mp3 encoder

[florin]

        Usually i'm coding music files to mp3 with 8Hz. However, i heard that 8Hz
development has stopped. Too bad, cause seemed to be a great encoder.
        What other good encoder do you know? I need one wich has a great sound
quality and is callable from scripts (command-line interface); i'd like, also,
if the quality were configurable through some command-line switches or so.

                                                        Florin Andrei