LAME: -V 2 vs. -V 0

I use 3.98 beta 5, which is considered the best current version of LAME (3.98 b6 was not so good, introduced many bugs).

I use the optimised LAMEDropXpd build. It should be recommended to newbies, it's easy to configure and use (and easy to tell people how to configure and use). I don't see any reason to keep the old dos command line programs (or at least, to recommend them).

I have no idea what "V" quality I use, but I use VBR with an average bitrate of 224 kbps, which is "quality 90" in LAMEDrop.


Using VBR of lower than 192 increases too many artifacts in too many cases, so I don't use it.
On the other hand, the vast majority of people can't hear a difference between 192-320, so it's not worth it to go the whole hog. if you're complaining about artifacts at those bitrates, you shouldn't be using MP3 as a format, you should be using lossless.

Ogg Vorbis: I used to be a major fan, but since it's not supported and very similar to MP3 in terms of quality (although I like the filesize), I only include Ogg downloads in a ZIP at the bottom of soundtrack pages on my game music website.

If I'm going to use lossy, I'll use high quality MP3, otherwise I'll listen to original WAV's on CD or PC.
I strongly feel people talking about differences between 192-320, or 320 CBR, etc, are msising the point.

320 CBR: Waste of filespace. Good VBR settings with a good encoder (nothing before LAME 3.97), with an 192 average bitrate or better, will produce a quicker encoded, audibly the same quality, MP3 file. There's simply no reason to use 320 CBR- if you like good quality audio and are pretty set on it, don't use MP3, use lossless codecs.

MP3 at high bitrate VBR (192-320) will produce very acceptable quality files for common listening.

- Spike

Jam it back in, in the dark.