Hi

Ive just downloaded and installed the latest version of EAC (0.95b3) and the latest LAME (3.96.1)

While going through the configuration process, the program gives the option of using the default LAME settings as defined by this website. It tells me that it should be around 192Kbps.

Now when I have grabbed tracks off a CD and compressed them to MP3, My Windows PC tells me that these tracks are 320Kbps. Can you please explain why this is?

When I play the file in Winamp, the quality keeps fluctuating throughout the song. Does this mean it has been compressed as a VBR MP3? And if so, what is the real classification of the MP3 (in terms of quality)?

Thanks.

By Windows PC you probably mean what Explorer or WMP says. Well, don't listen to them - they are buggy, IIRC they report bitrate of the biggest frame in the MP3 file.

Yes.

The real classification is average bitrate of all the frames, or bitrate calculated from size/duration ratio.

It means that there is a bug in windows xp explorer that causes it to report that virtually all mp3s have a bitrate of 320.

Thanks guys

So is the real bitrate 192 VBR? Im confused.

WinAmp should report average bitrate of the file somewhere, maybe try clicking it on the playlist with right mouse button and choose properties or something like that.

Open EAC and click on the EAC button in the upper left. Select Compression Options from the drop down list. Click on the External Compression tab and look at the additional command line option. If it says something like --alt-preset standard then you are getting VBR mp3s with a target bitrate around 192 kb/s.

If you have more questions about the lame settings I suggest you read the recommended Lame settings thread stickied at the top of this page. You may also want to read some of the tutorials linked in the other stickies describing how to setup EAC & Lame for optimal performance.
J

There isn't a "real bit rate" for VBR because it's inherently variable. Whenever you see a bit rate value associated with a VBR file it's either a target bit rate (the average bit rate the encoder will try to obtain) or the average bit rate of the resultant file. APS will, as mentioned, use a target bit rate of 192kbps but depending on the music the resultant average bit rate could be much higher or lower than this.

ALT+3

When I look, this is what I see:

%l--alt-preset 128%l%h--alt-preset standard%h %s %d

What does that mean? Im familiar with some of the language but why is 128 there? Does it mean compress it to at least 128kbps or something?

... results in --alt-preset 128 %s %d (128 kbps ABR) when you select "Low Quality",
and in --alt-preset standard %s %d (approx. 170…210 kbps VBR) when you select "High Quality".

The one between those %l is the parameter passed to LAME if u choose 'Low Quality' on EAC.
While the one between those %h is the one used when u choose 'High Quality' on EAC.

edit :
yoiks, i'm late by a few secs... =b

i am slightly confused as well. when i use alt-preset-### it is for a constant bitrate file. to me seeing that right next to the preset standard is like two different htings.

but if its not that confusing, then i bet that 128 is the avg bitrate it is trying for.

edit - three replies in like 3 seconds. wow. and mine is the most confusing :].

If you are going to encode all of your files with the high quality option and have EAC add the ID3 tag to the mp3 then all you need in the additional command line option is any of the following 3 commands: --alt-preset standard = --preset standard = -V 2

Those will result in VBR mp3s with a target range of 192 kbs. The file size & bit rate will fluctuate a little bit depending on which lame version you are using. Lame v3.90.3 will result in a higher bit rate and larger file size than 3.96.1 or the new alphas. From my experience 3.90.3 is usually 20 kb/s more than 3.96.1.
J

Edit: Fixed a typo

All (alt-)presets are VBR (or ABR) by default, except insane which is 320kbps CBR. You can force CBR for any numerical preset though ("--preset cbr 192" for example) but everyone knows that in terms of quality CBR is inferior to VBR/ABR.

Also, keep in mind that bitrate (no matter if average or target) is not the same as quality. Bitrate is just that - the amount of diskspace used. For the same quality, song A may only need an average of 150kbit while song B may need 230kbit average - thats why the target bitrate of VBR-files (i.e. aprox. 190kbit) is only a "guideline" - with some songs it may be more, with others it may be less - because VBR tries to achieve a defined soundquality, not a defined bitrate.

Thus, if you encode about 1000 songs of various genres, the average bitrate of all files should be around 190kbit... but with individual songs, it may vary.

Rule of thumb:
CBR = constant bitrate, varying quality
VBR = varying bitrate, constant quality

ABR = something in-between the above two

Or trying to be VBR but w/ more constraints so as for the average bitrate doesn't go too far above or below the specified target bitrate.


~cmiiw... =)

Ive tried putting just --alt-preset-standard in the command line and absolutely nothing happens. It just outputs the file as a wav.

you should put --preset standard instead (yes, with a space).

Yo

Just noticed you sig had this:
Lossy: LAME [--preset fast medium]

What does that do?

In layperson terms it's the "quality level" that I use with LAME (mp3 encoder).

Take a look here.

For me it's the sweet spot between file size and quality with MP3.


edit: geez, i must slow down with the beer even I couldn't understand my post!!