Hello All,

I am new to this group and new to MP3 in general so please excuse my naivety. I would like to begin with this question:

When converting from a .wav file to MP3 (or ripping directly to MP3) does the program I use affect the final audio quality? I understand that the bit rate will affect the final quality of the audio but do some encoders do a better job than others assuming all else is equal?

If so, which is best? (I guess this may be a matter of opinion?!)

Thanking you,

Spockman.

Short answer: Yes

The encoder will affect audio quality ... you can spot quality differences at the same bitrate within the same format (e.g. by using different mp3 encoders) as well as you can spot quality differences between different formats (e.g. mp3, mpc, ogg) ...

and it is also worth noting that with one specific encoder, quality can vary depending on the settings/switches used to encode. (Sometimes obvious, sometimes not)

The quality depends on the format (mp3, acc, ogg, mpc), encoder (in the case of mp3 there's xing, blade, lame and many others) and settings used.
The best mp3 encoder is LAME.
List of recommended LAME compiles
List of recommended LAME settings

> 128kbps LAME. More information about which version/settings to use here (from the FAQ):

Recommended Lame settings

Recommended Lame compiles

< 128kbps FHG (Fraunhofer)

I think this answers your question.

edit: Just noticed: Too slow once again

Okay. Thanks all. A little more complicated than I had hoped, but it looks like I need a conversion program first, then the LAME files?
Is this a better way to go than say WinAmp or MusicMatch?

Spockman

Seeing as you're still wet behind the ears, I'm just going to recommend the LamedropXPd V.1.3.2 found on the following page. Options and usage is VERY simple, just drag and drop, following the advice on the "Recommended Lame settings" on the previous posts.

http://rarewares.hydrogenaudio.org/mp3.php

Feel free to explore the other audio formats on Roberto's page as well. You might just find that you'll like them better.

Thanks for the tip. Sorry to be such a dill. I'm on a big learning curve here. I'll try out your suggestion and play around with it all for a while. Hopefully I will be a bit wiser when I return.

Spockman

As you've also asked about ripping directly to MP3 I'd like to recommend Exact Audio Copy (EAC), the audio extraction program with the best error detection/correction (can use lame.exe as encoder). You'll find links to good step-by-step guides how to set it up in the FAQ.




(edit:)
THANKS, boojum.
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GREAT avatar!