Hi I been out of the loop for a bit I was curious if you guys know how to make aac files for free. I hear winamp has there own ripper but don't feel like paying to rip aac files. I did a google and found and downloaded neros aac thing but can't figure out for life of me the whole "run" start up command for it to make it work since it does not have a program to use. I know things change so I figured id ask you guys

Thanks

Hey I tryed something with Nero to see if works. I think I am on right track just don't know what i'm doing wrong.

In Windows you can use the powerfull foobar2000 for ripping and converting to aac (in Preferences>Tools>Converter>mp4 it is straightforward installing Nero's aac encoder). Or you could use foobar2000 just for converting and use for example Exact Audio Player for ripping to lossless.

(Do you realize your post was a bit difficult to read?)

First, you don't have to pay for winamp to encode into AAC.
You have to select LC-AAC Encoder (v1.28a in winamp 5.541). Also, the freeware winamp can Extract (Rip) Audio CDs at 8x.
That isn't that slow anyway, and even better, Winamp allows to encode a wav directly (actually, any format it supports) into the selected codec:
Put the file into the playlist, right click on it, send to, converter. (Note that here you have to select again the encoder).

If you still want to use NeroaacEncoder, it is a "CLI" program (Command Line Interface). This means you have to open and execute it from the command prompt (it is located under the programs menu, accessories), although if you haven't used it at all, i better not start explaining it.


Btw, from the Image you posted, I believe you don't even know what a zip file is. Do you?

oh I'm sorry if I was hard to understand. Not the best typer in world but I try to come across best I can. As far as Winamp I read somewhere you had to pay unless it changed. It was a few months ago about the pro. I appreciate you guys helping out

Ah, you posted at the same time as I did.

You're pointing to a .zip file, not the the .exe inside it. For a start use the foobar2000 builtin Converters entry MP4 (Nero) so you just have "to slide the quality".

But if you still want to add manually a converter than add:

Encoder: neroAacEnc.exe (with path if necessary)
Extension: mp4
Parameters: -q 0.50 -ignorelength -if - -of %d (where 0.50 is the quality level)

Edit: Added custom encoder settings.

What was confusing for a newbie like me at this format is I never knew mp4 was the same format. If I knew that I would have used that. Thanks for showing me.

LC-AAC (Standard MP4, AAC) has always been free with winamp.
The Paid codecs are MP3 (due to the need to pay licenses) and High bitrate HE-AAC (which is not what you need).
Also, originally the Rip Speed was 2x, but they increased that.

I was just talking to my friend at slacker there portable only plays aac file extention files. He told me the .mp4 files wont work. But they use this I hope I got the name right.

aac plus v2 40kbs
or
I think its this:
AAC2 v4 PLUS

Can I adjust this nero thing to do that on foobar?

AACPlus (or AAC+) is a trademark of an HE-AAC encoder. Since you say aac plus v2, then, it is the HE-AACv2 (with parametric stereo, PS). 40kbits seems a correct bitrate for such a codec. (although 48kbps is more adecuate).
You have it also in Winamp, and also for free (it is not the High Bitrate one).

If you require it in aac, instead of inside an MP4 container, just use the one that says aacplus, not the one that says MP4/aacplus. Set the channel mode to "Parametric Stereo" to enable it.



The nero encoder always makes AAC inside an MP4 container, but if you still want to do it, the settings are:
-hev2 -br 48000 -ignorelength -if - -of %d

would you consider this what I am desiring?

Almost. Change the Stereo Mode to "Parametric Stereo".
Else you will get an HE-AAC v1 file instead of v2

While it's possible to enable PS at 48 kbit/s regular stereo will be better choice. PS is usefull maybe only up to 36-40 kbit/s

Hi I just wanted you all to know with all you showed me everything is working great with my slacker portable. AAC works great. Sucks I have to go on my vista to access the files via in explorer to put my aac on it. I know what your thinking why not use the software or wmp, winamp ect. With aacs slacker only allows to work using explorer. In my XP pro I can't get it to show in the list when its connected via usb "what do you want windows to do" meaning with mtp device. Like its missing open files or something. When I go to vista in computer shows up fine. Either way it works just sucks on xp end

I have a question reguarding this still. Its when you said "Parametric Stereo". Will regular stereo sound better? Here is current settings. Just curious

With lossy audio compression there is always a tradeoff.
In the case of Parametric Stereo, this tradeoff is encoding the file as if it was mono, and then regenerate the stereo via parametric information. (our ears discern easier the stereo image in high frequencies than in low frequencies, so this works a bit better than what Intensity stereo used to do).

There were some tests done back when Nero implemented the HE-AAC modes, and at that time i think the recommended values were +96kbps -> LC-AAC, ~64kbps -> HE-AAC v1 and ~48kbps -> HE-AACv2. Of course that was a few years ago, and what IgorC said may be true today.