I am sure this has been asked and answered before in this forum, but I could not find it.

I currently encode using EAC and LAME 3.92 -alt preset cbr 256 (cbr for portable audio reasons). I love the quality, it seems exact to my ears. The file size averages about 2 mb per minute or for a 5 minute song, about 10 mb.

In order to achieve comparable sound quality (to 256 LAME), what is the size of the file for AAC and OGG, and what settings are used to achieve this? Also, what is the same comparison vs. LAME -alt preset insane?

What is the best compression tool and setting for 128 kbps files (VBR being an option)? I only ask this because it seems most music is distributed at 128 and its a good size for portability.

Finally, is WMA comparable to LAME at any setting? I know everyone hates WMA and I am not a big fan of the monopoly, but if there is a legal future for digital music, it may be through WMA. How much quality does one lose moving from LAME to WMA. The two points for comparison I would like are LAME 256 and LAME 128. MP3 at less than 128 is not worth bothering with.

Thanks for any help!!!!!

FYI - Until I can get this whole optimal compression thing figured out - I have just been archiving using Monkeys and will compress later!

Indeed it has.


Don't compare the different codecs like that.
It's very difficult to compare, AAC would kick LAME's and MP3's ass easily, but OGG is a different story.
btw. don't forget MPC, it outperforms them.



since you care for low bitrates so much, use either --alt-preset fast standard -Y
or stick with --alt-preset cbr 128



WMA performs well at lower bitrates at some instances, read about it in the 64kbit listening test results.

Thank you for the response. I'm not clear though on your comment.

"Don't compare the different codecs like that."

If you can't compare codecs, why have options? Just use MP3. I probably just did not phrase my question well enough. Given that LAME CBR 256 is 'transparent' for me and 98% of all listeners (the audiophiles in this forum excluded!), I am curious to see of the competing formats, which format produces sound quality that is transparent to 98% of listeners (and my ears) with the smallest file size. And, what are the settings in OGG and AAC and MPC to achieve this.

I think the goal of compression audio is to keep as much of the WAV as possible with the smallest file size.

I'm not looking for archive, I use Monkey's Audio for that, I am looking for music that sounds great on my Creative Nomad, my Surround Sound stereo (Sony and Bose), and my car stereo. All play MP3s, for now, but may play OGG and AAC in the future - who knows

*laughs*
I don't think there's much future for WMA, quality-wise, and popularity-wise considering how they put personal restrictions in the files.

OGG, on the other hand, has a definite future. Especially for the lower bitrates. Comparing my MP3 internet broadcast to OGG encodings of the same bitrate... I think my jaw dropped. ^^