I am a newbie to MP3 encoding and I checked the thread on the recommended settings for LAME encode. However, I'm confuse in whether I should use ABR, VBR, or CBR. Is 128kb bitrate the commonly accepted bitrate for good quality and good size? What is the bitrate that ppl uses to ensure artifact free and sounds just like the original? I forgot the term that describes that, but I hope you guys know what I mean. Thanks.

For transparency, your best bet is LAME with --preset standard (or --alt-preset, depending on your version). 128kbps used to be the most popular bitrate on P2P networks, though that may have changed since I last checked. --preset standard is VBR, and is designed for transparency at optimal bitrates.

What size are you shooting for?

Size isn't really an issue here. I just checked ubernet's recommendation and they too recommend APX standard.

I'm of the camp who say that transparency is subjective.

If you find --preset standard transparent, fine. But that doesn't mean that you won't find --preset medium or even --preset abr 140 transparent too.

Try lower bitrates too, and find what's transparent for you at the lowest bitrate.

If size isn't an issue, then you should be using uncompressed wav files. If size isn't an issue in MP3 encoding, then you should be using --preset insane: 320kbps CBR.

If size *is* an issue, then look at my post above.

I guess my "size isn't an issue" comment is misinterpreted. I'll try out standard and see how things goes.

I disagree. Size is always an issue to some degree, why else would I want to encode to mp3? However, if lossless is still too big (you save 1/3 of the original wave file), I'd go with --preset standard. --preset insane is just a big waste of space...I mean, --preset standard is transparent for most people, except for a few samples...that only a few people with high-end equipment and trained ears can spot...

So I'd say, either --preset standard or lossless...anything in between doesn't make much sense.

Also, the best is to always to use VBR (unless you target for a bitrate far below 128...in that case cbr might make sense). LAME 3.96.1 has for pretty much every bitrate a vbr preset, that ensures the highest possible quality at that bitrate...

LAME's Preset Standard is generally the recommended setting to use to acheive transparency. VBR is also the most recommended mode to use while encoding since it offers the highest quality. But I agree with the posters that transparency is subjective. So to see what is transparent to you I'd recommend doing some ABX tests on your own and seeing what you can and cannot differentiate from the original CD.

Some programs state that 128 kbps is 'CD Quality', however, most people can definitely tell the difference between a 128 kbps MP3 and the original CD quality. I'd say the most accepted bit rate for a good quality/size ratio is 192 kbps MP3. Though Preset Standard MP3s will sometimes be higher than 192 kbps usually the bit rate is around there.

that's true...but it all depends on the settings (and not necessarily on a file's bitrate)...some Kazaa CBR 192kbps file is far away from LAME --preset standard even though it's the same bitrate (maybe --preset standard has a even lower bitrate).

I'm encoding this for my MP3 player so I can't use lossless. Just wondering if I do encode with preset standard, it doesn't automatically assume that it'll be in VBR? I'll have to select VBR as well?

--alt preset- standard will create a VBR file.
I don't think you could make a better MP3 file if you follow this guide.
http://www.bestmp3guide.com/
Bob

But bigger isn't better. I really think you need to check if you're creating files that are too big.

Once transparency is achieved, increasing the bitrate does nothing to the quality. Any overkill would be a waste of storage space.

edit: And then again, there's the problem of songs having artifacts if you aim the bitrate too low. You need to take a listen to the music, because you're the only person who can answer the question, "Is this good enough for me?"

Thanks for the information guys. One last question and that is what version of Lame are you guys using?

Although 3.90.3 is the recommended version here I and some others personally use 3.96.1. I don't encode in mp3 often but when I do I prefer having the slightly smaller sizes the newer version's --preset standard produces over the older one. That being said I can't ABX either of them so my choice is smart for me.

I use LAME 3.96.1 along with --preset standard or -V2 (which is the same).

I'm using 3.96.1 with -V1 --vbr-new --scale x.xxxx (as calculated by WaveGain).

Regards,
Madrigal

I'm using RazorLame as a Frontend and I don't see alt-preset-standard anywhere. The reason why I'm not using EAC to output to Lame to encode is because I'm using Plextools and my writer isn't supported by EAC anyways.

That is correct. Razorlame by default has tons of CBR and ABR settings, checkboxes, dragbars, drop-downs that ends up forming long commandline combinations. This is at best confusing and at worst devastatingly detrimental to quality.

All you basically need to do is:
1. Go to the "Expert" tab
2. Check "only use custom options"
3. In the "Custom options" box:
3.1. Type"--alt-preset standard" without the quotes if you're using Lame 3.90.3
3.2. Type "--preset standard" without the quotes if you're using Lame 3.96.1

In place of "standard", you can use "medium" if encoding for portables (or if it's transparent to you).

Thanks for the information. I am pretty happy with the way things are. Thanks.