I've been experimenting with Nero Digital™ Audio+ (v. 1.0.7.0 Feb 12 2007) encoder. I also own Nero 7 Ultra Edition which has its own version of the encoder as plugin (v. 1.0.0.2 May 11 2007). When I encode files with the 2 different versions, I am getting 2 different file sizes and bitrates.

Does anyone know what the differences between the freeware CLI version and the dll included with Nero 7 Ultra Edition are?

1.0.0.2 is the version number of what file?

Usually bugfixes go directly into every Nero release. Quality tunings we usually only release on webreleases of the command line encoder. Since 1.0.7.0 there have only been some very minor bugfixes, so it could be that your encoder dll is older than 1.0.7.0. I think in the Nero releases we are now at 1.0.7.2

The file I'm referring to is C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\AudioPlugins\NeroDigital.dll. I have the latest updates applied to Nero 7 Ultra Edition. If I go to the file properties of that dll, the file version is 2.9.1.0, the product version is 1.0.0.2 and it has a digital certificate dated April 27, 2007. In the tag metadata of files created by the dll, it says 'Nero AAC codec / May 11 2007'.

Then you have the latest version. Could be that there was a bugfix or a new tuning table that got included with that.

And there's any chance to use that Nero dll with EAC? Because AFAIK the Nero's frontends available don't work with NeroDigital.dll file.

So both are from the same codebase (branch?) then? Even though the dll created files have a newer date stamp, the version number is not as high as the freeware version.

The encoder is not NeroDigital.dll, it is ndaudio.dll, check the version of that, it should be 1.0.7.2.
Maybe we should write the actual encoder version to the tag too.

I found that file in the C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib, but in the 'Audio Format Settings' dialog in Nero Burning ROM, it specifically says that NeroDigital.dll is the file which is used. The fact that I am getting different bit rates and file sizes with it tells me that I'm not using ndaudio.dll. How do I use the correct dll from within Nero?

Thanks for all your help.

NeroDigital.dll is the plugin, it uses ndaudio.dll to encode.
Ndaudio.dll has the code that writes the codec tag, so that must be the right one.

Still a bit confused.

I just went to the Nero site and downloaded the latest free offering of the encoder to try with foobar.

The outputed files are tagged as having been made by the Feb 12 2007 encoder.

I have Nero 7.8.5.0 which I have never updated. It outputs Files made with a Mar 2007 encoder.It runs about 30% faster than the foobar version and has only a slider bar for bitrate selection which I set for 128.

Where does one get this new May 2007 version?

And can anyone describe what quality tunings have occured between Mar and May?

But why am I getting different bitrates, file sizes and build dates when encoding from the same flac?

Build date is different and version is different, that's why

So to summarize:

Nero 7 Ultra Edition contains a different version of the encoder than the CLI download version.

What are the differences between the 2 versions, please?

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....st&p=501158

menno, the link on the last post goes back to this message. Can you please post the link that explains the difference between the encoder found on Nero 7 Premium and the one available on the web? I want to encode to AAC and I'm trying Nero for that.

Also, I noticed that on Nero the only option on "settings" is a slider bar with the bitrate. What about the other options: cbr, abr, vbr, profiles (LC- HE-), etc? Are they available only with the downloadable version?

Thanks
NikoBr

I think that was his way of saying that the question had already been answered.

If I read it correctly, the free web version and the subsequent versions are the same quality, but the Nero Premium subsequent versions have minor bug fixes.

The additional options are available in foobar.

Incidently, using foobar I was able to check out HC AAC at around 64kbit.Impressive achievement.

Right, what kennedyb4 says.
We probably made a small mistake with the nero releases where some "bugfix" actually influenced the bitrate control.
The bitrate control is now changed so that it will never have big fluctuations anymore based on whatever change we make internally in the encoder.