Convert CD to Mp3 *Pro* format, freeware?

  • Thread starter Thread starter n e a d
  • Start date Start date
N

n e a d

Hello,

I've justed started reading about the new mp3pro format and I am currently
using CDex (a great program!) However, CDex does not support this newer
encoding format. Any freeware alternatives?

There is a good breakdown of this technology here (if anyone is curious)

http://www.mp3prozone.com/basics.htm

Thank you,
Sam
 
I've justed started reading about the new mp3pro format and I am currently
using CDex (a great program!) However, CDex does not support this newer
encoding format. Any freeware alternatives?

There is a good breakdown of this technology here (if anyone is curious)

http://www.mp3prozone.com/basics.htm
Click to expand...

I think your only freeware option is a two-step process: use CDex to
create wav files, then feed them through the bitrate-limited demo
encoder found at the same site you suggested. See
<http://www.mp3.ltd.uk/Parallel.htm>
 
I think your only freeware option is a two-step process: use CDex to
create wav files, then feed them through the bitrate-limited demo
encoder found at the same site you suggested. See
<http://www.mp3.ltd.uk/Parallel.htm>
Click to expand...

Thanks Mark - that thought had briefly occurred to me, I will revist that
idea and check out the URL you provided. Good day.
-Sam
 
n e a d said:
Hello,

I've justed started reading about the new mp3pro format and I am currently
using CDex (a great program!) However, CDex does not support this newer
encoding format. Any freeware alternatives?
Click to expand...

Be aware that the purpose of MP3 Pro is to improve the sound of low bit rate
files (96 kbps and lower) and that in order to achieve the better sound they
must be played with an MP3 Pro decoder.

--
dadiOH
____________________
....dadiOH's dandies...a help file about recording
from LP/cassette plus useful tips & tricks
about this and that...
http://www.gbronline.com/xico/
 
n e a d wrote in

You don't want to rip CDs to MP3Pro for personal use. MP3Pro is a format
that provides better sound at *low bitrates*....good for web use and
suchlike where bandwidth is an issue. Not good for personal collections.
<OPINION>
If it's for your own use and good sound is a priority, something like the
LAME encoder and a higher bitrate (personally I use 192**k/sec VBR*;
purists use 256+k/sec) would be better.
You have to remember that playback technology is getting better all the
time; and a basic aim should probably be "something that is
indistinguishable -through good quality headphones- from the original".
Otherwise you will end up with a music collection that you have spent a
great deal of time and effort on, but can't listen to because the quality
pisses you off. How much money did you spend on tapes? Same thing.
</OPINION>
Click to expand...
[snipped the tech data soley for space saving reasons]

Good points all around. I find that my 'ear' changes according to my
mood...sometimes there is enough extranious environmental noise around
while I'm listening (public places) that bitrates don't matter much, then
there are times when I'm in the mindframe to disect tunes and I want to
hear the best. Coin toss on the final file size vs. more exact
replication.

I'm definately in an experimental stage and my original post still
stands...

regards,
sam
 
n e a d wrote in
I'm definately in an experimental stage and my original post still
stands...
Click to expand...

AFAIK there isn't a freeware MP3Pro codec because MP3Pro is a proprietary
format. Like VQF, which was actually better sound per Mb than MP3, it
never really took off because it's propretary.

Also, as I said earlier, MP3Pro is specifically for sounding not too bad
at low bitrates....it's comparable to MP3 @ 128k/sec, but that's not
serious audio quality. I *suppose* it's be worth doing if you have
enough HDD space to record every song twice - once for serious listening
and once with MP3Pro to have smaller files that don't sound too bad for
portable players.

I am speaking from experience when I say it's worth finding out where
your personal listening limits are first. I had to delete a whole 20Gb
collection because it was all off the net @ 128K/sec and the quality (or
lack thereof) just pissed me off to much to listen to it.

I use ExactAudioCopy (http://www.exactaudiocopy.de) with the LAME codec
set to 192k/sec VBR and I'm happy with that, and believe the results will
be fairly "future-proof". Your mileage may vary, of course.
 
I believe that dbpoweramp converter has plug ins that will encode with
mp3pro. If you are wanting to save your cds in a high quality format one of
the lossless ones might be better. All of those are available via the same
converter and several players can convert them.
 
-½cut wrote in
JanC wrote in

Is it? I must admit that I didn't research VQF very thoroughly
because it was proprietary, but I got the impression that it was good
across the spectrum of bitrates. That was probably the impression I
was intended to get, I suppose.
Click to expand...

You're absolutely right JanC. Thank you.
 
-½cut said:
Is it? I must admit that I didn't research VQF very thoroughly
because it was proprietary, but I got the impression that it was good
across the spectrum of bitrates. That was probably the impression I
was intended to get, I suppose.
Click to expand...

AFAIK VQF doesn't support bitrates >96 kbps, so it's low-bitrate by
definition... ;-)
 
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