Kb3 and MP3

[Princey]

Re: Kb3 and MP3

You're right, SheeEttin. Did some more research. LAME defaults under Linux to 128kbps and unless you're using the command line to rip audio, those commands are only used within programs themselves. So, as SheeEttin said, add it to the string of commands I last gave you, preferably after the -h command.

[OneSalientOversigh]

Re: Kb3 and MP3

THAT DID IT!

A message to all future readers:

If anyone is reading this as an archived copy in the future, simply change the last number according to which bitrate you're using. Just copy and paste ONE of the following:


lame -h --tt %t --ta %a --tl %m --ty %y --tc %c - %f -b 320
lame -h --tt %t --ta %a --tl %m --ty %y --tc %c - %f -b 256
lame -h --tt %t --ta %a --tl %m --ty %y --tc %c - %f -b 224
lame -h --tt %t --ta %a --tl %m --ty %y --tc %c - %f -b 192
lame -h --tt %t --ta %a --tl %m --ty %y --tc %c - %f -b 160
lame -h --tt %t --ta %a --tl %m --ty %y --tc %c - %f -b 128
lame -h --tt %t --ta %a --tl %m --ty %y --tc %c - %f -b 96
lame -h --tt %t --ta %a --tl %m --ty %y --tc %c - %f -b 80
lame -h --tt %t --ta %a --tl %m --ty %y --tc %c - %f -b 64
lame -h --tt %t --ta %a --tl %m --ty %y --tc %c - %f -b 56
lame -h --tt %t --ta %a --tl %m --ty %y --tc %c - %f -b 48
lame -h --tt %t --ta %a --tl %m --ty %y --tc %c - %f -b 40
lame -h --tt %t --ta %a --tl %m --ty %y --tc %c - %f -b 32

The number at the end refers to the quality of the sound. 32kps is the lowest you can get and the sound is pretty crappy, but the file size is small. 320kps is the highest you can get and the sound is CD quality (although quite indistinguishable from 256kps).

When recording at low bitrate (or any bitrate for that matter) ensure that, in the ripping dialogue under "advanced", that you put the Paranoia mode up to 3 (the highest) and uncheck the box marked "ignore read errors". I have found that ripping mp3s with other forms of software (eg Audacity and VLC media player) has led to tinny and crappy sounds even at 128kps. Using K3B at its highest quality settings is far better.

One final thing.

I've also used K3B to rip .ogg files instead of mp3. I always believed that oggs were better than mp3s but this entire process has confirmed it. A 64kps mp3 file sounds much worse than a 45kps ogg file. In fact, a 45kps ogg file sounds quite good. If you're shopping around for a new mp3 player, make sure you get one that plays oggs (I use an iRiver T30 1gb that can play oggs).