MP3

MP3 is short for MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 and it is the preferred audio format at The Mixing Bowl due to its compatibility and high quality when used at high bitrates.

LAME

LAME is the recommeded MP3 encoder at The Mixing Bowl. Some benefits of using LAME:

• Highly optimised presets
• CBR, ABR and VBR encoding methods
• Gapless playback with LAME-header compliant decoders
• Exact Audio Copy and CDex support

MP3 creation with the LAME encoder

To save yourself reading and researching a lot of information, here is a very quick guide to using LAME:

• 3.97 beta 3 is the LAME version you need (download the LAME 3.97 beta 3 bundle from this page)
• The input file for lame is most often a WAV file (CD tracks or recorded broadcasts with the *.wav extension). The general syntax (command line) for getting a suitable mp3-file is quite simple: "lame.exe switch input.wav". Switches can define a lot of things but you will most probably only need to define a bitrate.
• Create preferably variable bitrate files (VBR) with a targeted average bitrate between 170-210kbps, if possible. Do this by trying the -V 2 --vbr-new switch first (fully sufficient for tracks from CD), then -V 1 --vbr-new and finally the -V 0 --vbr-new switch (the alternative switches might be necessary for WAV files recorded from FM broadcasts), whatever of them gives results in the desired bitrate range.
• Instead of encoding at a variable bitrate you can also encode your input file at a constant bitrate (CBR) although this is not recommended. Most mp3-files on the TMB tracker are constant bitrate files at 192kbps, though. Use the -b 192 switch to get these mp3-files.

For a more complete guide for preparing VBR mp3-files please read the LAME page on the wiki.

CD Ripping

The best way to rip CDs to MP3 is with EAC. The following three EAC guides are very good:

• Guide 1 - The Coaster Factory
• Guide 2 - Teqnilogik
• Guide 3 - Essential Ripping Guide

Further Reading

Hydrogenaudio are widely regarded as the digital audiophile site on the web. Most of the audio codec developers are members of the forum, and the information detailed there in stickies and posts, in our opinion, is the best available anywhere on the internet.

Hydrogenaudio have officially announced a successor to their previoulsy recommended LAME mp3 encoder version 3.90.3. The recommended version is now 3.97 beta 3.

• See this post for details on the LAME 3.97 beta Hydrogenaudio recommendation.
• See this post for the Hydrogenaudio recommended LAME settings.
• See this post for a high level overview of the LAME versions.