Re: wav to mp3 script

On Sunday, November 20, 2011 07:43:14 AM Chris wrote:
> On Sun, 2011-11-20 at 07:01 -0500, James Francis wrote:
> > And where might we find it, should we ever need to do the same?
> > Thanks,
> > James
> > 
> > Sent from my iPod
> > 
> > On Nov 19, 2011, at 11:44 PM, Chris <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > Please disregard my previous request, I found a tiny script using
> > > google
> > > (which I should have done in the first place) that will batch convert
> > > all wav files in a folder to mp3s.
> 
> I should have included the link, guess I was getting way too tired:
> 
> http://linuxpoison.blogspot.com/2008/02/script-to-convert-wav-to-mp3.html
> 
> You do need LAME installed for it to work.

Most people want tagged MP3's, so it is much better to use
a program specifically designed for ripping audio CDs, which
will look up the CD info online.  These can also save the tracks
as FLAC files rather than WAV files.  FLAC files are full resolution
but generally about half the size of WAV files, plus have a
standard for tagging (unlike WAV files).  Then you can rip your
CDs once and store the full resolution audio forever, possibly
converting it to different compressed formats/resolutions as
desired.  There are also networked audio players that will
allow you to directly play the FLAC files (e.g., Logitech Squeezebox).
I have several of the Squeezebox players and have ripped most
of my hundreds of CDs into FLAC files.  Being able to instantly
play any track from any of 700+ CDs is quite wonderful.  And
they are full CD quality not--not 128k or 192k bit rate MP3--which
as Gene says, often sounds quite poor through a good hifi
(though might be acceptable for ipod-like device--though I use
320kbps MP3s on my ipod).  (Actually, companies like hdtracks.com
sell >CD-quality FLAC files as well as CD quality.)

As for the script, well it is fine if you don't care about tags, but
there are better scripts floating around that will convert FLAC
to MP3 and keep the tagging info (plus naming tracks as you
might want, from the tags).

You might try creating MP3s at various bitrates and then listen
to them on the target device.  I would consider your script's
192kbps to be a poor choice.  Try comparing a 192k version to
a 320k (max bitrate) version.  If you cannot distinguish them
on the target device, then stick with 192k.  Otherwise, either
go right to 320k or try some intermediate values (see the
lame man page for legal values).
Norm