best mp3 encoder

[mbc113]

so... the fact is that most people listen to tracks in mp3 format now. as engineers it's our jobs to make sure that those mixes still sound good in mp3 format, right? so, what's the best encoder out there that people know of (free or not) that will sound decent even at lower bitrates?

[dagosto]

The LAME encoder is not all that shabby. You can use it with free programs like Audio Grabber. I hope MP3's are abandoned soon since there are way better codecs out there. Probably not gonna happen thanks to Apple.

[smopo24]

the only good mp3 is a dead one.

[fargone]

While I agree that the format sux, consumers want to take their music collection with them. Squashing it to mp3 is a solution. Not the best sounding solution. LAME codecs deal with issues that other encoders don't, namely sound quality. Apple's AAC has been my format of choice.

[smopo24]

was that a choice, or did apple force you to use it with one of their devices; then they'll charge you for tech support?

[fargone]

ya see, smo, I mentioned choice. I think it does sound better than a non-Lame mp3. I currently don't have a LAME codec converter. Nothing convenient at my fingertips.

I've not felt limited by Mac, personally. If anything, I've felt liberated by what my Powerbook can do. My bottleneck is with Digidesign, but that's another story.

Now, what's with the sudden Apple bashing?

[Nubus]

I think VBR can sound acceptable.

[smopo24]

Originally Posted by fargone

ya see, smo, I mentioned choice. I think it does sound better than a non-Lame mp3. I currently don't have a LAME codec converter. Nothing convenient at my fingertips.

I've not felt limited by Mac, personally. If anything, I've felt liberated by what my Powerbook can do. My bottleneck is with Digidesign, but that's another story.

Now, what's with the sudden Apple bashing?

sudden? i've always been talking crap about apple (along with a few others on this board), i have no "brand loyalty," though. any company that rubs me the wrong way for any reason is subject to my opinion; not that you have to listen or anything. they've done some good things, but i will say something when it needs to be said.

[fargone]

I agree, Nubus. mp3s at 160kbps VBR is what I encode with for streaming web audio. That creates a small enough package so that it's not an unbelievable strain on the server or client and it still sounds. Not the greatest quality, but not cassette audio either. Until we can have 500+ GB portable audio players, we'll be listening to our squished mp3 players.

Personal listening, anything below 160kbps will get trashed on my comp.

Have you ever heard a bad mp3 over a PA? and you thought radio station mp3s made you grit your teeth...

[dagosto]

Originally Posted by fargone

Have you ever heard a bad mp3 over a PA? and you thought radio station mp3s made you grit your teeth...

Yes, sometimes I thing a crappy PA can help the sound of an mp3 by filtering out the frequencies where there are artifacts. It still sounds bad, but it's passable.