List of recommended LAME settings, Discussion Options

[user]

The actual list can be found here:

List of recommended LAME settings


This thread is for discussion about the list.

[Dibrom]

Originally posted by jraneses
Dibrom, can you comment on the differences between using the --dm-preset xtreme from the 12/01 build and the new --alt-preset extreme on the latest build.

Hrmm.. well the differences in extreme basically are the same things that were applied to the standard mode. Basically better short block handling, adaptive noise measuring/shaping, tweaks to joint stereo, etc.

I've encoded an album tonight using both encoders and noticed with --alt-preset extreme that my file sizes are jumping up around 3/4 mb each.

Hrmm.. that's a pretty big jump in bitrate. What kind of music was this? I actually have an idea what might be causing this bitrate increase in this mode now that you mention it. I'll have to double check. Maybe you could encode again adding the switch --no-preset-tune and see what that does to the bitrates...

I'm not really concerned, but what quality differences can I expect between these two different presets?  If the new alt presets are going to give me better quality (even if it's inaudible to me), I want to make sure I go with the new ones.  I haven't been able to find a good FAQ on exactly what the new presets are supposed to offer overall over the old dm presets.

The quality of the extreme mode should be increased, but it's possible the modifications I applied in one area (maybe the joint stereo stuff) was too aggressive in this mode because a difference between a few things it does vs the standard mode. I'll run some experiments and see. I did notice larger files in a few cases myself but thought they were circumstancial (I haven't tested bitrates with extreme nearly as much as standard).

As for a list of the general differences, you can see most of them here:

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/showth...s=&threadid=411

While most of the discussion is centered around the "standard" mode, many of the improvements still apply... mostly:

- Improved joint stereo usage
- Improved short block usage
- Improved noise shaping/measuring usage

The last one is centered around lowering bitrates and still providing high quality.