Best Bitrate & Conversion Program
[878 byte] By [tonyn1] at [2007-11-9 11:45:49] 
What would people say would be the best bitrate to listen to on the Ipod? Most of the stuff on my computer I ripped at 96KB in MP3Pro which I did before I got my Ipod which of course does not support the latter. First off, which software program will convert a large number of files without numerous questions boxes? I tried this with MMJukebox but they will not convert a file and save it back to it's original location without clicking a box for each file. I let MMJ know about this but they have not so far incorporated it into new versions of their software. What program will allow me to convert between formats for a large number of files so I can leave the computer for a while? Secondly when I am able to convert efficiently at what bitrate should I convert? I have one of the new 30GB models so I can afford larger files sizes, but I have a large amount of files.
# 1 Re: Best Bitrate & Conversion Program
You should use the highest bitrate you can afford, in terms of storage. With your storage capacity, I'd certainly recommend that you use one of the higher-end MP3 settings. What I suggest is that you use Exact Audio Copy and LAME, with either alt-preset-standard (very high quality, quite large files) or alt-preset-extreme (slightly larger files, slightly higher quality) as your setting. EAC is the only ripper worth bothering with if your goal is high quality. There is a superb guide to all of this at www.chrismyden.com, in the Elite DAE section. The system takes about 15 minutes to set up.
As for bitrate: the MP3 files produced by this method are typically slightly larger than 192k CBR files; but they are VBR files, and are much higher quality. You'll love them :-)
You can never increase quality by converting from one format to another; you can only maintain the same level of quality, or lose quality. So, if you have your original CDs, you need to re-rip and re-encode them. It's worth it though...
If you decide to go ahead, you can rip a large number of your CDs to .wav format first, then do all the encoding overnight, say. I'm not sure of the best programs to do this, though - if you find any good ones that work with LAME, please let me know? :-)
Sam Williams at 2007-11-15 17:23:02 >
# 2 Re: Best Bitrate & Conversion Program
What about razorlame for the encoding?Bill McNair
SouthsideIrish at 2007-11-15 17:24:02 >
# 3 Re: Best Bitrate & Conversion Program
I've been using RazorLame for awhile. with LAME 3.90. VBR files sound great! I use AudioGrabber for ripping...Craig
clovell at 2007-11-15 17:25:12 >
# 4 Re: Best Bitrate & Conversion Program
Easy cd-da extractor is a WAY better ripper than audiograbber...here is a link: http://www.poikosoft.com/
destined_wind at 2007-11-15 17:26:08 >
# 5 Re: Best Bitrate & Conversion Program
i have used dbpoweramp with great success. it lets you easily choose your conversion rate and is pretty fast.fourml8r at 2007-11-15 17:27:07 >
# 6 Re: Best Bitrate & Conversion Program
I couldn't get it to do anything other than normal for AAC, and that along with not tagging convinced me to give up AAC on the iPod.Bill McNair
SouthsideIrish at 2007-11-15 17:28:06 >
# 7 Re: Best Bitrate & Conversion Program
dbpoweramp 7.0 is pretty good to convert and rip. I like it so far.kamj12 at 2007-11-15 17:29:10 >
# 8 Re: Best Bitrate & Conversion Program
i 2nd samwise on this. eac\lame has worked great for me and like he said if you have the space use the highest quality you can. the other down side to this is it could cut into your battery life some. the harddrive on the ipod will have to spin up more often if the files are larger.samewise you can use eac to rip all your cd's to .wav then whenever your going to be away from the pc for awhile use lame to encode them.
i can't remember exactly, but all the options are there. i was planning on doing that and checked... never actually done it though.
blackfrag at 2007-11-15 17:30:14 >
# 9 Re: Best Bitrate & Conversion Program
For ripping EAC is the only why to go.For MP3 Encoding LAME 3.90.3 using --APS is the best way to go.
But most of all it's up to you. Encode a song you know very well with different encoders and bitrates. Then take a listen your ears are different from the next guys, so make yourself happy.
Doc Holiday at 2007-11-15 17:31:10 >
[an error occurred while processing this directive]