Hello,

I have just bought a portable mp3 player (iAudio CW200 256mb). I'm very new to mp3s and compressed music.

I have been using MusicMatch in the past but after looking into mp3s more (reading forums like this one) it became apparent that I should stick to LAME encoding instead of Fraunhofer.

I listened to a 128 cbr file encoded with Musicmatch and CDex (1.50 beta 10) and prefered the CDex file.

I then read more at this forum and it seams that CBR at lower bit rates (around 128) is not as preferable as ABR (I tried VBR but files were too big).

When looking at the ABR settings in the "List of recommended LAME settings" sticky post I get confused. An example is "--alt-preset 128". How do I do this in CDex? In settings I have the option to choose"--alt preset ABR" and then can choose a min and max bitrate. Isn't ABR average? How can there be a min and max? Is the average in the middle?

Help! I want to choose the best settings to get 4 albums on to 256mb.

Sorry if these questions have been asked before. I spent a lot of time trying to find answers without success.

Thank you!
TwisteR

Hi!

>> it became apparent that I should stick to LAME encoding instead of Fraunhofer

Me too. The matter is, that Fraunhofer (FhG) is not absolutly a bad codec, but the manner
how MusicMatchBox let it run, is quite strange/weak/...



>> I have just bought a portable mp3 player (iAudio CW200 256mb).
>> I want to choose the best settings to get 4 albums on to 256mb.

How long is the total play time off all CDs ???
If each has a playtime over 60 minutes, it will be hard to make 'HiFi-respecting' MP3s.

But make a try:
Take CDex, in the options go to 'encoder' and choose 'external encoder' as encoder.
'Browse' to get the path to "Lame.exe". Then type the row below alternative settings :
"--r3mix -q1 -V7 --nssafejoint -X1 -Z --lowpass 18 --lowpass-width 0.5"

Caution: This is not a high quality setting!!! - But the 'best' i know for THAT case here.
It will make files around 150-170 kbps - so you have no chance to get e.g. 4 x 60 minutes
on only 256 MB. (Note: -V8 and -V9 make slightly smaller files - but it's not recommended
in forums and i personylly got really strange encoding results...)



Of course, there are ways to make MP3s much more smaller like the setting above does.

Cutting off high frequencies is a efficient but also bad/crul way to reduce file size.
Never bring such encoded MP3s in context with HiFi ! - And don't burn it on a CD for freinds...
But in case of absolute emergency, try out that here:
"--r3mix -q1 -V7 -F -b 32 --nssafejoint -X1 -Z --resample 32 --lowpass 15 --lowpass-width 1"

It makes files around 120-130 kbps. Some remarks more for that setting:
- By resampling to 32 kHz, more than 15 kHz are not possible
- It takes care to the stereo effect more than to frequencies. So you could delete '--nssafejoint'
to win about 10-20 kbps more. Normally the difference/loss in stereo-quality will be quite low.

However, 128 CBR preset will be no solution. It has a lowpass filter around 15 kHz too.



Another solution would be using an ABR setting instead of the VBR mode of '--r3mix'.
But for that ask other people. I have quite no experience in ABR.


Bye, 384kbps

If I were you I'd try:
--alt-preset standard -Y
if the files are yoo large then use ABR:
--alt-preset XX
where XX is the average bitrate you want to achieve.

The min and max are just limits for the encoder, it means the encoder will use the bitrate it thinks apropiate but if it is under the min it'll use the min and if it's above the max I'll use the max.

Thanks for you help!

I will give it shot!

TwisteR

The way is simple: --alt-preset xx, (ex: --alt-preset 150 for 150 kbs) just as /\/ephaestous said early, AFAIK r3mix is outdated and IMO is no the best way for your needs, and don't forget the use the recommended LAME compiles (3.90.2 by Dibrom)