CDeX Configuration Settings: Which MP3 encoder I should use?

I personally recommend using the LAME MP3 encoder (the default in CDex), or the Fraunhofer MP3 encoder. But, latest laboratory test results prove lame 3.98 mp3 better than Fraunhofer MP3 encoder, with slightly compromising encoding speed. Which bitrate should I use to get CD-Quality? There really is no single (correct) answer - it depends on your ears, your equipment, the quality and complexity of the input sound data, etc. It's fairly good that any bitrate above128 Kbps for average music, but it may sound fine from some encoders for some songs under some circumstances; while 160 Kbps done by a good encoder should sound pretty good to most people under most circumstances. There are three types of bitrate options that you can specify for each the encoder (although some encoders may not allow any options). 1) Constant Bitrate (CBR) This is the default encoding mode, and also the most basic. In this mode, the bitrate will be the same throughout the whole file. So, a second of audio from one part of the file takes just as much disk space as a second from any other part of that file -- regardless of whether either part is silence, acoustically simple, or quite complex. This means that you are likely to hear distortion more in the complex parts than in the simple parts. The advantage of CBR formats is that even older players understand them, and that you can reliably predict the file size from the duration of the sound (or vice versa). 2) Average Bitrate (ABR) In this mode, you tell the encoder to aim for an average bitrate that you specify, skimping on the simpler parts of the music, and using higher bitrates for the parts of your music that are more complex. The result will be of higher quality than you'd get in a CBR encoded file of the same size. This mode is highly recommended over CBR. This encoding mode is similar to VBR. 3) Variable bitrate (VBR) In this mode, you say what level of quality you want in the output file, and the encoder compresses each second as best it can to get just that level of quality -- using less information to represent simpler parts of the song, and more information to represent the more complex parts. However, this mode relies heavily on the encoder's model of how you perceive quality, and could lead to a few "bad choices" in the encoding process. If possible, you may want to specify a minimum bitrate (e.g., 64 Kbps) to avoid those potential errors. So, why not to use the best mp3 encoder at the best possible settings. Lame mp3 encoders best settings are 320 kbps (CBR Constant Bit Rate) @ 48000 Khz (16-bit) for audio CD. Why not to share the best things, so people always welcome and love it.

Here is some snapshots for easy configuration: Generic Options

Make sure not to check-mark Normalize Volume Option.

Tag Comment Field and Encoded By field is user editable.

Filenames Options

Filename Format %2\%7 - %4 - %2 - %G - %Y (Gives very detailed information) WAV->MP3 and Recorded Tracks (Its better to make new folder in C:\ root directory called My Music)

CD Drive Options

It better let CDeX auto configure this settings, not to play with settings, otherwise CDeX will not work with your CD Drive. Only bottom squares you can select to check-off. Encoder Options : (The best settings for lame 3.98) Here mode Stereo or Joint Stereo is the best option for original music CDs. While Joint-Stereo is proved to be best option for encoding music from sources other than original. Even though final size of encoded music is same in both the case, but separation in stereo channels differs for a very good music listeners. Bit Rate Min : 320 kbps Mode : J-Stereo Flag : Original Quality : Very High q=0 On-the-Fly MP3 : if checked may produce some jitter. For better quality it is recommended not to check-it-off. VBR Method : Disabled and Output Samples : 48000 kbps.

Local CDDB Options

User can select local CDDB path. But, default is better. Remote CDDB path

Keep this settings as default ones.

Once configured as above, its ready to encode.

While encoding any musinc from CD, make sure to fill-in proper and appropreate data for Artist, Genre, Album and Year Tags. This data will reflect in your encoded file names. * --- * --- *