I've been reading the forums on this site for a few days trying to take it all in. Whew, so much to learn. Anyway, here is my question. I use EAC with the external compression option linked to LAME. And I've been using the following switch line for a long time, but from what I gather from reading posts on this site, is that if I want to encode using APX, all I need to write is "--alt-preset extreme -Z" to achieve the most from APX. Since I've been using the following switch, could someone explain to me what each the parameters do in addition to "--alt-preset extreme" and how does my current switch compare (sound quality, size, etc.) to the plain "--alt-preset extreme -Z"? Also, is it neccessary to write "--alt-preset extreme" twice for the EAC external compression commandline?

I think it is all in the FAQ.
You've probably overlooked this: samples where aps or ape has a problem. Inside that thread there are also links to other threads with some explantions.


No, of course not. Depending on what you select -- "High" or "Low" quality in EAC options -- the %h...%h or %l...%l switch will be actually passed over to lame encoder. See EAC FAQ.

If that switch works then I would imagine that your files are encoded as --alt-preset extreme, the addition of the -Z switch only addresses a few rare problems that might crop up, I think that most of the time the difference in quality would not be noticed. It also increases file sizes very slightly. There is no need to have the command doubled up like that, once will do it. If you use the recommended compiles and switches then you can't go far wrong as they have all been well tuned and tested to give good results, there is no need to create your own switches.

Again, and I apologize for nagging, but why use --alt-preset extreme when LAME 3.90.2 --alt-preset standard -Z (or --alt-preset standard without the -Z in 3.90.3) has FEWER noticable problem samples, at a lower average bitrate?

LAME 3.90.3 --alt-preset standard is the way to go, period.

Regarding your question, use "--alt-preset standard %s %d" in the box there, nothing else. Just make sure its 3.90.3 and not 3.90.2 (which needs -Z as well).

Thanks everyone for replying. So if I'm getting this right, the %l is for low quality, and the %h is for high quality. So can you have both %l and %h in the same switch, are they applied in combination, or does the first one written take precident? Also, I click on the links in List of recommended LAME compiles to download various compiles, but the files don't seem to be hosted there. Is there somewhere else I can go?

Which one being used depends on if you mark the "high quality" option in EAC or not. They are just a way to easily be able to switch between two different command lines.

hmm.. yes, indeed
Apparently, the link will be fixed soon.

For the moment, try the rare wares page.

With EAC you need lame.exe 3.90.2 or 3.90.3
3.90.3 "--alt-preset standard" is the same as 3.90.2 "--alt-preset standard -Z"
(all previous discussions about using the -Z switch were related to the 3.90.2 version, of course)

@ancl, so because I can use the High Quality or Low Quality settings on EAC it is redundant to put %h or %l in the switch in EAC?

I figured out why I couldn't d/l the compiles from rareware, my firewall prevented it, thanks for the help kdo.

No, it's the other way around (if I understood what you mean)
One more attempt from me:

Case 1a. Whatever is between %h...%h is passed to the lame.exe ONLY IF EAC option "High quality" is chosen.
Case 1b. Whatever is between %l...%l is passed to the lame.exe ONLY IF "Low quality" is chosen.
The rest of the command line is passed to lame regardless of the "quality" option.

Case 2. If neither %h...%h nor %l...%l is included in the command line, then EAC option High/Low "quality" has no effect. One might say this EAC option is kind of redundant in this case.

So, you can just write this command line: --alt-preset standard %s %d
and ignore the High/Low "quality" option (case 2.)

Or, you can write: %l--alt-preset 135%l%h--alt-preset standard%h %s %d
and then you select "quality" option: "low" will execute preset 135 (case 1b), and "high" will execute preset standard (case 1a).



Oh, you're right. I just tried and it couldn't d/l it either.... curious... IIRC, it used to be ok before...

you need to make your firewall send the referer or it won't let you download

Thanks kdo, now I fully understand the EAC options.

All of you on this forum have been really helpful, thanks.

OFF TOPIC: Can someone send me a link of a thread comparing or showing the benifits (if any) of AAC mp4 over mp3?