In the interst of sharing tunes, I'd like some advice on encoding MP3's from CD's... Suggestions on programs to use, steps to take, settings to use ect will be much appreciated...

I've tried but they end up being very big... some people I've run across manage to get whole songs down to under a meg... I wanna be able to do that too!! ;-)

Yake Ye Care Eh!

3) reduce your sampling rate

a quick search on the web for "mp3 encoding" should give you more then you could ever want to know about which programs etc.

But thanks eh!!

An MP3 encoder is available here that
encodes a WAVe extraced from a CD
to under 1 meg

Waves extracted from CDs average
20 to 40 Mb....

* Click Here *

The EXAMPLE below was a 2-4Mb MP3
and EXTRACTED as a HUGE WAVe [20-40Mb
and RE/converted to smaller MP3.

Answer To Little Blossom - * Click Here *

A 650 Mb CD will hold about 8 to 10 CDs in normal MP3 format [44100Kh/128bit] and
well over 1,000 MP3s in 22/16 format..
making either one a very handy source of
music/tunes/lyrics or
for JUKEBOX play on computer.

;-)

I've tried the freeware and have, perhaps inevitably, had no joy - programs that crash, don't work at all, produce complete nonsense at the output etc.

I'd be more than happy to pay for something decent. All the shareware that I've patiently downloaded to try, has a screen commenting that 'the encoding option is disabled on the shareware version' Arrggg!

How am I supposed to tell if the software is any good if I don't even get a taste of whether it can do what I want? They could at least offer a 15 second limit on the length of the encoded mp3 file or something.

As I've said I'm more than happy to pay for something that works well - I'm a bit suspicious that I'll send of 30 dollars or so and have the same problems that I did with the freeware.

Any advice?

(my computer isn't the fastest in the world - 133 Mhz 32mb RAM)

Wolf

I am partial to Cakewalk Home Studio - the 9.0 version does MP3 - it IS simple.....from their site How do I create an MP3 file?

1.Select Tools |
2. Mixdown Audio |
3. Export to File(s),
4.and set the Files of Type to MP3. All unmuted audio tracks will be included in the MP3 file.

You have the unbelievable ability, to change sound quality, edit highs and lows, layover tracks and even compress and expand time without changing pitch (ie....60 seconds of video with a 72 second sound clip can be spliced to 60 seconds)

There is more here than you will ever use...and it is realtively simple.... check them out, CakeWalk

One caveat.....Your memory is awfully low, I am running 128mg, at 333, with disks 7/8ths empty and IALWAYS spin/defrag and shut off externals before doing any "serious work" on a PC platform and when writing disks at 1Xspeed.... I have no problems...check their recommended specs.

Others I know are partial to "soundforge" but I like "cakewalk."

Good Luck and have FUN!!!