Just to let people know that the new Plextools Professional 2.28 is out with support for the latest FLAC encoder/decoder (1.1.2) and some bug fixes. I have been waiting for them since February to support the updated FLAC encoder.

Change log:

PlexTools Professional V2.28 released on 1 November 2005

* Changed: Update FLAC encoder to V1.1.2
* Bug Fix: several minor bug fixes

Download Link: http://www.plextools.com/download/download.asp

Change log link: http://www.plextools.com/info/versions.asp#g1

Note: FLAC 1.1.2 support has been added to Plextools Professional, but not yet to Plextools Professional XL according to the change log.

MP3 encoding is thoroughly FUBARed in this version. Whatever VBR settings or --preset you pick, the result is a 320kbps (or close) file. Note that when you change any setting in the LAME Extra Options dialog box, the value Minimum bitrate drop-down box automatically changes to 320kbps. Change it to 32kbps, close the box, re-open it - there it is again, at 320kbps.

Using a DLL modified to use .INI setup works, but you have to select VBR in the Extra Options to make VBR presets work. The MP3 encoded via PlexTools was 7 frames longer than the one encoded via AdvaLAME, but that could be put down to differences between the DLL and the EXE. The file size and MS/SS frame ratio are the same, and the bitrate graphs differ by 1% at most.

At least FLAC encoding with -8 appears to work fine.

I'm using PlexTools Professional XL 3.05 and encode my music directly to FLAC. When analyzing the files with foobar2000 -> right click/Properties... it shows me the following:



So PlexTools Professional XL supported FLAC 1.1.2 first.

Plextools is written by the most imcompetent people based on my experience and this example. On the top of that it seems that QA is entirely missing.

The only reason I use this crap because I tested it with the EAC DAE test.

I would expect a bit more from a Japanese company.

Triza

Good to know. Thanks for the clarification. Their changelog gave no impression of 1.1.2 FLAC version for the Plextor Professional XL series. Glad both of their products now support the current version of FLAC.

Yeah, I still try to understand why they do not offer a CLI for (at least) LAME encoding ... this would be way easier for Plextor than trying to fix something they obviously do not understand enough.

Plextor is a Belgian company.

Easy, Triza, you risk throwing out the baby with the water. =) PlexTools Pro is a great piece of software; there are a few bugs here and there but nothing critical. It sure beats EAC when it comes to ripping.

Indeed, that would be an easy way out for Plextor. Perhaps that's what they are afraid of? :)

It is Japanese alright. See the About Plextor page on their European site.