Wiki: Difference between revisions of "Encoding Guidance"

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:A.) INPUT FILES: Load your WAV file into winLAME
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''':A.) INPUT FILES:''' Load your WAV file into winLAME
 
[[image:VBR_Encoding_-_Step_1.png|400px|Step 1: Load your WAV file into winLAME]]
 
[[image:VBR_Encoding_-_Step_1.png|400px|Step 1: Load your WAV file into winLAME]]
 
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:B.) OUTPUT SETTINGS: Choose the output location where the finished MP3 should be placed
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''':B.) OUTPUT SETTINGS:''' Choose the output location where the finished MP3 should be placed
 
[[image:VBR_Encoding_-_Step_2.png|400px|Step 2: Choose the output location where the finished MP3 should be placed]]
 
[[image:VBR_Encoding_-_Step_2.png|400px|Step 2: Choose the output location where the finished MP3 should be placed]]
 
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:C.) PRESETS: At the Presets list, select Custom Settings
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''':C.) PRESETS:''' At the Presets list, select Custom Settings
 
[[image:VBR_Encoding_-_Step_3.png|400px|Step 3: At the Preset list, select Custom Settings]]
 
[[image:VBR_Encoding_-_Step_3.png|400px|Step 3: At the Preset list, select Custom Settings]]
 
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:D.) LAME SETTINGS: Select High for the encoding quality, and a quality level of 1
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''':D.) LAME SETTINGS:''' Select High for the encoding quality, and a quality level of 1
 
[[image:VBR_Encoding_-_Step_4.png|400px|Step 4: Select High for the encoding quality, and a quality level of 1]]
 
[[image:VBR_Encoding_-_Step_4.png|400px|Step 4: Select High for the encoding quality, and a quality level of 1]]
 
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:E.) ENCODING: Underneath "Encoding Control," click the arrow/play button, and you're all set!
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''':E.) ENCODING:''' Underneath "Encoding Control," click the arrow/play button, and you're all set!
 
[[image:VBR_Encoding_-_Step_5.png|400px|Step 5: Underneath "Encoding Control," click the arrow play button, and you're all set!]]
 
[[image:VBR_Encoding_-_Step_5.png|400px|Step 5: Underneath "Encoding Control," click the arrow play button, and you're all set!]]
 
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Revision as of 20:20, 17 February 2012

Guidance for Encoding MP3s

Need help encoding your music? We're here to help!

  • As our Submission Standards and Instructions mention, audio must be 16-bit, 44.1kHz stereo with a bitrate of either:
    • 192kbps (constant or average bitrate) *OR*
    • VBR1 (variable bitrate, quality = 1).
  • Both of these settings produce good results; VBR1 results in higher quality, but 192kbps may be easier depending on your software or personal workflow.
  • While some Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) allow exporting a song directly to MP3, we recommend exporting to WAV and then encoding with a separate application. This allows the most flexibility and also ensures you've got a backup WAV copy of your song if you need to re-encode!
  • We strongly recommend the LAME encoder; a good Windows frontend is winLAME. Additional frontends are listed at http://lame.sourceforge.net/links.php
  • If your DAW supports directly exporting to MP3 and you prefer doing it that way, that's fine, just make sure it supports either 192Kbps or VBR1!!
  • A walkthrough of encoding a WAV with winLAME is available below for reference.

winLAME Encoding Walkthrough

:A.) INPUT FILES: Load your WAV file into winLAME Step 1: Load your WAV file into winLAME

:B.) OUTPUT SETTINGS: Choose the output location where the finished MP3 should be placed Step 2: Choose the output location where the finished MP3 should be placed

:C.) PRESETS: At the Presets list, select Custom Settings Step 3: At the Preset list, select Custom Settings

:D.) LAME SETTINGS: Select High for the encoding quality, and a quality level of 1 Step 4: Select High for the encoding quality, and a quality level of 1

:E.) ENCODING: Underneath "Encoding Control," click the arrow/play button, and you're all set! Step 5: Underneath "Encoding Control," click the arrow play button, and you're all set!

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