Good program to make MP3s?

Michael Holland · Post by **Michael Holland** » 16 Jul 2001 5:05 am

I want to make MP3 files from original material CDs made on my Roland VS-1880 (disk-at-once CDRs). What's a good freeware program to take CD audio to MP3? I have Cakewalk Pro Audio 8, but it doesn't do them.

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Emmons Push Pull S10 | Peavey Session 400 | '52 Fender Lap Steel | Goodrich L120 & Matchbox

Geoff Brown · Post by **Geoff Brown** » 16 Jul 2001 1:54 pm

Hiya Michael...There is freeware that will convert your CD audio to mp3 format. However, the issue here is one of bitrate. I have seen freeware that will convert to mp3, but the highest bitrate I've seen in 96kps, which is most likely going to be disappointing to your ears. To achieve something in the neighborhood of a CD-quality mp3, you'll need a bitrate of at least 128kps. The higher the better(you probably know all this already). I'm not aware of any freeware that offers this conversion rate. But I haven't checked in a while, so perhaps someone else knows of something out there. There certainly is software that will give you a good quality mp3, but you may have to pay a little for it. I wouldn't mind some freeware that would accomplish that task meeself

Good question.[This message was edited by Geoff Brown on 16 July 2001 at 02:56 PM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 16 Jul 2001 3:47 pm

Goldwave will do what you want. It is a shareware program, but the evaluation version has all the options. You'll need to download the Goldwave and an MP3 encoder such as Lame or Bladeenc, which are available from the Goldwave site. www.goldwave.com
Goldwave is primarily a multi purpose audio program for recording and manipulating (adding echo, compression, EQ, etc). But it will also save the files as MP3 or wav (or a couple other formats).

Goldwave will allow up to 320 Kbs on MP3 but the default is 128kbs.

Here is a sample from my CD that was "mastered" with Goldwave and the wav file converted to MP3 (128Kbs). http://tampabaydsl.com/~jestoner/Take_Me_As_I_Am.mp3

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 16 Jul 2001 5:24 pm

Jack,
That demo was really good. Very smooth
and clean, and great tone.
I have Goldwave and now know why I've been having the same MP3 conversion problems. I don't have the encoders downloaded. Thanks for that info, Jack.

ChipsAhoy

Tommy Mc · Post by **Tommy Mc** » 17 Jul 2001 3:43 pm

MusicMatch Jukebox will also do high bit-rate batch conversions. I think it is simpler to use, although it dosen't do all the fancy stuff Goldwave can do. It is also free.

Tommy Mc · Post by **Tommy Mc** » 17 Jul 2001 3:45 pm

MusicMatch Jukebox will also do high bit-rate batch conversions. I think it is simpler to use, although it dosen't do all the fancy stuff Goldwave can do. It is also free.

OOps I'm seein dubble!!!!![This message was edited by Tommy Mc on 17 July 2001 at 04:48 PM.]

Michael Holland · Post by **Michael Holland** » 17 Jul 2001 4:19 pm

Thanks guys,

Jack, your recording sounds great! Nice picking. And the sound is very clear. Would you mind telling us about the process? How did you "master" it in Goldwave? And how do the encoders factor in?

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Emmons Push Pull S10 | Peavey Session 400 | '52 Fender Lap Steel | Goodrich L120 & Matchbox

André Sommer · Post by **André Sommer** » 17 Jul 2001 6:43 pm

Hey Guys,
Here's an excellent FREE ( Just send the author a postcard)audiograbber that can do conversions and a lot more: http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/

I recommend the Lame encoder because it's generally considered the best. Get it here: http://www.hot.ee/smpman/mp3/

and while you're at it get this nice and easy Lame GUI frontend as well: http://hjem.get2net.dk/rax/freeware.htm

Enjoy !

Andre.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 18 Jul 2001 3:06 am

Michael, I use the word "master" loosely.

I did the session with a Tascam MKII, 4 track, recorder. I mixed it down to the PC and "recorded" it to the PC with Goldwave and stored it as a wav file. I then went back in with Goldwave, cleaned up the beginning and ending (took out any garbage, added silence, etc). It then did some compression (40%) and also equalized and maximized the levels ont the two tracks. I used the parametric EQ on a couple of them that had a little weak low end (I didn't boost the bass enough when I mixed it down).

After I was satisfied with the sound, I saved the master song files as a wavs. I didn't want to do any compression, which is what MP3 does, as the master files are what I used to burn the CD's. (If you have an MP3 file it is converted back to a wav in the burning process anyway).

My recording process was not as sophisticated as a big studio - four tracks, steel, rhythm guitar, bass and Alesis SR16 drum machine track (except the Sleepwalk cut that used a BIAB track as I couldn't get the right rhythm from the drum machine). All the tracks were recorded "direct" to the head, not through the EQ on the recorder.

As far as the steel track, My Franklin with Lawrence 710 pickups to a Peavey Transtube Fex, with the 600 ohm XLR output and the speaker simulation on two 12". Another note, on the mixdown there wasn't any EQ added to the steel track - the EQ controls were set flat ("O").

Go to my web site and click on the CD. There are a couple of other sample MP3 files from the CD including Sleepwalk that used the Band in a Box track (Sam Cooke style file). http://tampabaydsl.com/~jestoner

J Hollenberg · Post by **J Hollenberg** » 19 Jul 2001 11:24 am

Look at http:www.cdex.n3.net
Download the Cdex 1.40 Beta6 version
It is totally free.

Jack Hollenberg
The Netherlands

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Michael Holland · Post by **Michael Holland** » 20 Jul 2001 6:32 am

Thanks to all who responded. I've now downloaded and installed the necessary software and read up on the process and I've got a handle on it now. I'll soon be 'grabbing and ripping'! Sounds tiring.

I am starting a new thread on sound cards. Jack, thanks again for your advice and you can close this'n' up.

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Emmons Push Pull S10 | Peavey Session 400 | '52 Fender Lap Steel | Goodrich L120 & Matchbox