alt preset confusion

[pasil]

Hi , I am converting FLAC to MP3 and am confused about all the drop down options in the LAME encoder. I searched and found similar questions from folks but there doesn't seem to be an explanation anywhere of the options. I have a general idea from reading the LAME homepage and hydrogen audio. Does the "alt preset" mean anything in particular or is it various criteria programmed into a specific selection? Is there a difference between "no preset" CBR 192bps and "alt preset" CBR 192? Thanks! Paul

[LtData]

See here for presets: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/1912
I believe that presets take precedent over the normal mp3 settings.

[xoas]

In the "old days" the alt-presets were the creation of some users who custom-tweaked a number of variables (NOT just bitrate) of the Lame codec settings for optimum performance (which includes both quality of the audio and the speed of conversions). These alternative preset settings were initially not part of the standard Lame codec but were later incorporated in it. Later versions of Lame started tweaking the "standard" presets in the same ways (partly to improve performance, partly to reduce confusion). These differences have largely been minimized in the current version of the Lame codec used by dMC (dBpowerAMP Music Converter), which is Lame 3.96.1. There is a Lame version 3.97 out which reportedly eliminates any differences between the alt presets, standard presets, or user defined settings in terms of assuring that recording is optimized similarly in all cases. See: http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/...howtopic=28124
for more explanation and details on this.

Best wishes,
Bill

[da2ho]

You mean to tell me the Very High preset I used with CBR 192 is not good? Oh man, this is all so confusing.

Which one to choose?

[Deano]

As stated, the presets override the other settings used. On Hydrogen Audio, they regularly only recommend the alt-preset-* settings, which generally produce the best results. I personally use alt-preset-standard for most of my music and then alt-preset-insane for anything that I deem requires it (like Classical stuff or incredibly complex music).

I generally always recommend using these LAME settings. OF course, reading Hydrogen Audio's FAQs is probably a better way of getting answers. I'm not entirely sure how the other presets work, or even what they do.

[xoas]

You mean to tell me the Very High preset I used with CBR 192 is not good?

You can check to judge your actual results using the files tags if you are worried about what bitrate settings, etc were used for encoding. Tracks recorded to presets no longer in use should still be readible without problem.

As to what settings to use, if you are converting files to use on older personal mp3 disk players or car players, I would use CBR at a bitrate somewhere between 128 kbs. on up (I personally use 192 kbs cbr). For playback on your computer or a high-quality portable player, I like alt-preset extreme although alt-preset standard is very good (I find alt-preset insane to provide negligible improvement for my ears and my listening situations). You can do your own listening tests to determine your best settings for your own ears and your own equipment.

Best wishes,
Bill

[da2ho]

Thank you, Deano. Thank you, Bill.

I really appreciate the help. I try to read all I can get on whatever subject I need help with, BUT English is not my native language and I easily get lost with stuff I am not extremely familiar with.

I guess I'm basicly stuck with "Very High" preset if I want CBR 192 AND Stereo.

[LtData]

If you want 192kbps and Stereo, why not just pick "No Preset" and choose CBR, set the meter to 192kbps and to Stereo? Why use presets at all?

[da2ho]

Originally Posted by LtData

If you want 192kbps and Stereo, why not just pick "No Preset" and choose CBR, set the meter to 192kbps and to Stereo? Why use presets at all?

I thought that maybe there was more to it, I don't know. There are no help files in dB.

Why does such preset even exist?

[xoas]

There are no help files in dB.

There certainly are, although they are all in English. Try Start>All Programs>dBpowerAMP Musiic Converter>Help and you will find a variety of Help files including Help files for the various codecs. Also, any of the various dBpowerAMP component windows, look for a ? icon. This will be a link to the Help files relevent to that particular component.

Why does such preset even exist?

I am not sure which preset you are referring to. The No Preset setting was designed for people who wanted to dictate their mp3 encoding settings. The "normal" presets were developed for convenience for various user purposes and the alt-presets were developed as tweaks to improve the speed and quality of encoding to Lame. These tweaks are being incorporated into the Lame codec.

Best wishes,
Bill

[fairyliquidizer]

I think the point is that we are now meant to be using -V x settings (again). So for example instead of alt preset standard you would use -V 2.

[xoas]

I think the point is that we are now meant to be using -V x settings (again). So for example instead of alt preset standard you would use -V 2.

Maybe I am missing something. Lame 3.97 reportedly uses the -V x settings but dMC uses Lame 3.96. And then I am not sure the degree to which the Lame 3.96 settings are native to Lame or whether there is an additional interface that Spoon is providing for the average user.

Although it is reportedly possible to insert the Lame 3.97 .dll into the dMC Lame codec, my understanding is that the controls that are available in that situation are limited. Personally, I am waiting for a dMC codec update which may be forthcoming with dMC 12.

Best wishes,
Bill

[fairyliquidizer]

good point. Personally (see other thread) I just want to be able to use any of the VBR settings!

[da2ho]

Originally Posted by xoas

There certainly are, although they are all in English. Try Start>All Programs>dBpowerAMP Musiic Converter>Help and you will find a variety of Help files including Help files for the various codecs. Also, any of the various dBpowerAMP component windows, look for a ? icon. This will be a link to the Help files relevent to that particular component.


I am not sure which preset you are referring to. The No Preset setting was designed for people who wanted to dictate their mp3 encoding settings. The "normal" presets were developed for convenience for various user purposes and the alt-presets were developed as tweaks to improve the speed and quality of encoding to Lame. These tweaks are being incorporated into the Lame codec.

Best wishes,
Bill

Hello again!

You're right. There is a bunch of links to web pages which feature different explanations. What I meant to say is that help files are not incorporated in the within the program, with that little search function... I was not able to find what I was looking for.

And about this other thing, I wanted to know why does Very High preset exist. From what I can tell, there's no difference between No Preset and Very High. One can select different settings for each of those (different bitrates, stereo/joint-stereo etc.). Then again, I am not the expert with this. That's why I thought that maybe there was something more to selecting Very High instead of No Preset.

Sorry for not being clear.

[xoas]

With respect to the Help files, they are incorporated into the program but from within the program, they are not found through the traditional Windows Help menu, the ? icons are designed to take you first to the help files for the given component you are using at the time, and there is no Search function.

The Help files do not explain everything. In your case, there is no explanation for several of the presets.

I cannot tell you why the Very High preset exists or what it is supposed to represent. I believe that this and several of the other presets represent historic artifacts used with early versions of Lame and left over, I presume, for the benefit of those users who were used to the older presets. I have not played with the Very High preset to determine what boundaries, if any, this preset might impose.

As I mentionned earlier, it does appear that as the Lame codec has evolved it has evolved in the direction of direction of providing optimum performance for each type of preset. This has resulted in a certain redundancy amongst pre-set settings. In any case, I would expect, at worst, that the Very High preset provides no difference over No Preset, not inferior results. Perhaps an even more experienced user can fill us in on what, exactly, the Very High preset does represent. If I run across anything else on this topic I will let you know.

For fairyliquidizer and others interested in the new Lame codec settings for dMC in dMC r12 (now in alpha 2), the encoding settings for Lame at this point remain unchanged but vbr settings are displayed in -v format.

Best wishes,
Bill