I have checked Direct rip and encode to MP3 file, have set a constant bitrate of 192 and have checked Joint Stereo and High for Quality.

I am new to this, but what I want is to get MP3 files that sound perfect. For me the quality is more important than the file size. Can someone tell me which settings I should use in order to get perfect sounding MP3 files and still keep the file size as small as possible for perfect sounding MP3 files?

Cheers,

Kevin.

To get this setting when selecting lame_enc.dll as an internal encoder (under MP3 settings) do the following:

* Select variable bitrate
* Select old
* On the low to high quality slider move it to vbr 2
* Choose Joint Stereo

This will give you a setting equal to preset standard but remember to choose version 3.96.

Note: Using V2, joint stereo and the "new" or "MTRH" methods are equivalent to --alt-preset fast standard.

If you want to use the exe as an external encoder there is more on this on my unfinished pages at http://ripping.v33.org/

Tomb is absolutely correct that you should use the the 'standard' preset which fits your criteria of best quality in smallest space. The settings that Tomb suggests are _only close_ to the standard preset, and will not give the stunning quality that the preset will achieve.

To use the preset, choose 'External Encoder'.
Browse to your copy of lame.exe.
In Predefined Arguments choose 'User Defined'.
In the Auguments box type: --preset standard %s %d
*do not* tick Encoder is capable ...
Launch Encoder - As Audiograbber currently is

This will run lame.exe to do each encode and all will be well.

quote:

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Originally posted by WylECyote:
Tomb is absolutely correct that you should use the the 'standard' preset which fits your criteria of best quality in smallest space. The settings that Tomb suggests are _only close_ to the standard preset, and will not give the stunning quality that the preset will achieve.

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Sorry mate but your information is out of date and not correct. The settings I gave above using lame_enc.dll version 3.96 WILL give you preset standard as it is now known. This information has been directly obtained from the developers of erm, Lame!

I quote Gabriel "...With Lame 3.96, using V2 and joint stereo will be equivalent to preset standard"

There are also no time problems in Winamp with this method either on tests I have carried out.

[This message has been edited by Tomb on 18 June 2004 @ 05:07]

You're right, I am out-of-date; the defaults have been changed. Now the only differences I see when using your suggested settings are -b80 -q2, whereas the preset gives -b128 -q3. The difference is not worth worrying about.

Also totally wrong about vbr header, the only time it is not written is when using Stdin/Stdout option with the External Encoder.

Sorry.
I'll shut up now !
...Dave...

Personally I would advise Kevin to do as you have suggested and use lame.exe.

Tom

[This message has been edited by Tomb on 18 June 2004 @ 07:53]

Could you please confirm the best settings.
Which of the 2 settings are the best to use for getting perfect quality, or do I asume there is nothing to choose between them.

Thanks,

quote:

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Originally posted by zimpker:
Could you please confirm the best settings.

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for --preset standard using lame_enc.dll, version 3.96 as internal encoder, under MP3 settings. . .

* Select variable bitrate
* Select old
* On the quality slider move it to vbr 3
* Choose Joint Stereo

[This message has been edited by odious malefactor on 07 July 2004 @ 07:12]

quote:

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Originally posted by odious malefactor:
for --preset standard using lame_enc.dll, version 3.96 as internal encoder, under MP3 settings. . .

* Select variable bitrate
* Select old
* On the quality slider move it to [b]vbr 3
* Choose Joint Stereo

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by odious malefactor on 07 July 2004 @ 07:12]</font> [/B]

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I think that should be vbr 2 and not 3.

That is straight from one of the lame developers himself. See http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?showtopic=21515&hl= for more.

Zimpker - see the other thread !

quote:

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Originally posted by zimpker:
Hi - Very interesting, Thought I had is sust just before I read the last comment on using the external codec.

Could you please confirm the best settings.
Which of the 2 settings are the best to use for getting perfect quality, or do I asume there is nothing to choose between them.

Thanks,

---

... zimpker, I'm assuming that you know how to get the external Lame MP3 encoder to work with AudioGrabber? Otherwise, tell me and I'll show you how.

Anway, technically, the two best commandlines are --alt-preset insane (which makes 320kbps CBR) and --alt-preset extreme (which makes a high-bitrate VBR).

But most users in-the-know prefer --alt-preset standard over Extreme, because Standard suits the mentality behind VBR better. (To get good results based on changing the bitrate rather than just having high bitrates.)