Hi,

I really need your help, so please reply. How may I burn MP3 LAME using Nero 6.0.0.20? I have tried a plug in but it didn't work out!
I also prefer not to decode, as it might reduce the audio quality!
One more thing, I do not wish to create MP3 CDs, but regular CDs which would play everywhere.
Please help me or advise!

if you want to make a regular audio CD that will play everywhere you will need to decode the mp3's so they can be made into audio cd.

the only way to use mp3's on a cd is to burn it as data cd, but you'll need to have a dvd player or portable cd player that can play mp3 cd's.

You must decode to create standard cds. Decoding to pcm will not degrade quality because it is lossles and actually done every time tou play your file. To burn cds from your mp3 files just create new music cd project using nero and drag'n drop your mp3 files from file explorer to compilation window.

I wondered if this was another logo type thread - was expecting to see images of Lame with flames spouting from it .

Other than that, what Latexx said.

just drop your MP3 files as if they where normal WAVs into Nero. It would convert them. Also, your "thanks for not helping" post is not very nice.

Don't you think I have tried that! Nero claims it doesn't recognize that format!!!

Did you use Nero standard or Nero Express?

With a fresh install of Nero (no additional plugins), I can drop mp3 files into an Audio CD layout in Nero Express without any problems.

Also, are you sure the files are mp3s, and not misnamed mp2s or something of the sort? Their decoder may not properly recognize/decode something like that.

If you're sure they're valid mp3s and still can't get 'em to work in Nero Express, the only other thing I could recommend is a complete uninstall and reinstall of Nero.

Dear Ariakis,

I am using Nero OEM suite V. 6.0.0.20. I have burned successfully MP3 files in the past as audio CDs, but never LAME. I am trying to burn LAME CBR 384 Kbps.
I cannot even add the files - Nero asserts it doesn't support their format!
What can I do?

Ah-hah, there's your problem. To be over 320kbps, they must be freeformat mp3s. Apparently the Nero mp3 decoder doesn't like freeformat files. What you'll have to do then, is:

A) use LAME or some other mp3 decoder to decode the files to WAVs, and burn those as you would normally (lame.exe --decode infile.mp3 outfile.wav), or

B) use foobar2000 with the Audio CD Writer component to burn the mp3s directly to CD from within fb2k. It'll use the Nero engine, and do the decoding and such on its own. This is available from foobar2000.org, and I think you'll need the Special installer for it to come with the Audio CD Writer component. This is the easier method if you already have fb2k installed, otherwise try A.

384 is freeformat, so you'll need e.g. the MAD decoder to decode them to wav first. Or just use Lame with the --decode command. Then you can drop the wavs to Nero.
Get MAD here

Edit: Ariakis, Foobar2000 probably won't work to read the freeformat files, as I remember from another thread.

I have just tried it with fb2k. Didn't work. Couldn't read the files.
First, I added the files, then I tried using the Write Audio CD function.
It failed opening the files. Is there anything I can do?

So I see. Just tried it, thanks for the info.

K, it doesn't work because fb2k won't decode freeformat, or >320kbps, something like that...

If you know your way around DOS, just navigate to the directory in a command prompt and decode the files yourself with:



Then burn the resultant WAVs as normal. If you're not so good with DOS, I'd recommend just downloading Speek's MultiFrontend and drag & drop, with LAME as the selected codec, and "--decode" as the options. Then burn the WAVs as you would normally.

Is it certain that decoding them to WAV will manifest NO quality loss whatsoever?

Absolutely, with either the LAME or MAD decoders. They're both designed properly, so there won't be any loss in quality from the mp3 files.

Would you recommend burning with Nero or with fb2k? Which one normally produces better results?

It doesn't really matter. If fb2k could decode the freeformat mp3s, it'd be easier, but since you have to decode manually first, it's just a matter of preference.

Dear Ariakis, sTisTi and Lev,

You have been a TREMENDOUS source of aid. Thank you so much for your kindness and patience! : )
I hope I won't encounter any more problems with this format for now.

heh, I helped in PM.. , for those wondering.

For reference, dont bother with 384kbps (or anything above 320kbps), I dont recall any instance of it making a verifyable improvement to the quality. And there is a lot of problems with compatability (as you are finding out)

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....topic=34234&hl=

I wash my hands of Kipi100.

My previous post regarding his/her continual cross-posting and urgent, almost demanding, tone seems to have been removed, but I tire of it.

How anyone can feel that such topics constitute an emergency astounds me. To then complain about the service is beyond reproach.

Edit: spelling

Absolutely best for freeformat mp3 are MAD decoder. Madplay with Windows GUI frontend (easier for n00bs) here.
Decode to wav and burn with e.g. Nero or even better, Burrrn. (Maybe Burrrn can even decode itself from 384 kbps mp3? It uses lame.exe --decode %s %d for decoding.) And, yes, foobar2000 does not support freeformat mp3...

And fb2k uses the nero burning engine.

This wasn't the issue. fb2k wouldn't decode the files.

And if you're speaking of which program to burn with, Express has the nice drag & drop functionality, without worrying about (for example) the surround upmix or dynamics compression or resampling DSPs that may be stuck in the DSP chain. Not that I ever burn audio outside fb2k, but I certainly wouldn't wanna have to explain it to someone else.

I was just clarifying for Kipi because he wanted to know which produced better results. Well, they should be identical because they use the same engine.

no i don't, what i do think, is that you are not being very respetuous.

Respetuous?