Ableton Forum

just curious

LAME encoder, 320 kbps

lame --preset insane
lame --preset studio

is straight forward mp3 compression the same algorithm with any software? or some of them just shit out crap?

I just use itunes. But then again my buddy C. told me it would be crap. since then I used audacity a couple of times, with the lame plug in.

itunes mp3 encoding - crap?

Adobe Audition 2. This gives you tons of options for converting to mp3

Ditto Audacity (it's free anyways) with the lame encoder. Just follow instructions on Audacity's page they explain how to install the Lame plugin for mp3 encoding.

thanks a bunch, seems to work

iTunes encoding is ok, not bad by any means, though I prefer others still. If Lame is 10/10, then I'd give iTunes MP3 encoding 8/10.

would that be because of the available options or just sound quality?

"lame --alt-preset standard", or else if that's not good enough I use FLAC.

Affiliation wrote:is straight forward mp3 compression the same algorithm with any software? or some of them just shit out crap?

Different encoders can work differently. One big difference is that not all encoders support VBR (variable bitrate), which allows for a nice compromise between sound quality and file size. Many encoders also implement bandpass filters to remove noise artifacts.

h_double wrote: Different encoders can work differently. One big difference is that not all encoders support VBR (variable bitrate), which allows for a nice compromise between sound quality and file size. Many encoders also implement bandpass filters to remove noise artifacts.

Adobe Audition does. It's has CBR(Constant) and VBR. You can encode from 20 kbps up to 320. So it's cool for making ringtones out of tracks you like as you just clip out the part you want.
It has mp3 pro encoding so it can reconstruct the lost higher frequencies so you can save it at a lower kbps but not lose the quality.

very easy for mac is the converter-programm "switch"