Topic awaiting preservation: Downgrade MP3 files

Hello,

I have MP3 files that are CD quality.

What software you recommend to do in one step MP3-Cd-Quality to another lower MP3 quality (for example 22khz) and to make mono instead of stereo.

thanks



Elias,

Well, I'm thinking I would just pick a sound editor that could handle MP3 files (such as Audacity), open my MP3 file, then save it as an MP3 with new settings. Too simple?

Musicmatch Jukebox can do this, it's free, and it may already be installed on your machine if it's newish. if not, go to www.musicmatch.com and snag it

Jason

Hello Perfect Thunder,

audacity is a nice program thanks for the link.

As I'm not an export sound file editor, I thought that I would have to convert the MP3 as a WAV file then from wav file reconvert it to mp3 with a different sample rate.

and actually that what I noticed audacity's doing.





Elias,

I can't let this thread to by without recommending LAME (Windows binaries here)and the Windows GUI front-end for it, RazorLAME.

LAME turns out the best quality mp3s I've ever heard, and is fast besides. It's top-notch open-source stuff, includes all the goodies (and then some) without all jewelry and excess baggage of other apps I've used. Doesn't put stuff in the tray, registry or any of that junk, doesn't ask you to join crap or sign you up for spam lists. It just encodes music. Full stop.

The one problem is it's a command-line application, hence the need for RazorLAME. Same stuff applies here. Does everything but tune your guitar and does in an accessible and in a no nonsense way.

Couple them with Exact Audio Copy for ripping. EAC also includes a full GUI interface to LAME, but I prefer RazorLAME.

My favorite feature of EAC is that it will rip DJ mix CDs without breaking them up into separate tracks. Continuous mixes stay continuous.

If you're looking for cutesy skins, clubby user groups and crap, look elsewhere. If you want top-quality encoding, you can do no better than LAME and RazorLAME. Top-quality encoding is no good without top-quality ripping--use EAC for that.

<edit: fix link. Ooopsie!)



[This message has been edited by brucew (edited 05-05-2003).]

What a difference a "U" can make!!

The lame address above is mispelled and directing to an adult site.
Try this: http://lame.sourceforge.net/

Silly me. Here I thought you were saying "I" could make a difference!

<deflates ego>

Fixed the previous post. Thanks for catching that.