LAME MP3 Encoder Review

May 13, 2010 by Shivendu Madhava

LAME is an open source audio encoder designed to create MPEG-1/2 Layer III files (casually known as “MP3 files”)

The LAME name was originally an acronym for “Lame Ain’t an MP3 Encoder,” as it used to be a set of patches that were applied on top of the ISO reference/demonstration encoder. With the release of version 3.82beta, LAME became a full blown encoder that is not a set of patches anymore, but the name was kept.

Its two main strengths are high audio quality, being able to compete with commercial encoders, and portability, as it it able to run over a wide range of operating systems.

LAME features:

• Many improvements in quality in speed over ISO reference software. See history.
• MPEG1,2 and 2.5 layer III encoding.
• CBR (constant bitrate) and two types of variable bitrate, VBR and ABR.
• Encoding engine can be compiled as a shared library (Linux/UNIX), DLL , Directshow filter or ACM codec (Windows).
• Free format encoding and decoding.
• GPSYCHO: a GPL’d psycho acoustic and noise shaping model.
• Powerful and easy to use presets.
• Quality better than all other encoders at most bitrates.
• Fast! Encodes faster than real time on a PII 266 at highest quality mode.
• MP3x: a GTK/X-Window MP3 frame analyzer for both .mp3 and unencoded audio files.

The following screen is a suggestion of an ideal user interface if you wish to include LAME in your program:

You should try to provide an user interface as simple as possible, avoiding too many options.

• “target” bitrate/quality allows choice betwen VBR or CBR/ABR. According to selection, CBR/ABR or VBR options should be grayed out.
• “encoding engine quality” allows 3 choices: fast, standard or high. This option is not mandatory.
• a checkbox allows to encode in mono (LAME will downsample). There is no choice between different stereo modes, as the default mode should be optimal. Other modes are likely to decrease quality.
• CBR/ABR: a slider allows bitrate selection. LAME will use CBR only if the specific checkbox is selected. Default mode when targetting a specific bitrate whould be ABR, as it provides better quality than CBR.
• VBR: a slider allows quality selection between 10 and 100. This slider is specifically aligned with the CBR/ABR one in order to give a visual indication of the resulting bitrate of the different VBR quality levels.A menu is allowing choice between the two VBR modes of LAME 3.x.
• A small note is indicating that the encoder used is LAME (as required by the LGPL license). If the name “LAME” is problematic by itself, something similar to “encoding technology by Mp3Dev.org” could also be suitable, although specifically mentionning LAME is prefered.

In most cases, there should be no need to provide other options. The ones offered in this example screen should already provide optimal results in the vast majority of situations.

Download: LAME

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