I was wondering if --alt-preset insane can be safely used with the latest LAME, or is best to use the -V xx preset.
Reason I ask is because I didn’t see an equivalent included in the -V xx preset list

Umm, "insane" is CBR - so there obviously is no corresponding V(BR)-switch. However, V0 should offer virtually the same perceivable quality while saving some bits.

yes, of course ... thanks

For completeness i should maybe mention, that preset-insane was mostly just an alias for CBR 320kbit. So, what insane did was "go maximum bitrate all the time no matter if it makes sense". V0/preset-extreme on the other hand was the highest VBR-mode available. It is also the most conservative one and will go up to 320kbit if there is even the slightest possibility of quality-loss. Basically, V0/preset-extreme is the "sane" variant of "insane" ;-) It will make zero compromises in perceivable quality - but if some bits can be saved without loosing perceivable quality, then it will do so.

- Lyx

Ah, Lyx. Thanks for the explanation. I was wondering why there was no insane preset in 3.97 alpha. That question i was meaning to ask :-)

There is --preset insane in 3.97 alpha. Just run lame.exe --preset help to see the available presets.

oops, there it is. my bad.