I'm using lame for mp3 encoding, and I've tried generating vbr from various programs. Except for EAC, nothing else will succeed in creating the files without problems. Usually, the files don't show tags, show incorrect length (like 00:00), but usually seem to play OK. They seem OK on the PC, but not on the ipod. Files from EAC rips seem fine both on the PC and the ipod. On most non-EAC applications, I've given up on vbr. Is there no way to get vbr working with these?

I have not had a problem with my 3rd gen, 4th gen, nano, and 5th gen iPods playing VBR mp3s with tags. (Some songs skipped on my nano, but reripping them with a newer version of Lame seemed to fix it.)

(in fact, about 75% of my music is probably VBR mp3)

What parameters do you use with lame?

-V 2 --vbr-new

LAME 3.97 b2

I also play V0 files with no problem. I havent tried any files smaller than V2.

If you are talking about the nano "stuttering" with random VBR MP3 encodes, that was fixed in the latest firmware.

Yes. Hooray!

It might help if you stated what those applications are and what settings exactly you use within them.

You mean Apple actually fix bugs in their MP3 playback code ??