LAME VBR Settings Options

[daniel.ok]

Hello guys. I'm newbie in audio ripping, and I have a issue here:

I use Easy CD-DA Extractor, as software for ripping and converting my MP3s, because it uses latest LAME 0.99.5. But when I set my MP3 settings at VBR, I have only preset option (Quality Level 0, Quality Level 1, ......Quality Level 9). Until now I had used Switch Sound Converter (with LAME 0.82) and with it i was able to put a custom range at VBR (192kbps - 320kbps), and what I want now is to put the same custom setting on Easy CD-DA Extractor.
So my question is: It is LAME related (in this case version 0.99.5) or strictly to the software that uses LAME encoder.
And one more thing: with Easy CD-DA Extractor CBR encoding it's much slower than VBR encoding? It it normal? I thought that VBR uses more resources.

Thank you in advance,
Daniel.

This post has been edited by daniel.ok: Sep 18 2012, 22:42

[daniel.ok]

Well, the purpose I re-encode from 320CBR to V2 is just because I don't want to waste more than what I use, it's not that 100 or 200GB makes a difference for me! I think it is a bad idea to keep music using 200GB for example when I can keep it only on 110GB with the same quality (for my ears I mean). But because I am a practical guy I try to avoid some error before I start, even I re-encode lossy to lossy. So, I have just few more questions, and I end this debate, so if you guys can give me some advice I'm glad to hear them:

1. How does the NEW VBR algorithm choose when to drop the bitrate (by moments of silence in the song, or what?). I give a situation here: In a chillout song there are many moments of almost silence, but even so, you need a good quality of encoding to enjoy the details (ex: Sound of a whale in the abyss )

2. With what program I can see which is the smaller value of bitrate in a VBR MP3!

thanks again, and please excuse my funny questions!