[Discussion] List of recommended LAME settings
Reply #72 – 2005-09-27 12:02:44
This is basically a collection/remix of the ideas I liked best so far. Links and EAC tutorial are intentionally missing. I really like the clear and concise explanations benc wrote. Updated 2005-03-12 These settings require Lame 3.95 or later. Lame 3.97 found on this website is the recommended version. (Check here [fixme] to download). Note: At a given bitrate range, the quality scale usually works to where VBR is higher quality than ABR which is higher quality than CBR (CBR < ABR < VBR in terms of quality). The exception to this is when you choose the highest possible CBR bitrate, which is 320 kbps. Discussion has been moved here. [span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%']The Quick Start: [/span] [span style='font-size:11pt;line-height:100%']If you are just getting started with encoding MP3s and are overwhelmed by the amount of settings, chances are -V 2 --vbr-new is the right setting for you. This setting is considered transparent (not discernable from the original) on the majority of samples to the majority of listeners. Of course there are situations where other settings might be more appropiate (portable use or streaming), read about the alternatives below.[/span][span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%']VBR (Variable Bitrate) [/span] The VBR settings provide different quality levels, adapted to different configurations/needs. There is no "correct" quality level to use, and the following is only a suggestion to help you get started: For portables devices with limited storage capacity try V5, V6 or V7. For normal high quality usages try V3 or V4. For transparency try V2 or better.--V n (where n is a number between 0-9) Example: -V 2 0 is the highest quality and 9 is the lowest. Below is a table showing the approximate bitrate range you can expect with each quality setting:Switch Bitrate range kbps -V 0 230…260 -V 1 200…250 -V 2 170…210 -V 3 155…195 -V 4 145…185 -V 5 110…150 -V 6 95…135 -V 7 80…120 -V 8 65…105 -V 9 45…85 -V 2 --vbr-new will provide transparent quality for most people. It is a good compromise between file size and sound quality, and is recommended as a starting point for new users.[span style='font-size:11pt;line-height:100%']Remarks: [/span]About the new VBR mode (also referenced as --vbr-new ) The --vbr-new switch enables the new VBR mode. Lame will encode much faster compared to old/default vbr mode. Current knowledge qualitywise comparing default vbr with --vbr-new is, that --vbr-new might even be better qualitywise than the default vbr mode, but there are also reports about artifact, that shows up in --vbr-new compared to default. Though the general impression is, that --vbr-new should be recommended over vbr-default. The presets from -V0 to -V3 with or without --vbr-new switch and of course -b 320 are considered to be transparent for a majority of people. (That means, most people cannot distinguish the mp3 from the original in a double blindtest) [span style='font-size:9pt;line-height:100%']A little bit of history: The presets (--alt-preset xxx) for the 3.90.X branch of LAME were designed by many of the original members of this site and were exhaustively tested to make sure that they utilized the best possible settings for quality. Subsequent versions of LAME broke compatibility with these presets to allow for many other improvements (faster, bug issues, etc), thus making a temporary regression in quality. A new, more flexible preset system was introduced (the -V switches). LAME 3.96.1 seemed as though it might be about the same quality as 3.90.3 in some of the tests done after it was released. During the development of 3.97 members of this site (especially Guruboolez) conducted many tests to ensure that 3.97 outclasses 3.90.3 and 3.96.1 in quality. Though there will be nothing wrong if you select either --alt-preset xy, preset xy or corresponding switch xy, you will always get the same (e.g: --alt-preset cbr 320 = --alt-preset insane = --preset insane = -b 320 = --preset 320 = --preset cbr 320).[/span][span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%']ABR (Average Bitrate) [/span] ABR mode is a type of VBR mode where you can specify the target bitrate. Files created with the normal VBR mode will be of a higher quality than those created with the ABR mode at the same bitrate. Use ABR mode when bitrate predictability is more important than quality.--abr n (where n is any number between 8-320) Example: --abr 173[span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%']CBR (Constant Bitrate) [/span] CBR mode uses the same bitrate throughout the file and is the mode that most other MP3 encoders use. It will provide lower quality than ABR mode for a given bitrate, but it can be useful for streaming and when VBR/ABR may cause compatibility problems.-b n (where n is 8 , 16 , 24 , 32 , 40 , 48 , 64 , 80 , 96 , 112 , 128 , 160 , 192 , 256 or 320) Example: -b 128[span style='font-size:11pt;line-height:100%']Best possible quality [/span] If you want LAME to encode using the best quality possible use the following switch:-b 320 This will produce a 320kbps CBR file, and it is the only time when CBR mode is recommended instead of VBR mode for quality.