LAME mp3 encoder

~~Cantacuzene~~ · 02-21-2002, 07:32 PM

Does anyone have any problems with this? I rip like 5 albums a day and I'm considering a switch. Lemme know some opinions.

Hoser · 02-21-2002, 08:44 PM

I haven't had any problems with LAME. It's supposed to be the best mp3 encoder available at this time. This site has information that might be of help: http://www.r3mix.net/

I use EAC (Exact Audio Copy) to rip my CDs and have LAME encode in the background. Since the ripping is so much faster than encoding, there will be processes running in the background after ripping a CD. I use a PCI ATA100 card so that all my devices (two hard drives, CDRW, DVD) are on a IDE channel by themselves. The benefit is that I can rip a CD in under three minutes (I just ripped a 57 minute CD in 2:06). You just have to remember not to close EAC until all the encoding processes are finished. You also need to have LAME queued in the background or EAC will rip one song then encode it before ripping the next song.

When I rip CDs, I usually rip 15 or 20 at a time. Then I let them encode in the background. I don't notice any decrease in the speed of the computer.

NuTs62 · 02-21-2002, 09:42 PM

I've never tried ripping with any software besides MusicMatch. Must say that the software aint too bad.

Hoser · 02-21-2002, 11:27 PM

The problem with programs other than EAC is apparent if you have a CD that has some scratches, or can't be ripped without errors. You'll get a ripped song that has pops, dropouts, skips, etc.. With EAC I've always gotten a good rip. I've had to polish and clean a couple 'problem' CDs, but they eventually ripped perfectly. Since it's taking less than 3 minutes a CD, there's no reason not to use EAC for me.

I would recommend getting a PCI IDE controller card if you want the fastest ripping available. It's made a big difference on my system. Since everything is on a separate controller, there's no waiting. I probably save a minute or more per CD ripped. It may not seem like much. When you've got to rip 1400+ CDs, those minutes add up.

NuTs62 · 02-22-2002, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hoser
The problem with programs other than EAC is apparent if you have a CD that has some scratches, or can't be ripped without errors. You'll get a ripped song that has pops, dropouts, skips, etc.. With EAC I've always gotten a good rip. I've had to polish and clean a couple 'problem' CDs, but they eventually ripped perfectly. Since it's taking less than 3 minutes a CD, there's no reason not to use EAC for me.

I would recommend getting a PCI IDE controller card if you want the fastest ripping available. It's made a big difference on my system. Since everything is on a separate controller, there's no waiting. I probably save a minute or more per CD ripped. It may not seem like much. When you've got to rip 1400+ CDs, those minutes add up.

There was a small lil' program before that removed pops, scratches, etc... I guess that would be more trouble for you.. I don't have many scratched discs, so that doesn't worry me..

and 1400+ CD's?!?! Yeesh, do you buy a CD like everyday or something? thats like a years paycheck for many people.. Do you know how many people you can feed with all the money u spent? hehe.. And if I have lots to rip, and I'm pressed for time.. I just have several systems ripping.. =)

Hoser · 02-22-2002, 07:55 PM

I have programs that edit wav files, but that won't help me unless I get a perfect rip from the CD. There's only a couple 'problem' CDs that I've had to rip more than once. If you have problems with ripping any CDs, try a DVD drive. The laser is a lot more sensitive, so it may be able to rip the CD.

I'm converting all my music into MP3 and streaming music to a Rio Receiver or another computer. That way I'll have access to all my music and it'll be easier to find any song.

I tried the CD labeling software from the front page here and it's pretty good. It can do barcodes. I'm going backup my MP3s to CD and barcode the labels. Then I'll be able to use this to tie into a database. I've got a CueCat with CatNip software that'll be able to read the barcodes.

I only started buying CDs in 1993 after I got a portable CD player. My CD collection really started growing when I went overseas. There was a better (or different) selection of CDs there. I buy CDs less often now, because I have most of the older songs that I want.

~~Cantacuzene~~ · 02-24-2002, 07:58 PM

Thanks for the advice, LAME it is.

Hoser · 02-24-2002, 08:06 PM

I agree with chosenfool about the lame version and R3mix setting. I've tried a lot of other encoders out there, and LAME is definitely the best. I had to re-encode a hundred or so CDs, because I had used something else before I tried LAME. I'm probably only going to encode everything once, so I don't want to waste any time. I've noticed with the R3mix setting there's about a 1 to 8 ratio in size after encoding. This is an average, it really depends on what kind of music you're encoding.

hapoo · 02-25-2002, 04:18 AM

ok guys, i'm a total EAC/LAME user thanks to my last post about this a couple months ago. Anyone know of any good programs that will automatically set the id3 tags for me now? I also have a huge issue with my VBR files, not sure how to detect them, is there a specific bit i should be looking for in the header?

Hoser · 02-25-2002, 07:54 PM

Here's a site that explains the ID3 tags: http://www.id3.org/

This explains the MP3 frame header: http://www.mp3-tech.org/programmer/frame_header.html

This may help you with setting the ID3 tags: http://www.medic.dk/cddbmp3tool.htm

I haven't found out how to calculate the VBR rates yet, but I'll keep looking.

I know Windows Media Player has a problem calculating the song length of VBR files.

hapoo · 02-26-2002, 12:00 AM

thanks... actually i've been to all those pages and have written software for reading headers and reading/writing id3. I've used software before that automatically detects encoding information of mp3's and i'm dying to know where the info is contained cause i'm fairly positive the program doesn't go through each frame, its too quick for that.

02-21-2002, 07:32 PM	#1
~~Cantacuzene~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Posts: 8,700	LAME mp3 encoder Does anyone have any problems with this? I rip like 5 albums a day and I'm considering a switch. Lemme know some opinions.

02-25-2002, 04:18 AM	#9
hapoo Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield USA Posts: 9,276	ok guys, i'm a total EAC/LAME user thanks to my last post about this a couple months ago. Anyone know of any good programs that will automatically set the id3 tags for me now? I also have a huge issue with my VBR files, not sure how to detect them, is there a specific bit i should be looking for in the header? __________________

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02-21-2002, 08:44 PM	#2
Hoser Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Omaha, NE, United States Posts: 1,275	I haven't had any problems with LAME. It's supposed to be the best mp3 encoder available at this time. This site has information that might be of help: http://www.r3mix.net/ I use EAC (Exact Audio Copy) to rip my CDs and have LAME encode in the background. Since the ripping is so much faster than encoding, there will be processes running in the background after ripping a CD. I use a PCI ATA100 card so that all my devices (two hard drives, CDRW, DVD) are on a IDE channel by themselves. The benefit is that I can rip a CD in under three minutes (I just ripped a 57 minute CD in 2:06). You just have to remember not to close EAC until all the encoding processes are finished. You also need to have LAME queued in the background or EAC will rip one song then encode it before ripping the next song. When I rip CDs, I usually rip 15 or 20 at a time. Then I let them encode in the background. I don't notice any decrease in the speed of the computer.

02-21-2002, 09:42 PM	#3
NuTs62 Vice Admiral Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,763	I've never tried ripping with any software besides MusicMatch. Must say that the software aint too bad.

02-21-2002, 11:27 PM	#4
Hoser Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Omaha, NE, United States Posts: 1,275	The problem with programs other than EAC is apparent if you have a CD that has some scratches, or can't be ripped without errors. You'll get a ripped song that has pops, dropouts, skips, etc.. With EAC I've always gotten a good rip. I've had to polish and clean a couple 'problem' CDs, but they eventually ripped perfectly. Since it's taking less than 3 minutes a CD, there's no reason not to use EAC for me. I would recommend getting a PCI IDE controller card if you want the fastest ripping available. It's made a big difference on my system. Since everything is on a separate controller, there's no waiting. I probably save a minute or more per CD ripped. It may not seem like much. When you've got to rip 1400+ CDs, those minutes add up.

02-22-2002, 07:55 PM	#6
Hoser Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Omaha, NE, United States Posts: 1,275	I have programs that edit wav files, but that won't help me unless I get a perfect rip from the CD. There's only a couple 'problem' CDs that I've had to rip more than once. If you have problems with ripping any CDs, try a DVD drive. The laser is a lot more sensitive, so it may be able to rip the CD. I'm converting all my music into MP3 and streaming music to a Rio Receiver or another computer. That way I'll have access to all my music and it'll be easier to find any song. I tried the CD labeling software from the front page here and it's pretty good. It can do barcodes. I'm going backup my MP3s to CD and barcode the labels. Then I'll be able to use this to tie into a database. I've got a CueCat with CatNip software that'll be able to read the barcodes. I only started buying CDs in 1993 after I got a portable CD player. My CD collection really started growing when I went overseas. There was a better (or different) selection of CDs there. I buy CDs less often now, because I have most of the older songs that I want.

02-24-2002, 07:58 PM	#7
~~Cantacuzene~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Posts: 8,700	Thanks for the advice, LAME it is.

02-24-2002, 08:06 PM	#8
Hoser Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Omaha, NE, United States Posts: 1,275	I agree with chosenfool about the lame version and R3mix setting. I've tried a lot of other encoders out there, and LAME is definitely the best. I had to re-encode a hundred or so CDs, because I had used something else before I tried LAME. I'm probably only going to encode everything once, so I don't want to waste any time. I've noticed with the R3mix setting there's about a 1 to 8 ratio in size after encoding. This is an average, it really depends on what kind of music you're encoding.

02-25-2002, 07:54 PM	#10
Hoser Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Omaha, NE, United States Posts: 1,275	Here's a site that explains the ID3 tags: http://www.id3.org/ This explains the MP3 frame header: http://www.mp3-tech.org/programmer/frame_header.html This may help you with setting the ID3 tags: http://www.medic.dk/cddbmp3tool.htm I haven't found out how to calculate the VBR rates yet, but I'll keep looking. I know Windows Media Player has a problem calculating the song length of VBR files.

02-26-2002, 12:00 AM	#11
hapoo Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield USA Posts: 9,276	thanks... actually i've been to all those pages and have written software for reading headers and reading/writing id3. I've used software before that automatically detects encoding information of mp3's and i'm dying to know where the info is contained cause i'm fairly positive the program doesn't go through each frame, its too quick for that.

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