Good way to convert MP3 collection to AAC

[Veterinar]

Input: pretty large bunch of MP3 music files.
Wanted output: same music in AAC format.

What tool is the most convenient to do such thing? How would you do this yourself?

[JoeShrubbery]

First off, I'd suggest against it as you'll sound quality. Period.

That being said, if you're dead set on converting try Foobar2000, it's primarily a player but it's format conversion capabilities are quite comprehensive.

[dalliance]

Try Xilisoft. Its a free converter. And you can convert a bunch together.

[shon3i]

Foobar+Nero AAC, when you transcoding, use lower bitrate, because you must lose quality anyway. If you use bitrate higher than mp3, you aslo will lose quality, and will have larger file.

[chros]

Or you can use a simple batch script like this:

REM 2 pass version with temporary wav file
SET LAMEEXE="c:\path\to\lame.exe"
SET NEROAACEXE="c:\path\to\neroaacenc.exe"

REM encodes all *.mp3 files in the current directory
REM 1st step: decodes the mp3 file to a temporary wav file
REM 2nd step: encodes to aac LC mp4 160 kbps in 2 pass
REM 3rd step: deletes the temporary wav file
for %%f in (*.mp3) do (%LAMEEXE% --decode "%%f" & %NEROAACEXE% -2pass -ignorelength -lc -br 160000 -if "%%~nf.mp3.wav" -of "%%~nf.mp4" & del "%%~nf.mp3.wav")


Or this:

REM 1 pass version without the need of a temporary wav file
SET LAMEEXE="c:\path\to\lame.exe"
SET NEROAACEXE="c:\path\to\neroaacenc.exe"

REM encodes all *.mp3 files in the current directory
REM 1st step: decodes the mp3 file to the standard output
REM 2nd step: encodes to aac HEv2 mp4 64 kbps
for %%f in (*.mp3) do (%LAMEEXE% --decode "%%f" - | %NEROAACEXE% -ignorelength --hev2 -br 64000 -if - -of "%%~nf.mp4")


Of course you must modify the command-line parameters for neroaacenc ...
And this method is useable with any kind of conversion where you have the corresponding decoder/encoder (eg. with flac).

[TruckChase!]

May I ask why? Generally speaking transcoding is a very bad idea....

[emazur]

May I ask why? Generally speaking transcoding is a very bad idea....

I've done this for converting mp3 into small he-aac files at 20-32 kbps. Space on mobile phones is limited, and storage cards don't come cheap. he-aac actually still sounds pretty good at such a low bitrate, I doubt anything can beat it (it gives ogg a whoopin', I know that).

You can use dbPowerAmp or MediaCoder to do the conversion, both of which are free

[burfadel]

The Nero AAC encoder is better than many of the other AAC encoders out there, and for some things the sound quality difference is noticeable.

I wouldn't recomment using a constant bitrate, or an average bitrate, its pointless going from an mp3 (even if its vbr) with a CBR/ABR of around 160 to an aac with 160.

I'd recommend using a constant quality setting, I use 0.35 for my movies/tv encodes - as I focus on best quality/filesize ratio, and that sounds better than mp3 at 160. You could try 0.45, or something around that area - try to your liking. If having a set file size isn't a requirement, then constant quality is the best way to go. Just try it with different settings and use one to your liking. As someone mentioned, AAC is very good at low bitrates, even at 96kbps ABR AAC sounds quite decent!

Belight is a good programme, however there's a major bug with its batch encoding, which if it were fixed would be the best option for you IMO.

[chros]

I wouldn't recomment using a constant bitrate, or an average bitrate, its pointless going from an mp3 (even if its vbr) with a CBR/ABR of around 160 to an aac with 160.
Yes, you're right. I was only giving an example ...
Belight is a good programme, however there's a major bug with its batch encoding, which if it were fixed would be the best option for you IMO.
Well, yes, but I think there's no simpler converting program than my batch script ... :)
Btw: I added 2 and 1 pass version ...

[enjoycoming555]

Deleted as Spam.

[MMCauthor]

Deleted for Spamming.

If that's all you have to contribute, then go away.