*IDEAL* MP3 (LAME) settings to use with a 1CD DivX DVDrip....

[Xearo2K]

Could everyone post their settings they use to encode AC3 into MP3 for using with 1 CD DivX DVDrips?

I use BeSweet / Azid.DLL (1.8) / Lame_Enc.DLL (3.91 *OFFICIAL* )
Here is my BeSweet line:

"BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "Sphere2 AC3 T01 3_2ch 384Kbps DELAY -120ms.ac3" -output "Sphere2 AC3 T01 3_2ch 384Kbps DELAY -120ms.mp3" ) -azid( -z1 -b1 -n1 -c normal -g max -L -3db ) -lame( --abr 128 -h --nspsytune --athtype 2 --lowpass 17500 --ns-bass -6 --scale 0.93 -b 96 )


Can some one give me advice on this, because when I listen *very* carefully, I can here some -distortion- (the typical *buggy* *sizzling* sound you have when using a too low bitrate)

[dblmask]

I use VBR old, min 0 max 160
azid -3db if this is a Ac3 -5.1 else I dont use that

[MaTTeR]

@dblmask

You will get better quality if using something like --alt-preset 160 using LAME 3.91

All of the -alt-presets will provide better quality generally speaking compared to a custom command line.

Back in the days before Ogg Vorbis, I used something like -alt-preset 130 for 1CD rips. The original AC3 5.1 is used for all my 2CD rips.

[tangent]

Originally posted by Xearo2K
-lame( --abr 128 -h --nspsytune --athtype 2 --lowpass 17500 --ns-bass -6 --scale 0.93 -b 96 )

This looks a bit like --alt-preset 128. You just need to add in -mj and remove -b96 (which is not a good idea to use with ABR). For best result, you should simply use --alt-preset 128.

[western shinma]

Actually you don't need to add -mj since that is the default at this bitrate.

Also, last time I checked you can't use all these advanced settings with besweet, and you can't use --alt-preset xxx either. My guess is that all your settings are being dropped except for --abr 128 and -b 96, which might be why it doesn't sound so hot.

[Slogra]

I use --alt-preset 112, because i want as much room as possible for the video.

[KoVaR]

I've been encoding Erin Brokovitch
(2 hours 4 min i think)
i used this setting for lame
-m j -d --disptime 30 -q 0 -v --vbr-mtrh -V 8 -b 32 -B 320 -c -p --athtype 2
the file was nice to listen (101 average bitrate)
~92 MB (for over 2 hours of sound)
i think that changing -V to 7 would be usefull for you

[Nic]

I know this sounds bizzare (& im a big fan of Dibrom's settings)....But I did an --alt-preset 128 recently & didn't like it as much as a -h --abr 128?

Anyone else found this (or is it just my cr*p ears)?

Cheers,
-Nic

[tiki4]

Hi,

I *only* use the --alt-presets since LAME 3.91 came out. Can you tell exactly what you think is the difference between -h --abr 128 and --alt-preset 128?
I just wonder as doom9 gives explicit 'order' to use --alt-preset in his guide. It would really be interesting if this is just your personal liking or if the --abr really produces higher quality (b.t.w.: -ogg( -q 0.4 ) sound really amazing in my opinion).

CU,

tiki4

[Head Hunter]

Is it better to use Azid Followed by Lame so you can use the --alt-preset's? Is there a speed advantage or quality advantage to this or Besweet?

[MaTTeR]

Well considering BeSweet is using 32bit FP mode then I'd assume it's faster:) I've never benchmarked the Azid/Lame config so if you do please post results for us.

[Head Hunter]

I figured BeSweet was faster, but what about quality? Everyone always mentions --alt-preset. Is the quality difference worth the extra encoding time? Also, does BeSweet use temp space like HeadAC3he does in Float mode?

[MaTTeR]

Well I'm always after the best quality and speed is second priority. The quality is worth the extra few bits with --alt-presets IMHO. Do a listening tests and judge for yourself.

Also, does BeSweet use temp space like HeadAC3he does in Float mode? Dunno, never cared because it's never been an issue to lose 2-3GB for 45mins IMO. Does DSPguru mention that in his FAQ or readme's? I know I've seen this subject come up before.

[tiki4]

Of course BeSweet *doesn't* use temp-space like HeadAC3he does. I think that was the point it was developed. BeSweet does something like the UNIX piping, i.e. instead of doing something like:

azid in.ac3 out.wav
lame in.wav out.mp3,

it is going the direct way like:

azid in.ac3 - | lame - out.mp3.

The '-' is used in UNIX as stdout or stdin respectively. BeSweet is achieving the same effect by chunking dll-incarnations of azid and lame and toolame and oggenc... together so every operation is done in memory. The good side effects are faster processing (usually) and no need to write a 2 GB wav-file to harddisk that must be read in by lame afterwards.

Hope this clears up a little bit.

tiki4

[Gabriel_Bouvigne]

For a 1 cd I'd use something like --alt-preset 130 or --alt-preset 100 depending of the movie duration

[tangent]

Originally posted by KoVaR
I've been encoding Erin Brokovitch
(2 hours 4 min i think)
i used this setting for lame
-m j -d --disptime 30 -q 0 -v --vbr-mtrh -V 8 -b 32 -B 320 -c -p --athtype 2
the file was nice to listen (101 average bitrate)
~92 MB (for over 2 hours of sound)
i think that changing -V to 7 would be usefull for you

VBR is known to be inferior to ABR (especially the --alt-preset ABRs) at bitrates 160kbps and below, and maybe some above that too.

[tangent]

Originally posted by Nic
I know this sounds bizzare (& im a big fan of Dibrom's settings)....But I did an --alt-preset 128 recently & didn't like it as much as a -h --abr 128?

Anyone else found this (or is it just my cr*p ears)?

Cheers,
-Nic

You need to do a blind ABX testing to be sure of what you are hearing first.

[tangent]

Originally posted by Head Hunter
I figured BeSweet was faster, but what about quality? Everyone always mentions --alt-preset. Is the quality difference worth the extra encoding time? Also, does BeSweet use temp space like HeadAC3he does in Float mode?
Yes, the quality increase in using any --alt-preset is definitely worth some extra encoding time.

[DSPguru]

abr & cbr alt-presets are supported in BeSweet v1.3b1 (http://besweet.notrace.dk).

[Head Hunter]

Well, that will definetly make BeSweet my one and only choice. Can't wait for a stable release.

[DSPguru]

imho v1.3b1 iZ stable. it's just that it doesn't have enough features to make it a release ;)

[Head Hunter]

That good to hear, but is there anyway to use the --alt-preset's in the gui yet?

[pacohaas]

Originally posted by Head Hunter
is there anyway to use the --alt-preset's in the gui yet? If you're in a hurry...sure, take the command-line that the gui gives you and change the --alt-preset part, then paste that into your dos command prompt.

Of course it will be supported in the GUI soon, this is a pretty pointless question if you ask me, use your head.

[Head Hunter]

Like I couldn't figure out that it will be supported by the GUI in future releases. I was wondering about the current release. A simple no would have done just fine.

Also, thanks for the copy and paste idea, it works good until the GUI supports it.

[DSPguru]

beta26 is up (http://besweet.notrace.dk) and supports abr&cbr alt-presets.

[brianafischer]

Does anyone have proof that the ABR is better than VBR? I have heard a lot of debate regarding this issue, but haven't heard or seen sufficient proof of this issue.

Thanks,
Brian:cool:

[MaTTeR]

@DSPguru

Beta 26 is still displaying the 52 runtime error when I try to select the BeSweet target directory. Beta15 doesn't have this issue though. I'll wait for the next beta;)

EDIT-

WinXP
Dual Intel 850s

[tangent]

Originally posted by brianafischer
Does anyone have proof that the ABR is better than VBR? I have heard a lot of debate regarding this issue, but haven't heard or seen sufficient proof of this issue.

There is no question that ABR is better at <160kbps
There is no question that VBR is better at >192kbps (where --alt-preset standard kicks in)
The question now is in the 160-192kbps region, and this upcoming listening test will hopefully put some light in this issue: http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=984

[Head Hunter]

I tried using --alt-preset 112 using besweet and I added --resample 48 to the commandline, but it still came out as a 44.1khz mp3. Does anyone know why that is, or how to fix it?

My Command line was
"C:\Program Files\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "g:\AGAIG\AGAIG AC3 T02 3_2ch 384Kbps DELAY 0ms.ac3" -output "g:\AGAIG\AGAIG Audio 112kbps.mp3" ) -azid( -z1 -b1 -c normal -L -3db ) -ota( -G max ) -lame( --alt-preset 112 --resample 48 )

[MaTTeR]

I could be wrong but I think LAME 3.9x will automatically downsample when using less than 128kbps.

[NetSoerfer]

i'm slightly confused as noone has mentioned use of ogg vorbis - if it produces so much smaller file sizes than an mp3 of same quality, why does noone recommend ogg vorbis here?

maybe ogg isn't as good as some people claim? i really don't know but i'd like to hear some opinions about that... :)

soerfer

[MaTTeR]

I haven't used MP3 in....well lets just say it's been along time:)

Ogg Vorbis is clearly the way to go for a 1CD rip IMHO.

[Head Hunter]

@Matter
I know it downsamples when below 128 kbps, but adding --resample 48 has always kept it at 48khz. Just when using besweet it doesn't work.

[NetSoerfer]

HUH? it does?! :eek:

and with --resample 48, it doesn't downsample and then upsample again? 'cause that would (if i'm not completely wrong) decrease quality, right?