br />
<br />
<center>[[Image:Pastecdexfull.png|frame|center|Figure 4: Mix-paste of CDex result]]</center><br />
<br />
<br />
This shows the entire track. The highest peak is -23.72 db. Some little clicks can be heard in quiet parts.<br />
<br />
<br />
===EAC with C2===<br />
<br />
<center>[[Image:Pasteeacc2.png|frame|center|Figure 5: Mix-paste of EAC with C2 result]]</center><br />
<br />
<br />
The scaling is the same as in the previous picture. The highest peak is -21.85 db. It looks and sounds quite the same as CDex file.<br />
<br />
<br />
===EAC without C2===<br />
<br />
<center>[[Image:Pasteeacnoc2.png|frame|center|Figure 6: Mix-paste of EAC without C2 result]]</center><br />
<br />
<br />
There seems to be a little more clicks, but the difference is small.<br />
<br />
Also, the CDex file seems to have less clicks than EAC with C2 in the main part, but more isolated ones on the left. Therefore nothing can be concluded about the reading quality of the programs themselves, because the exact number of clicks varies from a reading to another. Here, we can say that the three results are quite the same, if we take into account the variations that can occur.<br />
<br />
To be able to judge the reading quality, many more extractions would need to be made, in order to make statistics and to evaluate how stable the quality is for a given ripping mode, then to deduce if the differences between the files are due to the programs, or to random variations.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Conclusion==<br />
<br />
With the Memorex DVD-Maxx 1648 drive, CDex is of no use compared to EAC, it returns files full of errors and audible clicks claiming zero errors occured even in full paranoia mode.<br />
<br />
Though the C2 error detection is currently very criticized, it is still, at least for this drive, infinitely more accurate (9462 times more accurate, according to Feurio ) than CDex full paranoia mode, and as accurate as the reading twice method in EAC, while much faster.<br />
<br />
This conclusion stands for the Memorex DVD drive. As we don't know how the paranoia mode works, other drives should be tested the same way in order to confirm this result.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Additional reading:==<br />
<br />
[http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?act=ST&f=20&t=3164 Original post by Pio2001]</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Exact_Audio_CopyExact Audio Copy2005-03-25T21:24:39Z<p>218.101.84.129: /* Additional reading */</p>
<hr />
<div>[http://www.exactaudiocopy.org Exact Audio Copy](EAC for short) is a free software that can be used to extract tracks from an Audio CD to your computer's hard disk. What makes EAC special compared to other rippers is the fact that it is capable of reading audio CDs almost perfectly.<br />
EAC uses various methods for extracting audio data. EAC can also invoke externally installed encoders, thereby making it possible to simultaneously rip and encode audio data to the format of your choice.<br />
----<br />
<br />
<br />
=EAC Configuration and Usage Guide=<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
EAC is the most powerful and advanced ripper available - it delivers the highest quality rips possible, and unsurprisingly is the most popular ripping software at Hydrogenaudio.<br />
<br />
There's one catch - configuring it correctly is a newbie's nightmare. This guide will take you through all necessary steps of the configuration, so you will be able to enjoy high quality compressed audio no matter how advanced you are.<br />
<br />
''Before you continue reading this, you should first decide which format to use for your music archive. The choice is often difficult - the [[Audio format guide]] may make it easier for you.''<br />
<br />
To begin with, download EAC and install or unzip it to a folder of your choice. Also, you should download and install the VOB ASAPI Driver, especially if you are running Windows 2000/XP. Both programs are available at the [[download page]].<br />
<br />
Note: This tutorial assumes you are installing EAC for the first time, i.e. that the default settings are set to start with. If this is not the case, you can reset them by doing the following:<br />
<br />
*Press <Windows Key> + <R> (or click 'Start | Run'), type ''regedit'', and hit <Enter>.<br />
*Go to the key ''HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AWSoftware\EAC'', and delete it by pressing '''Del'''.<br />
<br />
<br />
==EAC Configuration Wizard==<br />
<br />
Upon running EAC for the first time, a setup wizard will appear. Close it by clicking ''Cancel'', and '''close and restart''' EAC. This is important - we have to do this to circumvent a bug in EAC which makes the program configure your reading devices (CD-ROM/DVD/CD-RW drives) incorrectly when it is first run.<br />
<br />
After restarting, re-run the config wizard by clicking EAC -> Configuration Wizard. Keep a clean Audio CD handy, you'll need it in a minute to test and configure your drives.<br />
<br />
Click ''Next''; EAC will now list all CD drives it found in your system (all of them should be checked). Click ''Next'' again.<br />
<br />
You will now be asked what read mode to use for the drive. Be sure to enable ''I prefer to have accurate results'':<br />
<br />
[[Image:Wizard_accurateresults.png|none|frame|I prefer to have accurate results]]<br />
<br />
Click ''Next'' again. On the next page, click ''I don't trust these values, detect the features for my drive''.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Wizard_donttrust.png|none|frame|I dont trust these values]]<br />
<br />
Now, insert an Audio CD into your drive (if you have more than one, you will see in the window which one to use), and click ''Next'' twice. EAC will now perform some tests in order to determine your drive's capabilities, and display the results within a few minutes.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Wizard_results.png|none|frame|Detection results]]<br />
<br />
If this is the case, click ''Next'' again. If you have more than one drive, the same procedure must now be repated for the other drives; once all drives have been tested, a summary like this will be displayed:<br />
<br />
[[Image:Wizard_driveranking.png|none|frame|Drive ranking]]<br />
<br />
Don't rely on this. This is purely a feature-based ranking (mainly dependant on the ''Audio Caching'' feature which is an obstacle for secure audio extraction) - it provides no assessment of the drives' actual ripping quality (in this example, EAC is completely wrong - the NEC drive is totally unreliable for audio extraction, while the Lite-On is excellent). You will have to test this for yourself later.<br />
<br />
Now, click ''Next'' again. EAC will now ask you whether or not you would like to configure the LAME encoder - uncheck the appropriate option, and proceed to the next page:<br />
<br />
[[Image:Wizard_lame.png|none|frame|Uncheck 'Install and configure the external LAME.EXE compressor']]<br />
<br />
You will now be asked for your e-mail address in order to access the freedb online music database. You needn't enter your real one, something like this will do:<br />
<br />
[[Image:Wizard_freedb.png|none|frame|Enter e-mail address]]<br />
<br />
Click ''Next'', and select ''I am an expert, let me use the full potential of EAC'' on the next page:<br />
<br />
[[Image:Wizard_expert.png|none|frame|Expert mode]]<br />
<br />
Don't worry about it if you're not an expert ;-) - this tutorial explains all important options. Also, when run in Beginner Mode, EAC resets some settings that are important to us.<br />
<br />
Click ''Finish'' now to close the wizard.<br />
<br />
<br />
==EAC Options==<br />
<br />
Check out the EAC options in the EAC menu. While there isn't necessarily much you should change, it is important that you set error recovery quality to "high". Notice that the below Coaster Factory tutorials are for EAC 0.9 Prebeta9, so don't take everything as a fact.<br />
<br />
[http://users.pandora.be/satcp/eac02p.htm Coaster Factory (CONFIGURING EAC OPTIONS)]<br />
<br />
==CD-ROM Drive Options==<br />
<br />
For perfect rips, you should setup your CD-ROM drive correctly (secure mode options, offset correction options, gap detection options). Go to the drive options in EAC menu and follow these instructions:<br />
<br />
Drive Setup (done once):<br />
<br />
Select: ''Secure mode with the following drive features (recommended)''<br />
<br />
You will need to detect & apply drive features when using secure mode but only if you chose not to use the configuration wizard otherwise you can skip drive setup. Beware that these features are unique to every CD-ROM drive<br />
<br />
===Drive Features===<br />
<br />
; Caching/Drive caches audio <br />
: If EAC reports "Caching: Yes" your drive caches audio data, every sector read will be read from cache and is identical, this will increase the probability of errors & cause a speed decrease. EAC needs to clear the cache by overreading it, enable this by ticking the "drive caches audio" box.<br />
<br />
: Tip: EAC may misinform about audio caching as an alternative you can use [http://www.feurio.com/English/Download/download_install.shtml Feurio's] audio caching test found in Feurio.exe\Ctrl+Alt+P\Test device\Cache test.<br />
<br />
: Tip: Some drives disable audio caching at low speeds, if your drive is set to DMA transfer mode try changing it to PIO only transfer mode then re-test for caching.<br />
<br />
; Accurate Stream/Drive has ‘Accurate Stream’ feature : If EAC reports "Accurate Stream: Yes" your drive doesn't jitter this will decrease the probability of errors & cause a speed increase, enable this option by ticking the "Accurate Stream" box.<br />
<br />
; C2 Error Info/Drive is capable of retrieving C2 error information"<br />
: With C2 enabled EAC's error detection becomes dependent on the drives C2 accuracy which varies from drive to drive & increases the probability of errors, this feature also results in a speed increase because EAC doesn't read the data twice anymore, If your drive supports this feature & you decide to use it enable this by ticking C2 Error Info box.<br />
<br />
: Tip: To determine your drives C2 accuracy you could attempt creating a [http://www.exactaudiocopy.org/eac13.html DAE Quality] test CD. This takes a long time though. If you are not completely sure your drive supports C2 correctly you should disable this feature in EAC.<br />
<br />
: Tip: [http://users.pandora.be/satcp/eacoffsets01.htm#- The Coaster Factory], [http://www.offsetbase.eac-audio.de/offset-en.php Eac-Audio.de] have databases with user reported drive settings, you can use them to determine the appropriate features for your drive.<br />
<br />
<br />
So an ideal drive would support accurate stream (tick) & wouldn't cache audio (no tick).<br />
[http://users.pandora.be/satcp/eac03p.htm Coaster Factory (EAC DRIVE CONFIGURATION)]<br />
<br />
==Secure Read Mode==<br />
In "'''Secure Mode'''", the program reads every audio sector at least twice, hence detecting non-identical sectors. If an error occurs (read or sync error), the program continues to read the same sector, until eight of 16 retries are identical, but at maximum one, three or five times (according to the error recovery quality). So, in the worst case, bad sectors are read up to 82 times! But this will help the program to obtain the best result by comparing all of the retries. If it is not sure whether the stream is correct (at least it can be said at approx. 99.5%) the program will show the user the location of the (possible) read error.<br />
The program also tries to adjust the jitter artefacts that occur on the first block of a track, so that each extraction should be exactly the same. On drives which have the "accurate stream" feature, this is guaranteed. Of course, this is a little more complicated, especially with some CD drives which cache audio data. In such drives, every sector read will be from the drive's cache and is therefore identical to the data that was previously read, thereby rendering EAC's errror detection abilities ineffective. However, In the current beta version (when the program is properly configured), the cache will be reset by resetting the drive completely. This is the reason why the reading is so slow in "Secure Mode".<br />
<br />
==Freedb/Database Options==<br />
<br />
If you are online, go to the freedb/database options in the EAC menu. Put in an email address and click "get active freedb server list..." <br />
<br />
(still under construction...)<br />
<br />
=Additional reading=<br />
* [[Gap settings | EAC Gap settings]]<br />
* [[EAC CUE Sheets]] ASCII formats explained<br />
* [[EAC_Vs_CDex_SecureMode | EAC secure mode versus CDex full paranoia]] (by Pio2001)</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Advanced_Audio_CodingAdvanced Audio Coding2005-03-25T21:17:02Z<p>218.101.84.129: /* Pros */</p>
<hr />
<div>=Introduction=<br />
'''AAC''' or 'Advanced Audio Coding' forms part of the latest specifications from the MPEG committee, and is their official successor to the popular [[MP3]] format. As with [[MP3]], the '''AAC''' format is an international standard, and is backed by several big-name companies, including Dolby, Sony and Nokia.<br />
<br />
With the 8 <small>(this is just a guess)</small> years that had passed since the creation of the [[MP3]] format, many improvements had been realised leading to a seemingly complex specification with several flavours of '''AAC''' available. To potentially add to the confusion, '''AAC''' is usually wrapped inside an [[MP4]] container to provide tagging, seeking and possibly other benefits?? For this reason, '''AAC''' can also be referred to as [[MP4]] audio.. <br />
<br />
There are several '''AAC''' encoders to choose from, coming from large names such as Apple and Ahead (Creators of Nero - Burning Rom), or the open source F'''AAC''' which is analogous to the [[LAME]] encoder. '''AAC''' is supported on many hardware players, and is available in online stores.. <br />
<br />
In terms of quality, it outperforms [[MP3]] by a nice margin, being on par with OGG and other great codecs, and with '''AAC-HE''' provide the best low bitrate quality.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Pros==<br />
<br />
* An international standard approved by the [http://www.iso.ch ISO]<br />
* Flexible: supports several [[sampling rate]]s (8000-96000 Hz), bit depths, and [[multichannel]] (up to 48 channels)<br />
* Several implementations, including a free and high quality one ([http://www.itunes.com iTunes])<br />
* Reaches transparency in most samples and for most users at around 150kbps<br />
* Part of MPEG4 specs<br />
* Anyone can create it's own implementation (Specifications and demo sources available)<br />
* Some portable players support it (Philips Expanium, iPod, cell phones from Nokia)<br />
<br />
==Cons==<br />
<br />
* Problem cases that trip out all transform codecs<br />
* Relatively slow encoding<br />
* Heavily patented<br />
* Increased complexity<br />
* '''AAC''' comes in different "flavors" (object types: '''AAC LC''', '''AAC HE''', '''AAC PS''' etc.). Many (especially portable) players only support LC (at the moment) so you can have files that are valid but your player won't play them.<br />
<br />
=Technical Information=<br />
'''AAC''' stands for 'Advanced Audio Coding' and is part of the MPEG-4 Systems Standard. Originally known as MPEG-2 Non-Backwards Compatible (As apposed to MPEG-2 Backwards Compatible) it is the succesor to MPEG-1/2 Layer III ([[MP3]]). It uses the [[MP4]] [[container]] (which is based on Apple's MOV [[container]]) to store metadata (i.e. tag information).<br />
<br />
As part of the MPEG-4 Systems Standard, an '''AAC''' encoded file can include up to 48 full-bandwith audio <br />
channels (up to 96 kHz) and 15 Low Frequency Enhancement channels (limited to 120 Hz) plus 15 data streams.<br />
<br />
'''AAC''' encoding methods are organised into Profiles (MPEG-2) or Object Types (MPEG-4). These different Object Types are not necessarily compatible with each other and may not be playable with various decoders. The various Object Types are:<br />
<br />
* MPEG-2 AAC LC / Low Complexity<br />
* MPEG-2 AAC Main<br />
* MPEG-2 AAC SSR / Scalable Sampling Rate<br />
* MPEG-4 AAC LC / Low Complexity<br />
* MPEG-4 AAC Main<br />
* MPEG-4 AAC SSR / Scalable Sampling Rate<br />
* MPEG-4 AAC LTP / Long Term Prediction<br />
* MPEG-4 AAC HE / High Efficiency<br />
* MPEG-4 AAC LD / Low Delay<br />
<br />
Different Object Types vary in complexity. Some take longer to encode/decode as a result of the different complexities. Furthermore, the benefits of the more complex profiles are often not worth the CPU power required to encode/decode them. As a result the Low Complexity/LC Object Type has become the profile used by most encoders. However, the High Efficiency Object Type has become more popular recently with its addition to the Nero '''AAC''' encoder which now supports HE '''AAC''' encoding.<br />
<br />
Currently all players support the LC Object Type. Players based on the FAAD2 decoder (eg. foobar2000, <br />
Winamp Plugins) support almost all Object Types including HE '''AAC'''. 3ivX also supports all Object Types <br />
except SSR.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Technologies used for compression==<br />
<br />
* [[Huffman coding]]<br />
* [[Quantization]] and scaling<br />
* [[Joint stereo|M/S matrixing]]<br />
* [[Intensity stereo]]<br />
* Channel coupling<br />
* Backward adaptive prediction<br />
* Temporal Noise Shaping (TNS)<br />
* Modified Discrete Cosine Transform (I[[MDCT]])<br />
* Gain control and hybrid filter bank (polyphase quadrature filter (IPQF)+IMDCT)<br />
* Long Term Predictor (LTP) - MPEG4 '''AAC''' only<br />
* Perceptual Noise Substitution (PNS) - MPEG4 '''AAC''' only<br />
* Spectral Band Replication ([[SBR]]) - HE '''AAC'''<br />
* Parametric Stereo (PS) - HE '''AAC'''<br />
<br />
<br />
=Encoders / Decoders (Supported Platforms)=<br />
<br />
* [[Nero AAC]] (Win32)<br />
* [[QuickTime AAC]]<br />
* [[FAAC]] [[FAAD]]<br />
* [[HHI/zPlane/Compaact!]]<br />
* [[PsyTEL]]<br />
<br />
=FAQ=<br />
<br />
==Great, so you've given me all the technical stuff, but what is AAC really?==<br />
AAC is the culmination of the current state of the art audio encoding techniques. It is designed <br />
to improve upon and replace [[MP3]] as the defacto Audio Encoding standard. It usually offers (depending on <br />
the codec) equivalent quality to [[MP3]] at a lower bitrate.<br />
<br />
==What is the difference between *.[[MP4]] and *.M4A?==<br />
Besides the extension, absolutely nothing. Apple came up with extension to distiguish between files with <br />
Video and Audio (the [[MP4]] extension) and files with Audio only (the M4A extension). As far as the internal <br />
structure of the file, nothing is different.<br />
<br />
==What MPEG 4 extensions does the Apple iPod Accept?==<br />
The iPod accepts files with the [[MP4]] extension, the M4A extension, the M4P extension (a [[Protected AAC]] file), and the M4B extension for audiobook files (which can be either protected or unprotected). It will not accept unwrapped AAC files (files with the .AAC extension).<br />
<br />
==What is the difference between LC (Low Complexity) and HE (High Efficiency)?==<br />
These are two of the various Object Types in the MPEG4 Systems Standard. LC is the most popular Object Type <br />
with all encoders/decoders supporting it. Currently, Nero, Coding Technolgies, and Panasonic have incorporated <br />
the HE '''AAC''' standard into their encoders, which allows for higher quality sound at lower bitrates then the LC <br />
Object Type does (at the same bitrate). The HE Object Type is only used for music with a bitrate of less than <br />
~80kbps.<br />
<br />
==What's the best AAC encoder?==<br />
There is no best '''AAC''' encoder as such. It can be said with reasonable confidence (based on guruboolez's last test, <br />
[http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=29924 hear]) that [http://www.nero.com/en/ Nero AAC] is the best '''AAC''' encoder at 128kbps. However, the quality of any encoder is not linear and therefore these results can not be extrapolated to other bitrates. It can also be said with reasonable confidence that both the iTunes encoder and the [http://www.nero.com/en/ Nero '''AAC''' encoder] are 'mature' and should not fail badly on any particular sample at an average bitrate of 128kbps (i.e. Internet Profile for Nero '''AAC''') or above (based on Roberto's listening tests, see bottom). Beyond that, only you can decide through [[ABX]] testing. See the [[Audio format guide]] <br />
for more information. However, that being said, QuickTime/iTunes and Nero '''AAC''' are considered to be the "safe" <br />
encoders if you wish to archive your music collection on your computer.<br />
<br />
==Do AAC encoded files play back gaplessly?==<br />
Gapless playback is not part of the '''AAC''' standard and as such is not mandatory. However, certain companies can <br />
choose to add gapless encoding/decoding if they desire, providing it doesn't break compatibility with previous <br />
decoders. This is what Ahead have done with their Nero '''AAC''' codec. The files get encoded with information that <br />
allows the gap heard between files to be removed. This however is only possible with supported players (currently <br />
these include foobar2000 and Nero ShowTime). Currently Nero '''AAC''' is the only '''AAC''' codec to have gapless encoding/decoding <br />
support.<br />
<br />
==What software players can play back AAC music?==<br />
There are now a number of software players that can play back this new format. [http://www.foobar2000.org/ foobar2000]<br />
is considered by many to be the most powerful audio player in existence, and it is certainly capable of playing back <br />
'''AAC''' encoded files. Other players include the [http://www.itunes.com/ iTunes Digital Jukebox], [http://www.winamp.com/ <br />
Winamp], [http://www.real.com/ Real Player] and [http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/default.aspx Windows Media Player] using the [http://corecodec.org/projects/coreaac CoreAAC filter] and [http://www.elecard.com/download/ Moonlight MP4 Demultiplexer]. Also for Directshow-based applications playback and encoding is possible using the commercial [http://www.3ivx.com/ 3ivx filter suite].<br />
<br />
==What hardware players can play back AAC music?==<br />
There are also a number of hardware players that can play back AAC audio. The most famous of these is the [http://www.apple.com/ipod/ Apple iPod] series of products, all of which feature AAC playback. A number of mobile (cell) phones also support unwrapped AAC (AAC not contained in the MP4 container).<br />
<br />
= External References =<br />
Known [[AAC implementations]].<br />
<br />
Read the [[AAC guide]] to learn how to obtain '''AAC'''/[[MP4]] files out of WAV files and CDs.<br />
<br />
Detailed '''AAC''' comparisons can be found at [http://www.rjamorim.com/test/ Roberto's listening tests page].</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=MP3MP32005-03-25T01:03:33Z<p>218.101.84.129: /* Encoders/Decoders */</p>
<hr />
<div>=MP3: MPEG 1 Layer 3=<br />
<br />
The MP3 algorithm development started in 1987, with a joint cooperation of [http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/ Fraunhofer IIS-A] and the University of Erlangen. It is standardized as ISO-MPEG Audio Layer-3 (IS 11172-3 and IS 13818-3).<br />
<br />
It soon became the de facto standard for lossy audio encoding, due to the high [[compression rates]] (1/11 of the original size, still retaining considerable quality), the high availability of decoders and the low CPU requirements for playback. (486 DX2-100 is enough for real-time decoding)<br />
<br />
It supports [[multichannel]] files (Although there's no implementation yet), [[sampling rate]]s from 16kHz to 24kHz (MPEG2 Layer 3) and 32kHz to 48kHz (MPEG1 Layer 3)<br />
<br />
Formal and informal listening tests have shown that MP3 at the 160-224 kbps range provide encoded results undistinguishable from the original materials in most of the cases.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Pros==<br />
* Widespread acceptance, support in nearly all hardware audio players and devices<br />
* An [[ISO]] standard, part of MPEG specs<br />
* Fast decoding, lower complexity than [[AAC]] or [[Ogg Vorbis|Vorbis]]<br />
* Anyone can create their own implementation (Specs and demo sources available)<br />
* Relaxed licensing schedule<br />
<br />
==Cons==<br />
* Lower performance / efficiency than modern codecs.<br />
* Problem cases that trip out all transform codecs.<br />
* Sometimes, maximum bitrate (320kbps) isn't enough.<br />
* No multichannel implementations.<br />
* Unusable for high definition audio (sampling rates higher than 48kHz).<br />
<br />
=Techniques used in compression=<br />
<br />
* [[Huffman coding]]<br />
* [[Quantization]]<br />
* [[Joint stereo|M/S matrixing]]<br />
* [[Intensity stereo]]<br />
* Channel coupling<br />
* Modified discrete cosine transform ([[MDCT]])<br />
* Polyphase filter bank<br />
<br />
There is a non-standardized form of MP3 called MP3pro, which takes advantage of [[SBR]] encoding to provide better quality at low bitrates.<br />
<br />
=Encoders/Decoders=<br />
<br />
'''Recommended'''<br />
* [[LAME]] (Win32/Posix)<br />
<br />
'''Other'''<br />
* [[Audioactive]] (Win32)<br />
* [[Blade]]<br />
* [[Xing]] (Win32)<br />
* [[Gogo]]<br />
<br />
=Additional reading=<br />
<br />
* [http://www.audiocoding.com/modules/wiki/?page=MP3 MP3 at Audiocoding Wiki]<br />
* [[MPEG1 Layer 3]] - Technical explanation of MP3 encoding.<br />
* [http://www.rjamorim.com/test/mp3-128/results.html Roberto's listening test] featuring MP3 encoders</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=MP3MP32005-03-24T22:31:06Z<p>218.101.84.129: /* Encoders/Decoders */</p>
<hr />
<div>=MP3: MPEG 1 Layer 3=<br />
<br />
The MP3 algorithm development started in 1987, with a joint cooperation of [http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/ Fraunhofer IIS-A] and the University of Erlangen. It is standardized as ISO-MPEG Audio Layer-3 (IS 11172-3 and IS 13818-3).<br />
<br />
It soon became the de facto standard for lossy audio encoding, due to the high [[compression rates]] (1/11 of the original size, still retaining considerable quality), the high availability of decoders and the low CPU requirements for playback. (486 DX2-100 is enough for real-time decoding)<br />
<br />
It supports [[multichannel]] files (Although there's no implementation yet), [[sampling rate]]s from 16kHz to 24kHz (MPEG2 Layer 3) and 32kHz to 48kHz (MPEG1 Layer 3)<br />
<br />
Formal and informal listening tests have shown that MP3 at the 160-224 kbps range provide encoded results undistinguishable from the original materials in most of the cases.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Pros==<br />
* Widespread acceptance, support in nearly all hardware audio players and devices<br />
* An [[ISO]] standard, part of MPEG specs<br />
* Fast decoding, lower complexity than [[AAC]] or [[Ogg Vorbis|Vorbis]]<br />
* Anyone can create their own implementation (Specs and demo sources available)<br />
* Relaxed licensing schedule<br />
<br />
==Cons==<br />
* Lower performance / efficiency than modern codecs.<br />
* Problem cases that trip out all transform codecs.<br />
* Sometimes, maximum bitrate (320kbps) isn't enough.<br />
* No multichannel implementations.<br />
* Unusable for high definition audio (sampling rates higher than 48kHz).<br />
<br />
=Techniques used in compression=<br />
<br />
* [[Huffman coding]]<br />
* [[Quantization]]<br />
* [[Joint stereo|M/S matrixing]]<br />
* [[Intensity stereo]]<br />
* Channel coupling<br />
* Modified discrete cosine transform ([[MDCT]])<br />
* Polyphase filter bank<br />
<br />
There is a non-standardized form of MP3 called MP3pro, which takes advantage of [[SBR]] encoding to provide better quality at low bitrates.<br />
<br />
=Encoders/Decoders=<br />
<br />
'''Recommended'''<br />
* [[LAME]] (Win32/Posix)<br />
<br />
'''Other'''<br />
* [[Audioactive]] (Win32)<br />
* [[Blade]]<br />
* [[Xing]]<br />
* [[Gogo]]<br />
<br />
=Additional reading=<br />
<br />
* [http://www.audiocoding.com/modules/wiki/?page=MP3 MP3 at Audiocoding Wiki]<br />
* [[MPEG1 Layer 3]] - Technical explanation of MP3 encoding.<br />
* [http://www.rjamorim.com/test/mp3-128/results.html Roberto's listening test] featuring MP3 encoders</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=Topic_IndexTopic Index2005-03-24T22:27:44Z<p>218.101.84.129: </p>
<hr />
<div>Currently most of these links lead nowhere due to the fact that we are considering how to best convert the [http://doc.hydrogenaudio.org/wikis/hydrogenaudio/FrontPage old material] and how to reorganize things in a more efficient manner.<br />
<br />
* Please see [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=12979&st=25&p=247441&#entry247441 this thread] for a discussion of the future structure of this wiki. If you have thoughts, comments, suggestions, etc., please join in this discussion. In the meantime, please feel free to fill in gaps in the information below.<br />
* See also [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=28658 style related discussion]<br />
<br />
<br />
==General Information==<br />
===Guides===<br />
* [[Create_LongTerm_Archive|Create a long-term archive]]<br />
<br />
===FAQ's===<br />
*[[FAQ General Audio Compression|General Audio Compression]]<br />
*[[FAQ Lossy Formats|Lossy Formats]] (MP3, WMA, AAC etc.)<br />
*[[FAQ EAC|EAC]]<br />
*[[FAQ Secure Mode Ripping|Secure Mode Ripping]]<br />
*[[FAQ Offsets|Offsets]]<br />
*[[FAQ Protected Audio CD|Protected Audio CD]]s<br />
*[[FAQ Various|Various]] (SACD, DVD-A, Vinyl, Cassette etc.)<br />
<br />
===Glossary===<br />
<br />
* [[Glossary_Of_Audio_Terms|Glossary of Audio Terms]]<br />
<br />
==Audio Software==<br />
----<br />
<br />
''Note: We need to figure out a good way to denote the distinction between software available on different platforms.''<br />
''Why not add supported platforms after the name of the tool?''<br />
<br />
===Encoders/Decoders===<br />
<br />
====Lossless====<br />
<br />
* [[TTA]] (True Audio) (Win32/Posix)<br />
<br />
* [[FLAC]] (Win32/Posix)<br />
<br />
* [[LA_Encoder|LA]]<br />
<br />
* [[Monkey's Audio]]<br />
<br />
* [[OptimFROG]]<br />
<br />
* [[WavPack]] (Dos/Win32/Posix)<br />
<br />
====Lossy====<br />
<br />
* [[FAAC]] ([[AAC]]) (Win32/Posix/MacOSX)<br />
<br />
* [[LAME]] ([[MP3]]) (Win32/Posix)<br />
<br />
* [[mppenc]] ([[Musepack|Musepack]])<br />
<br />
* [[oggenc]] ([[Ogg_Vorbis]]) (Win32/Posix)<br />
<br />
===Rippers===<br />
<br />
* [[Exact_Audio_Copy|Exact Audio Copy]] (EAC)<br />
* [[iTunes]] (Win32/OsX)<br />
* [[cdparanoia]] (Posix)<br />
<br />
===Players===<br />
<br />
==== Windows ====<br />
<br />
* [[foobar2000]]<br />
<br />
* [[Winamp]]<br />
<br />
* [[iTunes]]<br />
<br />
* [[wxMusik]]<br />
<br />
* [[Quintessential Player]]<br />
<br />
* [[Windows Media Player]]<br />
<br />
* [[XMPlay]]<br />
<br />
====Linux/BSD====<br />
<br />
* [[Amarok]]<br />
<br />
* [[BMP]]<br />
<br />
* [[JuK]]<br />
<br />
* [[Muine]]<br />
<br />
* [[Music Player Daemon (MPD)]]<br />
<br />
* [[Rhythmbox]]<br />
<br />
* [[wxMusik]]<br />
<br />
* [[XMMS]]<br />
<br />
====Mac OS X (Non-BSD Specific) ====<br />
<br />
* [[iTunes]]<br />
<br />
* [[Whamb]]<br />
<br />
====Other====<br />
<br />
* [[CL-Amp]] (BeOS)<br />
<br />
===Editors===<br />
<br />
* [[Adobe_Audition|Adobe Audition]] (Previously known as CoolEdit)<br />
* [[Audacity]]<br />
<br />
===Testing Software===<br />
<br />
====Subjective Perceptual====<br />
<br />
* [[ABC/HR]]<br />
<br />
* [[PCABX]]<br />
<br />
====Objective====<br />
<br />
''Note: Might be good to put something here about the problems of quality comparisons using graphs, frequency sweeps, etc.''<br />
<br />
* [[EAQUAL]]<br />
<br />
* [[Rightmark_Audio_Analyzer|Rightmark Audio Analyzer]]<br />
<br />
==Audio Hardware==<br />
----<br />
<br />
===PC Audio===<br />
<br />
===HiFi===<br />
<br />
===Digital Audio Players===<br />
<br />
'''Portable Flash'''<br />
<br />
''(These players make use of a internal flash drive.)''<br />
<br />
* [[Creative MuVo]]<br />
<br />
* [[iRiver iFP Series]]<br />
<br />
* [[Rio Carbon]]<br />
<br />
* [[Neuros]]<br />
<br />
* [[Apple iPod shuffle]]<br />
<br />
'''Portable HD'''<br />
<br />
''(These players make use of a internal harddrive.)''<br />
<br />
* [[Apple iPod]]<br />
<br />
* [[iRiver H-Series]]<br />
<br />
* [[Rio Karma]]<br />
<br />
* [[iAudio M3]]<br />
<br />
* [[Neuros]]<br />
<br />
* [[Archos Jukebox with Rockbox Software]]<br />
<br />
'''Portable CD'''<br />
<br />
'''Car Players'''<br />
<br />
''(Car stereos that can read MP3, Vorbis, WMA, etc.).''<br />
<br />
* [[Aiwa CDC-MP3]]<br />
<br />
==Audio Theory==<br />
----<br />
<br />
===Analog Audio===<br />
<br />
===Digital Audio===<br />
[[replaygain]]<br />
<br />
===Compression Technology===<br />
<br />
'''Lossy'''<br />
*[[MP3]]<br />
<br />
*[[AAC]]<br />
<br />
*[[Ogg Vorbis]]<br />
<br />
*[[Musepack]]<br />
<br />
*[[WMA]]<br />
<br />
*[[ATRAC3]]<br />
<br />
'''Lossless'''<br />
<br />
*[[Apple Lossless]]<br />
<br />
*[[TTA]]<br />
<br />
*[[FLAC]]<br />
<br />
*[[LA]]<br />
<br />
*[[Monkey's Audio]]<br />
<br />
*[[OptimFROG]]<br />
<br />
*[[WavPack]]<br />
<br />
*[[Shorten]]<br />
<br />
===Testing Methodology===<br />
<br />
==Audio Development==<br />
----<br />
<br />
===Getting Started===<br />
<br />
===Tools===<br />
<br />
===Resources===<br />
<br />
==Audio Resources==<br />
----<br />
<br />
===Websites===<br />
<br />
''Note: Let's include a small description to the side for now, so that we have something to work with when this section becomes large enough for it's own page''<br />
<br />
* http://www.audiocoding.com (Page with a wiki on technical audio topics, homepage of FAAC and FAAD2, also has an AAC forum.)<br />
* http://www.ff123.net (Lots of general information on various MP3 implementations, test samples, testing methodology information, homepage of ABC/HR)<br />
* http://www.head-fi.org (general information/board about head phones and portable audio players)<br />
* http://www.rarewares.org (Downloads for many audio and media tools)<br />
<br />
===Articles===<br />
<br />
===Listening Tests===<br />
<br />
==Other Topics==<br />
----<br />
<br />
===Video===<br />
<br />
* [[MPEG-4 Visual]]<br />
* [[Theora]]<br />
* [[Real Video]]<br />
* [[Windows Media Video]]<br />
* [[VP6]]<br />
<br />
===[[Container Format]]s===<br />
* [[Matroska]]<br />
* [[Ogg]]<br />
* [[AVI]]<br />
* [[MPEG-4 Systems]]<br />
<br />
===[[Metadata]]===<br />
* [[ID3]]<br />
* [[APE Tags]]<br />
* [[Vorbis Comment]]</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=MP3MP32005-03-24T11:27:33Z<p>218.101.84.129: /* Other */</p>
<hr />
<div>=MP3: MPEG 1 Layer 3=<br />
<br />
The MP3 algorithm development started in 1987, with a joint cooperation of [http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/ Fraunhofer IIS-A] and the University of Erlangen. It is standardized as ISO-MPEG Audio Layer-3 (IS 11172-3 and IS 13818-3).<br />
<br />
It soon became the de facto standard for lossy audio encoding, due to the high [[compression rates]] (1/11 of the original size, still retaining considerable quality), the high availability of decoders and the low CPU requirements for playback. (486 DX2-100 is enough for real-time decoding)<br />
<br />
It supports [[multichannel]] files (Although there's no implementation yet), [[sampling rate]]s from 16kHz to 24kHz (MPEG2 Layer 3) and 32kHz to 48kHz (MPEG1 Layer 3)<br />
<br />
Formal and informal listening tests have shown that MP3 at the 160-224 kbps range provide encoded results undistinguishable from the original materials in most of the cases.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Pros==<br />
* Widespread acceptance, support in nearly all hardware audio players and devices<br />
* An [[ISO]] standard, part of MPEG specs<br />
* Fast decoding, lower complexity than [[AAC]] or [[Ogg Vorbis|Vorbis]]<br />
* Anyone can create their own implementation (Specs and demo sources available)<br />
* Relaxed licensing schedule<br />
<br />
==Cons==<br />
* Lower performance / efficiency than modern codecs.<br />
* Problem cases that trip out all transform codecs.<br />
* Sometimes, maximum bitrate (320kbps) isn't enough.<br />
* No multichannel implementations.<br />
* Unusable for high definition audio (sampling rates higher than 48kHz).<br />
<br />
=Techniques used in compression=<br />
<br />
* [[Huffman coding]]<br />
* [[Quantization]]<br />
* [[Joint stereo|M/S matrixing]]<br />
* [[Intensity stereo]]<br />
* Channel coupling<br />
* Modified discrete cosine transform ([[MDCT]])<br />
* Polyphase filter bank<br />
<br />
There is a non-standardized form of MP3 called MP3pro, which takes advantage of [[SBR]] encoding to provide better quality at low bitrates.<br />
<br />
=Encoders/Decoders=<br />
<br />
'''Recommended'''<br />
* [[LAME]]<br />
<br />
'''Other'''<br />
* [[Audioactive]]<br />
* [[Blade]]<br />
* [[Xing]]<br />
* [[Gogo]]<br />
<br />
=Additional reading=<br />
<br />
* [http://www.audiocoding.com/modules/wiki/?page=MP3 MP3 at Audiocoding Wiki]<br />
* [[MPEG1 Layer 3]] - Technical explanation of MP3 encoding.<br />
* [http://www.rjamorim.com/test/mp3-128/results.html Roberto's listening test] featuring MP3 encoders</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=LAMELAME2005-03-24T11:25:19Z<p>218.101.84.129: /* Additional reading */</p>
<hr />
<div>LAME (LAME Ain't an [[MP3]] Encoder) is the recommended encoder. It has been developed by the open-source community since 1998, and has become the highest quality encoder for most purposes.<br />
<br />
Some benefits for using LAME<br />
* highly optimised presets<br />
* [[Exact Audio Copy]] support<br />
* CBR, VBR and ABR encoding methods<br />
* [[CDex]] Support<br />
<br />
'''Note: These settings require Lame 3.90 or later. Lame 3.90.3 found on this website is the recommended version''' ([[Lame Compiles|Check here to download]])<br />
<br />
''Note: At a given bitrate range, the quality scale usually works to where VBR is higher quality than ABR which is higher quality than CBR (CBR < ABR < VBR in terms of quality). The exception to this is when you choose the highest possible CBR bitrate which is 320kbps. In the case of the named VBR profiles "standard" and "extreme" they are usually "effectively" equal in quality to high bitrate cbr, in the range of around 256 kbps due to their ability to scale down the bitrate when necessary but increase the bitrate beyond 256 kbps on a frame by frame basis also, when that is necessary.''<br />
<br />
<br />
=Recommended encoder settings=<br />
<br />
* --alt-preset standard (~190 kbit/s, typical 180 ... 220. '''Best quality / size ratio''')<br />
<br />
* --alt-preset fast standard (~190 kbit/s, faster but potentially lower quality)<br />
<br />
* --alt-preset extreme (~250 kbit/s, typical 220 ... 270. Quality can be a little better than standard)<br />
<br />
* --alt-preset fast extreme (~250 kbit/s, faster but potentially lower quality)<br />
<br />
* --alt-preset insane (320 kbit/s CBR, highest possible quality, that can be a little higher than extreme)<br />
<br />
For high quality on portable MP3 players, you may use --alt-preset standard -Y (around 160 kbit/s). -Y usually limits to 16 KHz, something you likely won't notice unless you have an exeptional hearing.<br />
<br />
<br />
==VBR (Variable bitrate) settings==<br />
[[VBR]] can be useful to get good quality from a specific quality level. Size is less predictable than with ABR, but the quality is usually better.<br />
<br />
-V(number) where number is 0-10, 0 being highest quality, 10 being the lowest.<br />
<br />
V0 is ~280kbs<br />
V1 is ~250kbs<br />
<br />
<br />
==ABR (average bitrate) settings==<br />
''(128 kbit/s ABR: roughly the same filesize as 128 kbit/s CBR)''<br />
<br />
* '''[[ABR]] Setting tuned from 320 kbit/s down to 80 kbit/s'''<br />
** --alt-preset <bitrate><br />
:: Example: --alt-preset 200<br />
<br />
* '''128 kbit/s ABR'''<br />
** -V5 --athaa-sensitivity 1 (when using >= LAME 3.96.1, for best results at 128kbps)<br />
** --alt-preset 128<br />
<br />
:: or (ff123's and Hans' suggestion: http://www.ff123.net/cbr128.html ):<br />
:: --abr 128 -h --nspsytune --athtype 2 --lowpass 16 --ns-bass -8 --scale 0.93<br />
<br />
==CBR (constant bitrate) settings==<br />
<br />
*'''[[CBR]] Setting tuned from 320 kbit/s down to 80 kbit/s'''<br />
** --alt-preset cbr <bitrate><br />
:: Example: --alt-preset cbr 96<br />
<br />
* '''128 kbit/s CBR'''<br />
** --alt-preset cbr 128<br />
<br />
:: or (ff123's and Hans' suggestion: http://www.ff123.net/cbr128.html ):<br />
:: -h --nspsytune --athtype 2 --lowpass 16 --ns-bass -8 --scale 0.93<br />
<br />
: note: --alt-preset cbr 320 is the exact same thing as --alt-preset insane<br />
<br />
<br />
==Additional reading==<br />
<br />
[http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=28124 List of recommended LAME settings] @ HydrogenAudio forum<br />
<br />
[http://www.mp3dev.org LAME homepage]</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=MP3MP32005-03-24T11:22:23Z<p>218.101.84.129: /* Recommended */</p>
<hr />
<div>=MP3: MPEG 1 Layer 3=<br />
<br />
The MP3 algorithm development started in 1987, with a joint cooperation of [http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/ Fraunhofer IIS-A] and the University of Erlangen. It is standardized as ISO-MPEG Audio Layer-3 (IS 11172-3 and IS 13818-3).<br />
<br />
It soon became the de facto standard for lossy audio encoding, due to the high [[compression rates]] (1/11 of the original size, still retaining considerable quality), the high availability of decoders and the low CPU requirements for playback. (486 DX2-100 is enough for real-time decoding)<br />
<br />
It supports [[multichannel]] files (Although there's no implementation yet), [[sampling rate]]s from 16kHz to 24kHz (MPEG2 Layer 3) and 32kHz to 48kHz (MPEG1 Layer 3)<br />
<br />
Formal and informal listening tests have shown that MP3 at the 160-224 kbps range provide encoded results undistinguishable from the original materials in most of the cases.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Pros==<br />
* Widespread acceptance, support in nearly all hardware audio players and devices<br />
* An [[ISO]] standard, part of MPEG specs<br />
* Fast decoding, lower complexity than [[AAC]] or [[Ogg Vorbis|Vorbis]]<br />
* Anyone can create their own implementation (Specs and demo sources available)<br />
* Relaxed licensing schedule<br />
<br />
==Cons==<br />
* Lower performance / efficiency than modern codecs.<br />
* Problem cases that trip out all transform codecs.<br />
* Sometimes, maximum bitrate (320kbps) isn't enough.<br />
* No multichannel implementations.<br />
* Unusable for high definition audio (sampling rates higher than 48kHz).<br />
<br />
=Techniques used in compression=<br />
<br />
* [[Huffman coding]]<br />
* [[Quantization]]<br />
* [[Joint stereo|M/S matrixing]]<br />
* [[Intensity stereo]]<br />
* Channel coupling<br />
* Modified discrete cosine transform ([[MDCT]])<br />
* Polyphase filter bank<br />
<br />
There is a non-standardized form of MP3 called MP3pro, which takes advantage of [[SBR]] encoding to provide better quality at low bitrates.<br />
<br />
=Encoders/Decoders=<br />
<br />
'''Recommended'''<br />
* [[LAME]]<br />
<br />
===Other===<br />
* [[Audioactive]]<br />
* [[Blade]]<br />
* [[Xing]]<br />
* [[Gogo]]<br />
<br />
=Additional reading=<br />
<br />
* [http://www.audiocoding.com/modules/wiki/?page=MP3 MP3 at Audiocoding Wiki]<br />
* [[MPEG1 Layer 3]] - Technical explanation of MP3 encoding.<br />
* [http://www.rjamorim.com/test/mp3-128/results.html Roberto's listening test] featuring MP3 encoders</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=AudioactiveAudioactive2005-03-24T11:17:15Z<p>218.101.84.129: </p>
<hr />
<div>Audioactive is an [[MP3]] encoder created by a partnership between Audioactive and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Laboratory (the creators of MP3)<br />
<br />
* Clams to have CD quality sound at 128kbps<br />
* Does well at low bitrates < 128<br />
* Does not support VBR encoding<br />
* Slow encoding, 36 seconds for 4:39 song</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=LAMELAME2005-03-24T11:14:17Z<p>218.101.84.129: </p>
<hr />
<div>LAME (LAME Ain't an [[MP3]] Encoder) is the recommended encoder. It has been developed by the open-source community since 1998, and has become the highest quality encoder for most purposes.<br />
<br />
Some benefits for using LAME<br />
* highly optimised presets<br />
* [[Exact Audio Copy]] support<br />
* CBR, VBR and ABR encoding methods<br />
* [[CDex]] Support<br />
<br />
'''Note: These settings require Lame 3.90 or later. Lame 3.90.3 found on this website is the recommended version''' ([[Lame Compiles|Check here to download]])<br />
<br />
''Note: At a given bitrate range, the quality scale usually works to where VBR is higher quality than ABR which is higher quality than CBR (CBR < ABR < VBR in terms of quality). The exception to this is when you choose the highest possible CBR bitrate which is 320kbps. In the case of the named VBR profiles "standard" and "extreme" they are usually "effectively" equal in quality to high bitrate cbr, in the range of around 256 kbps due to their ability to scale down the bitrate when necessary but increase the bitrate beyond 256 kbps on a frame by frame basis also, when that is necessary.''<br />
<br />
<br />
=Recommended encoder settings=<br />
<br />
* --alt-preset standard (~190 kbit/s, typical 180 ... 220. '''Best quality / size ratio''')<br />
<br />
* --alt-preset fast standard (~190 kbit/s, faster but potentially lower quality)<br />
<br />
* --alt-preset extreme (~250 kbit/s, typical 220 ... 270. Quality can be a little better than standard)<br />
<br />
* --alt-preset fast extreme (~250 kbit/s, faster but potentially lower quality)<br />
<br />
* --alt-preset insane (320 kbit/s CBR, highest possible quality, that can be a little higher than extreme)<br />
<br />
For high quality on portable MP3 players, you may use --alt-preset standard -Y (around 160 kbit/s). -Y usually limits to 16 KHz, something you likely won't notice unless you have an exeptional hearing.<br />
<br />
<br />
==VBR (Variable bitrate) settings==<br />
[[VBR]] can be useful to get good quality from a specific quality level. Size is less predictable than with ABR, but the quality is usually better.<br />
<br />
-V(number) where number is 0-10, 0 being highest quality, 10 being the lowest.<br />
<br />
V0 is ~280kbs<br />
V1 is ~250kbs<br />
<br />
<br />
==ABR (average bitrate) settings==<br />
''(128 kbit/s ABR: roughly the same filesize as 128 kbit/s CBR)''<br />
<br />
* '''[[ABR]] Setting tuned from 320 kbit/s down to 80 kbit/s'''<br />
** --alt-preset <bitrate><br />
:: Example: --alt-preset 200<br />
<br />
* '''128 kbit/s ABR'''<br />
** -V5 --athaa-sensitivity 1 (when using >= LAME 3.96.1, for best results at 128kbps)<br />
** --alt-preset 128<br />
<br />
:: or (ff123's and Hans' suggestion: http://www.ff123.net/cbr128.html ):<br />
:: --abr 128 -h --nspsytune --athtype 2 --lowpass 16 --ns-bass -8 --scale 0.93<br />
<br />
==CBR (constant bitrate) settings==<br />
<br />
*'''[[CBR]] Setting tuned from 320 kbit/s down to 80 kbit/s'''<br />
** --alt-preset cbr <bitrate><br />
:: Example: --alt-preset cbr 96<br />
<br />
* '''128 kbit/s CBR'''<br />
** --alt-preset cbr 128<br />
<br />
:: or (ff123's and Hans' suggestion: http://www.ff123.net/cbr128.html ):<br />
:: -h --nspsytune --athtype 2 --lowpass 16 --ns-bass -8 --scale 0.93<br />
<br />
: note: --alt-preset cbr 320 is the exact same thing as --alt-preset insane<br />
<br />
<br />
==Additional reading==<br />
<br />
[http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=28124 List of recommended LAME settings] @ HydrogenAudio forum</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=MP3MP32005-03-24T11:06:30Z<p>218.101.84.129: /* Encoders/Decoders */</p>
<hr />
<div>=MP3: MPEG 1 Layer 3=<br />
<br />
The MP3 algorithm development started in 1987, with a joint cooperation of [http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/ Fraunhofer IIS-A] and the University of Erlangen. It is standardized as ISO-MPEG Audio Layer-3 (IS 11172-3 and IS 13818-3).<br />
<br />
It soon became the de facto standard for lossy audio encoding, due to the high [[compression rates]] (1/11 of the original size, still retaining considerable quality), the high availability of decoders and the low CPU requirements for playback. (486 DX2-100 is enough for real-time decoding)<br />
<br />
It supports [[multichannel]] files (Although there's no implementation yet), [[sampling rate]]s from 16kHz to 24kHz (MPEG2 Layer 3) and 32kHz to 48kHz (MPEG1 Layer 3)<br />
<br />
Formal and informal listening tests have shown that MP3 at the 160-224 kbps range provide encoded results undistinguishable from the original materials in most of the cases.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Pros==<br />
* Widespread acceptance, support in nearly all hardware audio players and devices<br />
* An [[ISO]] standard, part of MPEG specs<br />
* Fast decoding, lower complexity than [[AAC]] or [[Ogg Vorbis|Vorbis]]<br />
* Anyone can create their own implementation (Specs and demo sources available)<br />
* Relaxed licensing schedule<br />
<br />
==Cons==<br />
* Lower performance / efficiency than modern codecs.<br />
* Problem cases that trip out all transform codecs.<br />
* Sometimes, maximum bitrate (320kbps) isn't enough.<br />
* No multichannel implementations.<br />
* Unusable for high definition audio (sampling rates higher than 48kHz).<br />
<br />
=Techniques used in compression=<br />
<br />
* [[Huffman coding]]<br />
* [[Quantization]]<br />
* [[Joint stereo|M/S matrixing]]<br />
* [[Intensity stereo]]<br />
* Channel coupling<br />
* Modified discrete cosine transform ([[MDCT]])<br />
* Polyphase filter bank<br />
<br />
There is a non-standardized form of MP3 called MP3pro, which takes advantage of [[SBR]] encoding to provide better quality at low bitrates.<br />
<br />
=Encoders/Decoders=<br />
<br />
===Recommended===<br />
* [[LAME]]<br />
===Other===<br />
* [[Audioactive]]<br />
* [[Blade]]<br />
* [[Xing]]<br />
* [[Gogo]]<br />
<br />
=Additional reading=<br />
<br />
* [http://www.audiocoding.com/modules/wiki/?page=MP3 MP3 at Audiocoding Wiki]<br />
* [[MPEG1 Layer 3]] - Technical explanation of MP3 encoding.<br />
* [http://www.rjamorim.com/test/mp3-128/results.html Roberto's listening test] featuring MP3 encoders</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=MP3MP32005-03-24T11:02:45Z<p>218.101.84.129: /* Pros */</p>
<hr />
<div>=MP3: MPEG 1 Layer 3=<br />
<br />
The MP3 algorithm development started in 1987, with a joint cooperation of [http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/ Fraunhofer IIS-A] and the University of Erlangen. It is standardized as ISO-MPEG Audio Layer-3 (IS 11172-3 and IS 13818-3).<br />
<br />
It soon became the de facto standard for lossy audio encoding, due to the high [[compression rates]] (1/11 of the original size, still retaining considerable quality), the high availability of decoders and the low CPU requirements for playback. (486 DX2-100 is enough for real-time decoding)<br />
<br />
It supports [[multichannel]] files (Although there's no implementation yet), [[sampling rate]]s from 16kHz to 24kHz (MPEG2 Layer 3) and 32kHz to 48kHz (MPEG1 Layer 3)<br />
<br />
Formal and informal listening tests have shown that MP3 at the 160-224 kbps range provide encoded results undistinguishable from the original materials in most of the cases.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Pros==<br />
* Widespread acceptance, support in nearly all hardware audio players and devices<br />
* An [[ISO]] standard, part of MPEG specs<br />
* Fast decoding, lower complexity than [[AAC]] or [[Ogg Vorbis|Vorbis]]<br />
* Anyone can create their own implementation (Specs and demo sources available)<br />
* Relaxed licensing schedule<br />
<br />
==Cons==<br />
* Lower performance / efficiency than modern codecs.<br />
* Problem cases that trip out all transform codecs.<br />
* Sometimes, maximum bitrate (320kbps) isn't enough.<br />
* No multichannel implementations.<br />
* Unusable for high definition audio (sampling rates higher than 48kHz).<br />
<br />
=Techniques used in compression=<br />
<br />
* [[Huffman coding]]<br />
* [[Quantization]]<br />
* [[Joint stereo|M/S matrixing]]<br />
* [[Intensity stereo]]<br />
* Channel coupling<br />
* Modified discrete cosine transform ([[MDCT]])<br />
* Polyphase filter bank<br />
<br />
There is a non-standardized form of MP3 called MP3pro, which takes advantage of [[SBR]] encoding to provide better quality at low bitrates.<br />
<br />
=Encoders/Decoders=<br />
<br />
* [[LAME]]<br />
* [[Audioactive]]<br />
<br />
=Additional reading=<br />
<br />
* [http://www.audiocoding.com/modules/wiki/?page=MP3 MP3 at Audiocoding Wiki]<br />
* [[MPEG1 Layer 3]] - Technical explanation of MP3 encoding.<br />
* [http://www.rjamorim.com/test/mp3-128/results.html Roberto's listening test] featuring MP3 encoders</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=MP3MP32005-03-24T11:02:00Z<p>218.101.84.129: /* Cons */</p>
<hr />
<div>=MP3: MPEG 1 Layer 3=<br />
<br />
The MP3 algorithm development started in 1987, with a joint cooperation of [http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/ Fraunhofer IIS-A] and the University of Erlangen. It is standardized as ISO-MPEG Audio Layer-3 (IS 11172-3 and IS 13818-3).<br />
<br />
It soon became the de facto standard for lossy audio encoding, due to the high [[compression rates]] (1/11 of the original size, still retaining considerable quality), the high availability of decoders and the low CPU requirements for playback. (486 DX2-100 is enough for real-time decoding)<br />
<br />
It supports [[multichannel]] files (Although there's no implementation yet), [[sampling rate]]s from 16kHz to 24kHz (MPEG2 Layer 3) and 32kHz to 48kHz (MPEG1 Layer 3)<br />
<br />
Formal and informal listening tests have shown that MP3 at the 160-224 kbps range provide encoded results undistinguishable from the original materials in most of the cases.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Pros==<br />
* Widespread acceptance, support in nearly all hardware audio players and devices<br />
* Transparent quality at --alt-preset standard (LAME) in most of the cases.<br />
* An [[ISO]] standard, part of MPEG specs<br />
* Fast decoding, lower complexity than [[AAC]] or [[Ogg Vorbis|Vorbis]]<br />
* Anyone can create their own implementation (Specs and demo sources available)<br />
* Relaxed licensing schedule<br />
<br />
==Cons==<br />
* Lower performance / efficiency than modern codecs.<br />
* Problem cases that trip out all transform codecs.<br />
* Sometimes, maximum bitrate (320kbps) isn't enough.<br />
* No multichannel implementations.<br />
* Unusable for high definition audio (sampling rates higher than 48kHz).<br />
<br />
=Techniques used in compression=<br />
<br />
* [[Huffman coding]]<br />
* [[Quantization]]<br />
* [[Joint stereo|M/S matrixing]]<br />
* [[Intensity stereo]]<br />
* Channel coupling<br />
* Modified discrete cosine transform ([[MDCT]])<br />
* Polyphase filter bank<br />
<br />
There is a non-standardized form of MP3 called MP3pro, which takes advantage of [[SBR]] encoding to provide better quality at low bitrates.<br />
<br />
=Encoders/Decoders=<br />
<br />
* [[LAME]]<br />
* [[Audioactive]]<br />
<br />
=Additional reading=<br />
<br />
* [http://www.audiocoding.com/modules/wiki/?page=MP3 MP3 at Audiocoding Wiki]<br />
* [[MPEG1 Layer 3]] - Technical explanation of MP3 encoding.<br />
* [http://www.rjamorim.com/test/mp3-128/results.html Roberto's listening test] featuring MP3 encoders</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=MP3MP32005-03-24T10:55:44Z<p>218.101.84.129: </p>
<hr />
<div>=MP3: MPEG 1 Layer 3=<br />
<br />
The MP3 algorithm development started in 1987, with a joint cooperation of [http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/ Fraunhofer IIS-A] and the University of Erlangen. It is standardized as ISO-MPEG Audio Layer-3 (IS 11172-3 and IS 13818-3).<br />
<br />
It soon became the de facto standard for lossy audio encoding, due to the high [[compression rates]] (1/11 of the original size, still retaining considerable quality), the high availability of decoders and the low CPU requirements for playback. (486 DX2-100 is enough for real-time decoding)<br />
<br />
It supports [[multichannel]] files (Although there's no implementation yet), [[sampling rate]]s from 16kHz to 24kHz (MPEG2 Layer 3) and 32kHz to 48kHz (MPEG1 Layer 3)<br />
<br />
Formal and informal listening tests have shown that MP3 at the 160-224 kbps range provide encoded results undistinguishable from the original materials in most of the cases.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Pros==<br />
* Widespread acceptance, support in nearly all hardware audio players and devices<br />
* Transparent quality at --alt-preset standard (LAME) in most of the cases.<br />
* An [[ISO]] standard, part of MPEG specs<br />
* Fast decoding, lower complexity than [[AAC]] or [[Ogg Vorbis|Vorbis]]<br />
* Anyone can create their own implementation (Specs and demo sources available)<br />
* Relaxed licensing schedule<br />
<br />
==Cons==<br />
* Lower performance / efficiency than modern codecs<br />
* Problem cases that trip out all transform codecs<br />
* Slow encoding (Using LAME [[VBR]])<br />
* Sometimes, maximum bitrate (320kbps) isn't enough.<br />
* No multichannel implementations.<br />
* Unusable for high definition audio (sampling rates higher than 48kHz)<br />
<br />
=Techniques used in compression=<br />
<br />
* [[Huffman coding]]<br />
* [[Quantization]]<br />
* [[Joint stereo|M/S matrixing]]<br />
* [[Intensity stereo]]<br />
* Channel coupling<br />
* Modified discrete cosine transform ([[MDCT]])<br />
* Polyphase filter bank<br />
<br />
There is a non-standardized form of MP3 called MP3pro, which takes advantage of [[SBR]] encoding to provide better quality at low bitrates.<br />
<br />
=Encoders/Decoders=<br />
<br />
* [[LAME]]<br />
* [[Audioactive]]<br />
<br />
=Additional reading=<br />
<br />
* [http://www.audiocoding.com/modules/wiki/?page=MP3 MP3 at Audiocoding Wiki]<br />
* [[MPEG1 Layer 3]] - Technical explanation of MP3 encoding.<br />
* [http://www.rjamorim.com/test/mp3-128/results.html Roberto's listening test] featuring MP3 encoders</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=AudioactiveAudioactive2005-03-24T10:54:45Z<p>218.101.84.129: </p>
<hr />
<div>Audioactive is an [[MP3]] encoder created by a partnership between Audioactive and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Laboratory (the creators of MP3)<br />
<br />
* Clams to have CD quality sound at 128kbps<br />
* Does well at low bitrates > 128<br />
* Does not support VBR encoding<br />
* Slow encoding, 36 seconds for 4:39 song</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=AudioactiveAudioactive2005-03-24T10:53:43Z<p>218.101.84.129: </p>
<hr />
<div>Audioactive is an mp3 encoder created by a partnership between Audioactive and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Laboratory (the creators of MP3)<br />
<br />
* Clams to have CD quality sound at 128kbps<br />
* Does well at low bitrates > 128<br />
* Does not support VBR encoding<br />
* Slow encoding, 36 seconds for 4:39 song</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=AudioactiveAudioactive2005-03-24T10:53:17Z<p>218.101.84.129: </p>
<hr />
<div>==Audioactive Encoder==<br />
<br />
Audioactive is an mp3 encoder created by a partnership between Audioactive and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Laboratory (the creators of MP3)<br />
<br />
* Clams to have CD quality sound at 128kbps<br />
* Does well at low bitrates > 128<br />
* Does not support VBR encoding<br />
* Slow encoding, 36 seconds for 4:39 song</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=MP3MP32005-03-24T10:50:29Z<p>218.101.84.129: </p>
<hr />
<div>=MP3: MPEG 1 Layer 3=<br />
<br />
The MP3 algorithm development started in 1987, with a joint cooperation of [http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/ Fraunhofer IIS-A] and the University of Erlangen. It is standardized as ISO-MPEG Audio Layer-3 (IS 11172-3 and IS 13818-3).<br />
<br />
It soon became the de facto standard for lossy audio encoding, due to the high [[compression rates]] (1/11 of the original size, still retaining considerable quality), the high availability of decoders and the low CPU requirements for playback. (486 DX2-100 is enough for real-time decoding)<br />
<br />
It supports [[multichannel]] files (Although there's no implementation yet), [[sampling rate]]s from 16kHz to 24kHz (MPEG2 Layer 3) and 32kHz to 48kHz (MPEG1 Layer 3)<br />
<br />
Formal and informal listening tests have shown that MP3 at the 160-224 kbps range provide encoded results undistinguishable from the original materials in most of the cases.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Pros==<br />
* Widespread acceptance, support in nearly all hardware audio players and devices<br />
* Transparent quality at --alt-preset standard (LAME) in most of the cases.<br />
* An [[ISO]] standard, part of MPEG specs<br />
* Fast decoding, lower complexity than [[AAC]] or [[Ogg Vorbis|Vorbis]]<br />
* Anyone can create their own implementation (Specs and demo sources available)<br />
* Relaxed licensing schedule<br />
<br />
==Cons==<br />
* Lower performance / efficiency than modern codecs<br />
* Problem cases that trip out all transform codecs<br />
* Slow encoding (Using LAME [[VBR]])<br />
* Sometimes, maximum bitrate (320kbps) isn't enough.<br />
* No multichannel implementations.<br />
* Unusable for high definition audio (sampling rates higher than 48kHz)<br />
<br />
=Techniques used in compression=<br />
<br />
* [[Huffman coding]]<br />
* [[Quantization]]<br />
* [[Joint stereo|M/S matrixing]]<br />
* [[Intensity stereo]]<br />
* Channel coupling<br />
* Modified discrete cosine transform ([[MDCT]])<br />
* Polyphase filter bank<br />
<br />
There is a non-standardized form of MP3 called MP3pro, which takes advantage of [[SBR]] encoding to provide better quality at low bitrates.<br />
<br />
=Encoders/Decoders=<br />
<br />
* [[LAME]]<br />
* [[Audioactive]]<br />
<br />
==Audioactive Encoder==<br />
<br />
Audioactive is an mp3 encoder created by a partnership between Audioactive and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Laboratory (the creators of MP3)<br />
<br />
* Clams to have CD quality sound at 128kbps<br />
* Does well at low bitrates > 128<br />
* Does not support VBR encoding<br />
* Slow encoding, 36 seconds for 4:39 song<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
=Additional reading=<br />
<br />
* [http://www.audiocoding.com/modules/wiki/?page=MP3 MP3 at Audiocoding Wiki]<br />
* [[MPEG1 Layer 3]] - Technical explanation of MP3 encoding.<br />
* [http://www.rjamorim.com/test/mp3-128/results.html Roberto's listening test] featuring MP3 encoders</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=LAMELAME2005-03-24T10:49:45Z<p>218.101.84.129: </p>
<hr />
<div>LAME (LAME Ain't an [[MP3]] Encoder) is the recommended encoder. It has been developed by the open-source community since 1998, and has become the highest quality encoder for most purposes.<br />
<br />
Some benefits for using LAME<br />
* highly optimised presets<br />
* [[Exact Audio Copy]] support<br />
* CBR, VBR and ABR encoding methods<br />
* [[CDex]] Support<br />
<br />
<br />
LAME contains presets to provide the consistant high levels of quality across all songs. These are the recommended switches for using LAME with good reason.<br />
<br />
* [[Lame Compiles|Recommended LAME compile]]<br />
* [[Recommended LAME|Recommended LAME settings]]</div>218.101.84.129https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=MP3MP32005-03-24T10:25:43Z<p>218.101.84.129: </p>
<hr />
<div>=MP3: MPEG 1 Layer 3=<br />
<br />
The MP3 algorithm development started in 1987, with a joint cooperation of [http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/ Fraunhofer IIS-A] and the University of Erlangen. It is standardized as ISO-MPEG Audio Layer-3 (IS 11172-3 and IS 13818-3).<br />
<br />
It soon became the de facto standard for lossy audio encoding, due to the high [[compression rates]] (1/11 of the original size, still retaining considerable quality), the high availability of decoders and the low CPU requirements for playback. (486 DX2-100 is enough for real-time decoding)<br />
<br />
It supports [[multichannel]] files (Although there's no implementation yet), [[sampling rate]]s from 16kHz to 24kHz (MPEG2 Layer 3) and 32kHz to 48kHz (MPEG1 Layer 3)<br />
<br />
Formal and informal listening tests have shown that MP3 at the 160-224 kbps range provide encoded results undistinguishable from the original materials in most of the cases.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Pros==<br />
* Widespread acceptance, support in nearly all hardware audio players and devices<br />
* Transparent quality at --alt-preset standard (LAME) in most of the cases.<br />
* An [[ISO]] standard, part of MPEG specs<br />
* Fast decoding, lower complexity than [[AAC]] or [[Ogg Vorbis|Vorbis]]<br />
* Anyone can create their own implementation (Specs and demo sources available)<br />
* Relaxed licensing schedule<br />
<br />
==Cons==<br />
* Lower performance / efficiency than modern codecs<br />
* Problem cases that trip out all transform codecs<br />
* Slow encoding (Using LAME [[VBR]])<br />
* Sometimes, maximum bitrate (320kbps) isn't enough.<br />
* No multichannel implementations.<br />
* Unusable for high definition audio (sampling rates higher than 48kHz)<br />
<br />
=Techniques used in compression=<br />
<br />
* [[Huffman coding]]<br />
* [[Quantization]]<br />
* [[Joint stereo|M/S matrixing]]<br />
* [[Intensity stereo]]<br />
* Channel coupling<br />
* Modified discrete cosine transform ([[MDCT]])<br />
* Polyphase filter bank<br />
<br />
There is a non-standardized form of MP3 called MP3pro, which takes advantage of [[SBR]] encoding to provide better quality at low bitrates.<br />
<br />
=Encoders/Decoders=<br />
<br />
==LAME Encoder (Recommended)==<br />
<br />
LAME (LAME Ain't an MP3 Encoder) is the recommended encoder. It has been developed by the open-source community since 1998, and has become the highest quality encoder for most purposes.<br />
<br />
LAME contains presets to provide the consistant high levels of quality across all songs. These are the recommended switches for using LAME with good reason.<br />
<br />
* [[Lame Compiles|Recommended LAME compile]]<br />
* [[Recommended LAME|Recommended LAME settings]]<br />
<br />
==Audioactive Encoder==<br />
<br />
Audioactive is an mp3 encoder created by a partnership between Audioactive and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Laboratory (the creators of MP3)<br />
<br />
* Clams to have CD quality sound at 128kbps<br />
* Does well at low bitrates > 128<br />
* Does not support VBR encoding<br />
* Slow encoding, 36 seconds for 4:39 song<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
=Additional reading=<br />
<br />
* [http://www.audiocoding.com/modules/wiki/?page=MP3 MP3 at Audiocoding Wiki]<br />
* [[MPEG1 Layer 3]] - Technical explanation of MP3 encoding.<br />
* [http://www.rjamorim.com/test/mp3-128/results.html Roberto's listening test] featuring MP3 encoders</div>218.101.84.129