What is best method to create mp3 on Mac?

davidrossi@nc.rr.com · Post by **davidrossi@nc.rr.com** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:01 pm

I think I understand that Live 7 can not export to mp3. But I need mp3 as input to SoundSlides application. Please tell me the best quality tool or method to go from Live 7 to an mp3.

A free tool is great so long as it has very good quality.

Thanks.

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:13 pm

I use Max for this, converts to a TON of different formats and uses LAME encoding for MP3's.

anamexis · Post by **anamexis** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:22 pm

I also use and love Max.
link

BassTooth · Post by **BassTooth** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:29 pm

I use AudioFinder and occasionally iTunes

because mp3s sound like shit anyway

http://www.icedaudio.com/

beats me · Post by **beats me** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:45 pm

What are the disadvantages of using itunes for this?

On a related note, a friend of mine told me you get better quality mp3s for streaming if you first burn your high quality tracks to CD and then rip that to mp3. Does that make sense? Is that true?

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:52 pm

iTunes uses it's own encoder for MP3 conversion, not LAME which many people prefer. There's an add on you can install for iTunes LAME conversion, but I perosnally never got it to work right. I don't see how ripping a CD can be better than converting from wav myself, slower too.

contakt321 · Post by **contakt321** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:53 pm

I just use iTunes and I do it all the time.

anamexis · Post by **anamexis** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:54 pm

Yeah, ripping from CD won't change a damn thing. PCM audio is PCM audio.

anamexis · Post by **anamexis** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:56 pm

Also, Tarekith already mentioned iTunes not using LAME, which is big.
Plus, programs that use LAME, such as Max, are highly and easily customizable, and you can save encoding presets to use for different purposes.

nbinder · Post by **nbinder** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:00 pm

All2Mp3....

Freeware, just one drag & drop

anamexis · Post by **anamexis** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:01 pm

nbinder wrote:All2Mp3....

Freeware, just one drag & drop

Not for mac, yo

beats me · Post by **beats me** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:41 pm

Alrighty, explain the superiority of LAME.

nbinder · Post by **nbinder** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:43 pm

anamexis wrote:
nbinder wrote:All2Mp3....

Freeware, just one drag & drop
Not for mac, yo

So you're seriously telling me you know better what I am using than I do?

WICKED!

http://all2mp3.softonic.de/mac

Now I'm looking forward to your explanation for this....

anamexis · Post by **anamexis** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:51 pm

nbinder wrote:
anamexis wrote:
nbinder wrote:All2Mp3....

Freeware, just one drag & drop
Not for mac, yo
So you're seriously telling me you know better what I am using than I do? WICKED!

http://all2mp3.softonic.de/mac

Now I'm looking forward to your explanation for this....

Well excuuuuse me. Their website could use a bit of work... like mentioning a mac version exists... and escaping the year 1993.

And regarding the superiority of LAME, here's one set of comparisons and here's another but there are quite a few out there. Not all MP3 encoders are equal. As free ones go, you can't get much better than LAME.

nbinder · Post by **nbinder** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:58 pm

anamexis wrote:Well excuuuuse me. Their website could use a bit of work... like mentioning a mac version exists...

You're right, why don't we support them and make a new one