All,

I've been a lurker here for some time now but now I actually have a question. I recently used this site to configure my EAC with Lame:

Link

I'm using this string exactly:

VBR (very good quality): -V 2 --vbr-new --add-id3v2 --pad-id3v2 --ta "%a" --tt "%t" --tl "%g" --ty "%y" --tn "%n" %s %d

Now, as I understand it the average for this setting is 192 kbps VBR? But the files can range from 170 to 220 kbps?

Here's where my confusion comes in...I recently ripped The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds" (2001 remaster, mono) and nearly all tracks came out 224 kbps. At the same time I ripped AC/DC "Back In Black" (2003 remaster) and almost all tracks came out 320 kbps.

Is this right?

No it's not, especially not your mono tracks which are esxpected to be quite a way below 200 kbps as the average bitrate.
How did you find out about the bitrate? Try EncSpot or Foobar for getting at the right value.

320 constantly? With V2 it shouldn't go up to 320 kbps at all imho.
What LAME version you've used?

@buckeye99: Windows Explorer is notorious for reporting incorrect bitrates on VBR files, if that's what you're using to check.

Otherwise your command line string looks good. Here's another useful resource:

http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=EAC_and_Lame

I am indeed using Windows...either a right click/properties or just hovering the pointer over the file.

I'll try the recommended programs to read the correct kbps. Thanks to all.