In reference to audio encoders, Mark Orr said: >As far as encoders go, the two most popular for Linux >are LAME and BladeEnc. Both are command line, with >several graphical frontends available. There's some >debate as to which encoder sounds better.
which only addresses MP3 encoders. I realize Michelle's original question was about MP3, but I thought there might be interest in an open source alternative to MP3. MP3 encoding actually requires royalties ($25, though this is not really enforced), is patent protected, and the "free" encoder is limited to a certain bit rate (64kbps?) (http://www.mp3-tech.org/patents.html). Vorbis's ogg format is truly open and free, and because you can encode at a higher bit rate, of higher quality. I have found that the files are slightly larger, but it is negligible. from: http://www.vorbis.com/faq_listen.psp What is Ogg Vorbis? Ogg Vorbis is a new audio compression format. It is roughly comparable to other formats used to store and play digital music, such as MP3, VQF, AAC, and other digital audio formats. It is different from these other formats because it is completely free, open, and unpatented. More information about Ogg Vorbis can be found at Vorbis.com. Why are these files in .ogg format instead of .mp3? There are lots of reasons that content providers switch to .ogg format. Many files will compress to a smaller size with higher quality using Ogg Vorbis instead of MP3. MP3 also carries patent licensing restrictions which do not apply to Ogg Vorbis. Ogg Vorbis is an artist-friendly, technologically advanced audio codec. Releasing content in Ogg Vorbis is the best way to show support for the work done by the project. John Hebert __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! GeoCities - quick and easy web site hosting, just $8.95/month. http://geocities.yahoo.com/ps/info1 ================================================ BRLUG - The Baton Rouge Linux User Group Visit http://www.brlug.net for more information. Send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] to change your subscription information. ================================================
