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    anyone know a good free MP3 encoder?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by nickr, Sep 15, 2006.

  1. nickr

    nickr Notebook Enthusiast

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    looks like I got to pay $10 to get one. Anybody know any freeware that works fine enough?
     
    nickr, Sep 15, 2006
    #1
  2. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    Lame is kinda the standard. Many people use it in conjunction with EAC. Google both of them and start learning ;)

    I use Linux for my media stuff, so I can't tell you too many details.
     
    Pitabred, Sep 15, 2006
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  3. nickr

    nickr Notebook Enthusiast

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    I got this microsoft plus thing. Does lame work with Plus!
     
    nickr, Sep 15, 2006
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  4. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    ... not at all. Microsoft will only ever encode to WMA as far as I know. Do yourself a favor and use a real program with a real format instead. EAC + LAME are what the audio snobs use, when they aren't using EAC + FLAC.
     
    Pitabred, Sep 15, 2006
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  5. nickr

    nickr Notebook Enthusiast

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    So if i downloaded EAC and lame it would work the same as Plus! and an mp3 encoder?
     
    nickr, Sep 15, 2006
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  6. kchate4

    kchate4 Notebook Enthusiast

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    If you mean they both give you mp3s, then yes.

    EAC (Exact Audio Copy) is designed to rip the CD, yeilding a bit for bit copy of the original. Then, Lame is used to compress the audio in mp3 format. You can set up EAC to automatically use Lame during the ripping process - all free of cost.

    http://mp3.radified.com/eac_lame.htm
     
    kchate4, Sep 15, 2006
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  7. nickr

    nickr Notebook Enthusiast

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    I need to convert WMA files to MP3. Is there a way to enable the Microsoft Plus software to do this?
     
    nickr, Sep 15, 2006
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  8. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    Welcome to "Why you shouldn't use WMA 101". Not a direct route way to do that as far as I know. What you want is something that will do what's called "transcoding", and realize that it'll do no favors to the sound quality.
     
    Pitabred, Sep 15, 2006
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  9. Leshii

    Leshii Notebook Evangelist

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    now converting WMA to MP3 is not that easy. The problem is that WMA files have built-in DRM (digital rights management) protection and you're not supposed to be able to re-encode them to a diff format. I've seen a couple of applications that let you do it, but never used one. Take a look on Google.


    P.S. I'm not sure maybe DRM is not the main reason why you cannot easily re-encode WMA files yet it is still so.
     
    Leshii, Sep 15, 2006
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  10. LIVEFRMNYC

    LIVEFRMNYC Blah Blah Blah!!!

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    Not true, Windows Auido Converter program encodes to MP3.

    It came with my acer using XP Media Edition.

    It's under Windows Digital Media Enhachments via start/programs.


    dBpowerAMP is the BEST encoder that I been using so far. You can very easily right click encode :)

    http://www.dbpoweramp.com/

    Doesn't look free anymore, that why I always keep old programs on disc.
     
    LIVEFRMNYC, Sep 15, 2006
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  11. iza

    iza Notebook Evangelist

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    ^ Last freeware version of dBpowerAmp Converter here.
    And here's the changelog if you wanna see if it's worth paying the new version (>v10=$$)
     
    iza, Sep 15, 2006
    #11