A newbie to --alt-preset standard, that is :-)

Just wanted to post and tell everyone how psyched I am to be using the --aps, and LAME in general. I was using MusicMatch before at 128k-192k CBR. Man, LAME and --aps is a HUGE difference.

Timing for me was right too, luckily. I just got a new Nomad Jukebox 3 - 40gig a couple of weeks ago, and was ready to re-encode my collect (about 400 CDs). I started using --r3mix, and then luckily ran into this board only 3 rips into it! Wheushhh....I would not have been a happy camper if I did all 400 CDs, and then stumbled upon --aps!

Anyway, I should be able to get most of my CDs onto the 40gig with some room left to spare, which is nice.

Also wanted poll folks out there who use EAC-LAME (--aps) on HD-based mp3 player. I will tell you are considering, the NBJ3 is really nice! What are other folks using for portable playback?

-Brian

PS: I've also enjoyed reading thru Dibrom's comments.......smart dude...........

Dude thats hell of a player, so i suggest you use --alt-preset extreme.

IMO MP3 is aged right now, i wouldnt buy a portable player wich has no upgreadable firmware since there are already AAC and Vorbis around. I dont like MP3 even on extreme, but AAC on extreme... :flipoff:

Anyway, either pray for good firmware upgrades of that shit or sell it and get an AAC protable player (im looking for a good one now )

P.S.: :gah: I hope i wasnt too late for your encoding :coding: job, but if you are happy with standard quality, its fine, just dont get pissed when you plug it to a nice car audio system and hear :listen WHOOOOOOOOPING artifacts all over the block, ROFLMFAO :rofl: :drink: :flamewar: :diabolic: :too_hot:

Well, --aps is fine for me. I actually did some comparisons on some of my most listened to CDs between --aps and --ape, and I could here a difference. I mean the difference between MusicMatch 128k cbr and LAME --aps was staggering, but I think --ape is just an example of the law of diminishing returns, at least for me. Plus, it's not worth the extra bits. In fact, I think I should have used the -Y options for some of the songs.

Even with 40gig, I've only ripped-encoded upto about the the letter "G", and I am already at 10gig. I have about 400+ CDs, and I am hoping to get most of them on the NBJ3, with some space to spare for Data File storage.

Right now, the NBJ3 supports any MP3, WMA, and pure WAV. I'm not expecting AAC, Vorbis, or MPC. Most of my listening comes from playing off the NJB3, either directly thru a Headroom Total Airhead amp and Etymotic ER-4P headphones, or streaming from my PC thru Winamp with MAD decoder (IBM laptop at work, and a PC with Audigy soundcard at home). Most of my home listening is actually with a fairly high-end headphone rig, and listening to actual CDs or SACDs.



I plugged listened to --aps on my mid-fi stereo rig (not high end headphone rig), and sounded fine for me. Most of my critical listening is actually done with headphones and straight CDs or SACD (Sennheiser 600s, Headroom Maxxed Out Home reference, Sony 333ES SACD player, Perptetual Tech P-1A, and P-3A digital correction and DAC) and I'm sure their will be artifacts now and then with --aps. From lactual istening and reading this board, I'm really not concerned. --aps is staggeringly great for my ears, and I am pretty picky. Thanx for the comments :-)

-gandalf44

20 GB Nomad in combination with --aps here.

I usually connect it either in my car or at home on my Philips stereo.

Especially at home the difference between --aps encoded tracks and some old Blade encoded tracks @192 kbps become painfully clear (where as on my PC I couldn't tell the difference, and also there's the fact that I just don't have golden ears ). Especially metal tracks sound lots better with --aps while still staying round 210kbps on average.

In the car there's too much background noise and the stereo of the car isn't too good, so there the difference is not that clear (and usually I keep my mind to the road when driving instead of trying to judge the sound quality - hey, I just sounded like a genuine USA disclaimer - winners don't do drugs!)

I am still hoping on OGG support for the Nomad one day, I have seen numerous questions about on the forums at Creative's site but no official reply from C.L. themselves.

I use a mini disc for portable use.
I still love mechanical parts:)
I like to change discs when an album has been finished.