Multimedia :: A great MP3 encoder



As for the normalization, a compressed audio file of any type is going to be lame-- err, bad-- when converted from another compressed audio format, even if it is first converted to an uncompressed format.  Anything you do to a compressed sound will affect its quality, so it's always better to start with an uncompressed file and normalize before it's encoded.

I'm not trying to start a debate, I just personally prefer open formats when possible.  It's not the software which is the problem (lame is GPL) but rather the mp3 format itself is patented.  You can write all the source code you want, but the actual process of creating an mp3 is somehow owned by people who request payment for the use of anything (distributed) which encodes mp3s.
This is why you often have to download a separate codec/plugin when you want to use mp3 in your audio/video software, because the developers of these softwares don't want the legal or financial hassles associated with such a patent.
Point taken on "Open-Sourcedness".
Re: Paragraph 1 - thats the thing about
mp3gain-  it acts on the "gain field" in
the file, no format conversion.
I didn't even know there was one.
You can even have a graphical version
for winders!
You folks may want to take a look at the grip extension.
Could be just what your lookin for...  :)

73
ke4nt
I have a lot of experience with Lame,  producing high quality
MPEGs for my personal use.  I have a huge investment in
using MPEG already.  I'm not interested in hearing about
how wonderful Ogg is.  And I don't give a tinker's cuss
about the patents.  Feeling that there might be others in
the same situation I thought I'd share this info with other
DSL users.


Regards,
Arne

"I didn't expect a Spanish Inquisition."
Monty Python
Easy there, young one.

We are very interested in the possible legal reprocussions of the mp3 format, basically because none of us want to go to jail.

Which is where, if all the software patent people have their way, will be where most free software people end up.

As for which format is better, the only thing that's nicer about ogg, is the variable bitrate encoding. Means that silence in an audio file takes up less space than heavy action rocking. Also means that you can encode to a higher max bitrate in ogg than mp3 and it will fit into the same space. For example, I can fit a 192kbps ogg into the same 3mb that I can fit a 128kbps mp3 because the silent and quiet parts of the song take up less space.

And it sounds better, because ogg uses floating point math encoding compared to mp3's integer math. Means more precise harmonics and pitches. Wav format also uses floating point math.

Just a little info from the technical side. ^_^

-J.P.
Next Page...
original here.