Encoding Settings
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These settings determine what type and quality of encoding (compression) to use during the encoding processes used in ripping, recording, and converting.
To Access Encoding Settings go to Tools > Options > Encoding.
Encoding for
You can set 3 different encoding profiles (drop-down right at the top):
- CD Ripping
- File Conversion
- Sound Recording
Encoder
Encoder
When you want to “rip” (copy) a CD to your computer, you must select an encoder. The encoders listed in the drop-down menu are installed by default with a new Media Center installation (Note: not true for MP3 LAME decoder, installation starts upon selection). If the one you want is not listed, click on "For more encoders visit Encoder Plug-ins Page" (V14: Download more encoders... at the end of the settings page).
- External Encoder. If you already own a command line MP3 encoder such as Xing, Blade, Lame or Gogo, select this and enter the EXE path and parameters. If the encoder supports long file names, check the box.
- Monkey's Audio (APE). Monkey's Audio is super fast lossless encoder. It's significantly faster than competing lossless compressors (can process most albums in under 3 minutes on a 500 Celeron) Monkey’s Audio supports tagging, and supports all sample frequencies.
- Quality Settings: Fast, Normal (Recommended), High and Extra High. The last two compress the file the most, but the file will also be slower to decompress and play. The High setting only saves about 6MB of space over an entire CD. Use only when compression is crucial.
- MP3 Encoder. This plug-in is based on the LAME MP3 Encoder. By default, Media Center is set to encode in VBR* format. Select the Advanced button to set quality, bitrate, and any custom command line switches.
- OGG Vorbis. This creates files in the increasingly popular OGG format. This format is very compact and has quality that many consider superior to MP3. Unlike MP3, it requires no license fee.
- Windows Media. This creates Microsoft Windows media format files. Select the Advanced button to select between CBR, VBR and lossless. You can also enable Personal Rights Management.
- Uncompressed Wave. If this option is chosen, the incoming music files are not compressed. They are left as WAV files. Be aware that using this option, the data will take up about 10MB of disk space per minute of music.
Encoder settings...
The higher the quality, the more disk space the file will take. The quality settings appear in the Advanced tab, after you have selected a particular Encoder that supports these features. You choose the encoding bitrate according to your priorities: Quality (VBR Encoding) or Bitrate (ABR and CBR encoding).
- ABR (Average Bitrate) Encoding. Like VBR (Variable Bitrate), this mode allows for higher and lower bitrates, while maintaining an overall average. It is better quality than CBR, and produces smaller file sizes than VBR. Select the Average bitrate you want to use in the Target Bitrate box.
- CBR (Constant Bitrate) Encoding. This mode encodes the entire file at the same bitrate. The lower the selected bitrate, the more music you can fit on the disk but the poorer the sound quality. The default is 128 kilobits of data per second of music. This is the number that most people agree maintains CD quality sound while giving an excellent compression ratio. If you will be listening on home stereo equipment rather than your computer, you may prefer the 160 or 192 kilobit settings, or higher (or VBR).
Note: 128 kb/s has been the standard for a long time with slow internet connections and high storage prices. It is not recommended nowadays as it has perceibable lower quality than the original CD (except on portable devices with low quality ear phones). Use 192 (or 160) instead. Above 192 the differences are not significant and cannot be heard by normal listeners (with medium to good equipment). - VBR (Variable Bitrate) Encoding. With VBR, you select a bitrate (or a mode, from low to high), and the encoder varies the bitrate throughout the track while closely matching your selected quality level. The file size, however, is unpredictable (but often lower than CBR).
You have five bitrate choices to balance compact size vs. sound quality:- Normal. CD quality. This may be the best choice for most people especially for listening to music on the computer.
- High. CD quality. This might be a better choice for listening to music on home stereo equipment.
- Extreme. Archival quality. This would be a good choice for top quality home stereo equipment.
- Fast Mode. This provides the fastest encoding, but the quality is not as good as the “Normal” setting.
- Custom. If your encoder supports it, you can create your own custom commands (select the Advanced button after selecting your encoder). For LAME command line switches, see List of recommended LAME settings or do a search on the Interact board.
Options
- Delete temporary wave files when encoding is done: When media files are encoded, a temporary WAV file is created which is then converted to the desired media format and saved to the final media file. This option should be checked if you want the system to delete this temporary file after encoding is complete. The location of temporary and final media files is set in the Tools > Options > File Location Settings.
- Normalize to 95% before encoding: If you enter a value other than zero here, the volume of your music data will be raised (or lowered) to the percent of maximum that you specify before encoding. Usually you will either set this to zero to turn it off, or use a value between 95 and 100%.
- Rip and encode simultaneously: Only visible for "Sound Recorder". See: CD & DVD > Expert Options > Encode concurrently with ripping.