I need to convert flac files to mp3 losing as little as possible. I don't mind size because the files contain special frequencies I don't want to lose (binaural brainwaves such as alpha or delta). What software can you recommend that will reliably generate files in separate stereo (not joint), vbr, high bit rate (near 320), high quality as near lossless as possible that I can play in an MP4 player (Sansa)? I have used Switch, dbpoweramp and Nero with poor results. Only Bonkenc apparently works but I don't know the quality of product.

Foobar2000, Winamp Pro, LameDropXP

Agreed.

If file size is not an issue, why not play WAV?

Maybe you can install Rockbox on your DAP?

Max

Is this a Scientology training CD?

You could try foobar and use this command on LAME.

lame --preset insane -k

This would produce a 320kbps CBR Mp3 (the best lame can offer and most of the time overkill) and the -k switch will disable the low-pass filter and keep should keep all freqs, but i is not really recomended since most ppl do not hear over 19 - 20 khz and anything over 20khz on cds is mostly garbage.

You're telling that to a guy who listens to I-Doser snake oil...

Encoding settings won't matter much if you're gonna use the Sansa headphones. They're not hi-fi so they'll cut freqs themselves.

could be those hemi-sync/holo-sync self hypnotist/training whatever things.

I've no idea if or how bad the psymodel of mp3 or other lossy codecs affect those type of recordings, but as mentioned you could use WAV.

I believe most of those type of recordings have been around since before CD's, on audio cassette tapes, so I would find it surprising if mp3 wasn't sufficient.

What, no takers?

What is I-Doser?

I am glad that this topic came up and that I am not the only person in the world who knows what this kind of technology is. I hope the OP doesn't mind me borrowing the topic for a bit, because this is something that I have been wondering about too, especially in regards to greynol's next comment.
Ok, I'll bite. Quick background: The way that hemi-sync and related/borrowed technologies work is by introducing a steady, even tone in one ear, and a steady, even tone of a different pitch in the other ear. This causes the brain to hear the difference between the two tones. Sometimes the difference in between the two channels is very small, maybe < 4 Hz (coinciding with 'delta' brain waves). There is a lot more to it than that, but for the purposes of the question I am about to ask, this should suffice.

I am wondering if there is anything in Joint-stereo encoding that will remove this desired effect, which is essential to the recording. For example, when encoding in Joint stereo, will the encoder's psy-model say that: these two signals in opposite channels are close enough that humans can't perceive a difference between them, and as such I can throw out most of the information from one channel to save space?

I ask this based on my limited understanding of how Joint Stereo works, and would appreciate if someone with much deeper understanding of Joint Stereo could help enlighten me in this regard.

And for the record, I am NOT a member of the church of Scientology, or anything directly affiliated with L.Ron Hubbard or Tom Cruise. (Not that theres anything wrong with that... )

As a german with a well known history of totalitarian dictatorship, i am quite sensitive regarding organizations i myself regard as totalitarian. Just another opinion and obviously offtopic.

I am absolutely for freedom of speech. Another place could be right to discuss this issue. This isn't the right place. But without an opportunity for discussion, i find such statements hard to bear.

-

You are quite right, and I apologize for furthering this off topic train of discussion. Since this community is praised for it's objectiveness and ability to weigh the facts, perhaps we could have an objective discussion about the merits of dianetics, or the politics of the church of scientology, but it should probably be moved into off-topic. My knowledge, being limited, probably wouldn't make me much of a contributor in such a discussion.

Any ideas though regarding the off-topic-but-still-relating-to-digital-audio part of my post?

EDIT: Nevermind, it seems that this topic was quite lengthly discussed a while back: http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/lofive...php/t39514.html
Isn't the search feature great?