Below follow features, merits and demerits of the most popular MP3 encoders.
A. Fraunhofer based*
B. ISO based*
C. Xing based*
A. Fraunhofer based
1. Audioactive Production Studio Professional v1.54
AUTHORS
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft-IIS
Telos Systems, TLS Corp.
FEATURES:
MP3 encoding preview.
Resampling options.
Drag and drop capability.
Unlimited batch processing.
Delete source file after encode option.
Fast/High Quality option.
Bitrate/file size ratio calculator.
Background encoding with CPU priority selector.
Output bitrates from 8 kbps to 256 kbps.
Automatic stereo mode selection depending upon chosen bitrate**.
Manual stereo mode selection through command line interface.
Output to compressed WAV or MP3.
Ability to generate Shockwave compatible files.
Microsoft Netshow and Multimedia Player support with ASF files.
Extended command line interface.
Works fully under Windows 95/98/NT.
RETAIL:
$369
MERITS AND DEMERITS
The program doesn't need an external codec*** installed to make mp3s, however it does need some external codec installed if you want to use the preview feature. Lots of various options. Excellent quality/Fast speed.
USER REVIEWS:
Very comfortable in operation fast high quality encoder. Undoubtedly it's the best encoder nowadays.
RESUME:
Just the absolute champion among Fraunhofer based encoders.
Highly recommended.
RATING:
5 Stars
2. Fraunhofer .mp3 Producer Professional v2.1
AUTHORS
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft-IIS
FEATURES
MP3 encoding preview.
Resampling options.
Drag and drop capability.
Unlimited batch processing.
HQ option.
Output bitrates from 8 kbps to 256 kbps.
Automatic selection of stereo mode depending upon chosen bitrate.
Output to compressed WAV or MP3.
Works fully under Windows 95/98/NT.
RETAIL:
$199
MERITS AND DEMERITS:
The program needs an external codec installed to make mp3s and play 'preview'. Main characteristics are just the same as Audioactive's.
USER REVIEWS:
This program and Audioactive Production Studio v1.54 are like twins if we take speed and sound quality. But .mp3 Producer Professional v2.1 is less comfortable in operation due to some particulars of its GUI, absence of CPU priority selector, progress indicator and bitrate/file size ratio calculator.
RESUME:
Excellent quality, fast speed. Everything just the same as Audioactive's, except for lack of CPU priority selector, progress indicator and bitrate/file size ratio calculator.
Recommended.
RATING:
4 Stars
3. Fraunhofer MP3Enc v3.1
AUTHORS
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft-IIS
FEATURES:
Command line encoder.
Wide range of quality steps.
Output bitrates from 8 kbps to 256 kbps.
Includes separate MP3 command line decoder.
Automatic selection of stereo mode depending upon chosen bitrate.
RETAIL:
$199
MERITS AND DEMERITS:
Very slow. Awful sound quality even at high bitrates (if we take frequency response only). Complete absence of GUI. No CPU priority selector. No progress indicator.
USER REVIEWS:
This is the most mysterious thing I've ever seen! Fraunhofer declares it to be the next generation high-end MP3 encoder, but its sound quality is worse than even Xing's (though some people find it nice due to low harmonic distortion) and its speed can be compared with SoloH mpeg Encoder 0.07a. Don't know what to say. Did I miss anything?
RESUME:
Not recommended.
RATING:
2 Stars
B. ISO based
1. Sound Limit v2.5
AUTHORS
EASTern DiGiTAL Inc.
FEATURES:
Runs under Windows 95/98/NT
Can encode directly from CD.
Can be used as a standalone ripper.
Supports input of .WAV files, 44,1 kHz, Mono, Stereo, 16 bit.
Can encode/decode multiple files.
Supports bitrates from 32 kbps to 320 kbps, Layer 1, 2 & 3.
HQ/TurboSpeed options.
Stereo, Joint Stereo, Dual Channel and Mono modes.
Decoding of MPEG files is also supported.
Convert an existing MP3 file into an WAV audio file.
Create MPEG-2 audio streams including MPEG-2 layer 3 audio.
File Info ID3 Tag Support.
RETAIL:
$30-50 depending upon shipment conditions
MERITS AND DEMERITS:
The program's got a lot of various options. A versatile tool (it has also a built-in ripper). It's very fast and the frequency response is absolutely linear. There is no CPU priority selector.
USER REVIEWS:
Sound Limit v2.5 enjoys almost all merits of ISO based encoders plus fast speed (comparing with other ISO based encoders). But it has no CPU priority selector and also some people experienced problems with built-in ripper using SCISI devices.
RESUME:
ISO quality together with fast speed. It could be the only choice (except for SoloH mpeg Encoder 0.007a which is much slower) for people whose uncompromising goal is quality but the whole picture is spoiled by lots of complaints on harmonic distortion and phase shift which appear during encoding.
It's recommended to chose SoloH mpeg Encoder 0.007a or new Lame (optimized ISO codec) for professional or archive encoding
RATING:
3 Stars
2. SoloH mpeg Encoder v0.07a
AUTHORS
SoloH
FEATURES:
Runs under Windows 95/98/NT.
Can encode directly from SCISI CD-ROM.
Supports bitrates from 32 kbps to 320 kbps, Layer 1, 2 & 3.
Supports output of 16, 22,05, 24, 32, 41,1, 48 kHz.
Flags like Private, Original and Copyright can be set.
Batch files and tracks processing.
Decoder de-emphasis and psychoacoustic model options.
Stereo, Joint Stereo, Dual Channel and Mono modes.
CPU priority selector.
RETAIL:
Freeware
MERITS AND DEMERITS:
This program's got everything you need for high quality professional encoding except for one thing: it's very, very, very slow. But still it has absolutely linear frequency response and unlike Sound Limit v2.5 it's got CPU priority selector and is free from any harmonic distortion and phase shift.
USER REVIEWS:
Time is passing by but for some years already nothing can be compared with SoloH mpeg Encoder v0.07a when it comes to sound quality. So if you want absolute sound and you can afford long time encoding, this program is definitely for you. But don't forget that like all ISO based encoders this program should be used at bitrates higher than 128 kbps. Otherwise you are risking to get sound with audible artifacts.
RESUME:
Absolutely great quality but very slow speed. Another great choice (together with new Lame codec) for people whose uncompromising goal is quality.
Highly recommended for professional and archive encoding.
RATING:
4 Stars
3. BladeEnc v0.76
AUTHORS
Tord Jansson
FEATURES:
Command line encoder.
Reads standard WAV- and AIFF files.
Unlimited batch encoding.
Supports wildcards. You can for example encode all WAV files in a directory by typing "*.WAV".
Stereo or Mono output. Can downmix to Mono on the fly.
Supports bitrates from 32 kbps to 320 kbps.
Flags like Private, Original and Copyright can be set.
Input sample can be automatically deleted after encoding.
Input samples can be in either 32, 44.1 or 48 kHz.
Both 8 and 16-bit samples are supported.
Can emulate behaviour of L3Enc so you can use any L3Enc frontend with BladeEnc.
Task priority can be set from the command line and is by default set to LOWEST so that you still can use your computer effectively while encoding.
Can be used as external encoder together with the most popular rippers like Audiograbber or CDCopy for batch ripping/encoding.
RETAIL:
Freeware
MERITS AND DEMERITS:
Rather fast for ISO based encoder. And the only ISO based encoder which was unable to keep linear frequency response within the audible range at 128 kbps during testing. Besides, the program suffers from complete absence of its own GUI.
USER REVIEWS:
When I saw this program for the first time I was curious. The author declares that his main goal has always been quality and the program reveals its potential at higher bitrates starting from 160 kbps. That's true. It really gives significant quality improvement at such bitrates. But while using 128 kbps (which is actually standard nowadays), it produces quite non-linear frequency response after 16 kHz. And another thing: is it really so hard to make comfortable, user oriented GUI? Or what was the point of missing it?
RESUME:
Can be recommended as external encoder for some rippers at higher bitrates starting from 160 kbps
RATING:
3 Stars
C. Xing based
1. Xing MP3 Encoder v1.5
AUTHORS
Xing Technology Corporation
FEATURES:
Brand new Xing MP3 Variable Bit Rate (VBR) encoding engine capable to keep linear frequency response up to 20 kHz.
Output bitrates from 16 kbps to 320 kbps, MPEG 1 & 2, Layer 3.
Streamwork bitrates from 28,8 kbps to 64 kbps, MPEG 1 & 2, Layer 3.
Stereo, Joint Stereo, Dual Stereo and Mono modes.
Improved support for WAV files created with Steinberg WaveLab and WinDAC32.
Supports batch processing.
RETAIL:
$19.95
MERITS AND DEMERITS:
Incredible speed. No encoding preview. No priority selector. Frequency response now is quite linear up to 20 kHz, but it's due to VBR encoding which results in 15% less compression.
USER REVIEWS:
Small program. Nice GUI. Great speed (like at all Xing based encoders). Good sound quality. But VBR engine requires special attention while encoding some particular music pieces. Extra audition is always necessary.
RESUME:
Recommended for narrow-band network purposes encoding.
RATING:
3 Stars
2. rJPa MPx Encoder v1.02
AUTHORS
rJPa
FEATURES:
Stereo, Joint Stereo, Dual Channel and Mono modes.
Output bitrates from 56 kbps to 320 kbps, Layer 1, 2 & 3.
Can decode MP3 into WAV.
CPU priority selector for decoding.
MMX support.
RETAIL:
Freeware
MERITS AND DEMERITS:
Incredible speed. And if you have PC with MMX support you will gain another 30% speed bonus. No encoding preview. No progress indicator. No batch processing. No CPU priority selector for encoding. Frequency response with complete falloff after 16 kHz.
USER REVIEWS:
Small program. Primitive GUI. Rather uncomfortable in operation. Poor sound quality. But it's an absolute champion when it comes to speed.
RESUME:
Recommended for people who value their leisure and do not care for sound quality at all.
RATING:
2 Stars
Extracts from Mp3 Pro Club
Introduction | Techniques | Encoders | Speed and Quality | Faq