Recommended LAME: Difference between revisions
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This article is meant to explain to the users what are the [[Hydrogenaudio]] recommended settings to be used with [[LAME]] for highest quality [[MP3]] encoding. | This article is meant to explain to the users what are the [[Hydrogenaudio]] recommended settings to be used with [[LAME]] for highest quality [[MP3]] encoding. | ||
These settings require Lame 3.94 or later. Lame 3.97beta found on this website is the recommended version ([[Lame Compiles| | These settings require Lame 3.94 or later. Lame 3.97beta found on this website is the recommended version ([[Lame Compiles|check here to download]]). | ||
Avoid using alpha (a) versions of LAME. More often than not those are exclusively for testing purposes, if you want to help developers with feedback. | Avoid using alpha (a) versions of LAME. More often than not those are exclusively for testing purposes, if you want to help developers with feedback. | ||
Note: At a given bitrate range, the quality scale is following: VBR is higher quality than ABR which is higher quality than CBR (VBR > ABR > CBR in terms of quality). The exception to this is when you choose the highest possible CBR bitrate, which is 320 kbps (-b 320 = --alt-preset insane). | Note: At a given bitrate range, the quality scale is following: VBR is higher quality than ABR which is higher quality than CBR (VBR > ABR > CBR in terms of quality). The exception to this is when you choose the highest possible CBR bitrate, which is 320 kbps (-b 320 = --alt-preset insane). | ||
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==VBR (Variable bitrate) settings== | ==VBR (Variable bitrate) settings== | ||
'''[[VBR]]:''' ''variable bitrate mode, the goal is to keep a constant quality and saving bits where possible without lowering the quality.'' | |||
[[VBR]] can be useful to get good quality from a specific quality level. Size is less predictable than with [[ABR]], but the quality is usually better. | |||
-V(number) where number is 0-9, 0 being highest quality, 9 being the lowest. | -V(number) where number is 0-9, 0 being highest quality, 9 being the lowest. | ||
| Line 71: | Line 67: | ||
| -V 9 || || 65 || 45...85 | | -V 9 || || 65 || 45...85 | ||
|} | |} | ||
See also [[Technical data for recommended LAME settings]] | |||
If the target is eg. streaming , where you need MP3 in ABR or even CBR mode, there are still the ABR and CBR modes. | |||
==ABR (average bitrate) settings== | ==ABR (average bitrate) settings== | ||
'''[[ABR]]:''' ''average bitrate mode varies bits around a specified target bitrate'' | |||
''(128 kbit/s ABR: roughly the same filesize as 128 kbit/s CBR)'' | ''(128 kbit/s ABR: roughly the same filesize as 128 kbit/s CBR)'' | ||
* '''[[ABR]] Setting tuned from 320 kbit/s down to 80 kbit/s''' | * '''[[ABR]] Setting tuned from 320 kbit/s down to 80 kbit/s''' | ||
** --preset <bitrate> | ** --preset <bitrate> | ||
<bitrate> (desired averaged bitrate in kbit/s) can be any value between 8 - 320 , like eg. 9, 17, 80, 128, 133, 200 etc. | |||
:: Example: --preset 200 | :: Example: --preset 200 | ||
==CBR (constant bitrate) settings== | ==CBR (constant bitrate) settings== | ||
'''[[CBR]]:''' ''constant bitrate mode is not efficient regarding distributing bitrate to more complex music parts and saving bits where it would be possible without lowering the quality of those music parts. Only recommended for usage in streaming situations where the upper bitrate margin must be strictly enforced.'' | |||
*'''[[CBR]] Setting tuned from 320 kbit/s down to 80 kbit/s''' | *'''[[CBR]] Setting tuned from 320 kbit/s down to 80 kbit/s''' | ||
** -b <bitrate> | ** -b <bitrate> | ||
<bitrate> (bitrate in kbit/s) can be only: 8 , 16 , 24 , 32 , 40 , 48 , 64 , 80 , 96 , 112 , 128 , 160 , 192 , 256 or 320. | |||
==Additional reading== | ==Additional reading== | ||
* [[LAME]] | * [[LAME|More information on LAME]] | ||
* [[EAC_and_Lame | Configuring EAC and LAME with recommended settings]] | * [[EAC_and_Lame | Configuring EAC and LAME with recommended settings]] | ||
* [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=16&t=32288 Forum discussion of the recommended settings] | |||
* [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=15&t=203 Forum discussion of the recommended settings (older)] | |||
* [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=32288&view=findpost&p=327262 Previous recommendations (outdated)] | |||
Revision as of 20:51, 9 October 2005
Introduction
This article is meant to explain to the users what are the Hydrogenaudio recommended settings to be used with LAME for highest quality MP3 encoding.
These settings require Lame 3.94 or later. Lame 3.97beta found on this website is the recommended version (check here to download).
Avoid using alpha (a) versions of LAME. More often than not those are exclusively for testing purposes, if you want to help developers with feedback.
Note: At a given bitrate range, the quality scale is following: VBR is higher quality than ABR which is higher quality than CBR (VBR > ABR > CBR in terms of quality). The exception to this is when you choose the highest possible CBR bitrate, which is 320 kbps (-b 320 = --alt-preset insane).
Note: all modes and settings mentioned in this topic belong to the specifications of the MP3 standard, and the resulting MP3s should be played by every standard-conform MP3-Decoder. If this shouldn't be the case, blame the manufacturer or developer of your MP3-Decoder/device.
VBR (Variable bitrate) settings
VBR: variable bitrate mode, the goal is to keep a constant quality and saving bits where possible without lowering the quality.
VBR can be useful to get good quality from a specific quality level. Size is less predictable than with ABR, but the quality is usually better.
-V(number) where number is 0-9, 0 being highest quality, 9 being the lowest.
| Switch | Preset | Target Kbit/s | Bitrate range kbit/s |
| -b 320 | --preset insane | 320CBR | 320 |
| -V 0 --vbr-new | --preset fast extreme | 245 | 220...260 |
| -V 0 | --preset extreme | 245 | 220...260 |
| -V 1 --vbr-new | 225 | 200...250 | |
| -V 1 | 225 | 200...250 | |
| -V 2 --vbr-new | --preset fast standard | 190 | 170...210 |
| -V 2 | --preset standard | 190 | 170...210 |
| -V 3 --vbr-new | 175 | 155...195 | |
| -V 3 | 175 | 155...195 | |
| -V 4 --vbr-new | --preset fast medium | 165 | 145...185 |
| -V 4 | --preset medium | 165 | 145...185 |
| -V 5 --vbr-new | 130 | 110...150 | |
| -V 5 | 130 | 110...150 | |
| -V 6 --vbr-new | 115 | 95...135 | |
| -V 6 | 150 | 95...135 | |
| -V 7 --vbr-new | 100 | 80...120 | |
| -V 7 | 100 | 80...120 | |
| -V 8 --vbr-new | 85 | 65...105 | |
| -V 8 | 85 | 65...105 | |
| -V 9 --vbr-new | 65 | 45...85 | |
| -V 9 | 65 | 45...85 |
See also Technical data for recommended LAME settings
If the target is eg. streaming , where you need MP3 in ABR or even CBR mode, there are still the ABR and CBR modes.
ABR (average bitrate) settings
ABR: average bitrate mode varies bits around a specified target bitrate
(128 kbit/s ABR: roughly the same filesize as 128 kbit/s CBR)
- ABR Setting tuned from 320 kbit/s down to 80 kbit/s
- --preset <bitrate>
<bitrate> (desired averaged bitrate in kbit/s) can be any value between 8 - 320 , like eg. 9, 17, 80, 128, 133, 200 etc.
- Example: --preset 200
CBR (constant bitrate) settings
CBR: constant bitrate mode is not efficient regarding distributing bitrate to more complex music parts and saving bits where it would be possible without lowering the quality of those music parts. Only recommended for usage in streaming situations where the upper bitrate margin must be strictly enforced.
- CBR Setting tuned from 320 kbit/s down to 80 kbit/s
- -b <bitrate>
<bitrate> (bitrate in kbit/s) can be only: 8 , 16 , 24 , 32 , 40 , 48 , 64 , 80 , 96 , 112 , 128 , 160 , 192 , 256 or 320.