Skip to main content ↑ ↓

Notice

Please note that most of the software linked on this forum is likely to be safe to use. If you are unsure, feel free to ask in the relevant topics, or send a private message to an administrator or moderator. To help curb the problems of false positives, or in the event that you do find actual malware, you can contribute through the article linked here.
Topic: Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO? (Read 15986 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

I am editing a MP3 sound file. For this I am using NERO WAVE 10. When saving the file in MP3 format, it offers two options MP3LAME and MP3PRO. Which is better? And what is the difference being the two?
 
The program also offers the options: Dolby Digital (AC3); Apple AIFF (aiff, aif); MP3LAME; MP3PRO; WMA; FLAC; MPG4 AAC (mp4, m4a); Ogg Vorbis (ogg); Windows PMC (wav, wave). Could someone please explain to me the differences and uses of these options?
 
Thank you!
 
Hugs to all!

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #2 –
When the MP3 was first created, some of the original sound (mostly, if not entirely, parts that your ears couldn't hear) was discarded in order to reduce the amount of information to be stored. To make it compress to a smaller size more easily, the remaining sound was stored with reduced precision, introducing some noise that's hopefully inaudible. The sound, then has been permanently altered during the MP3 coding process; it cannot be recovered. For this reason, MP3 is considered "lossy". AC-3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, and most WMA files are also lossy.

During editing and playback, all of these formats become PCM format: an uncompressed stream of raw samples which is sent to your soundcard or other physical device that converts the samples to the electrical signal driving your speakers or headphones. Likewise, when you are editing an MP3 in a wave editor, you are actually decoding the MP3 to PCM format first and editing that. If you were to save this edited PCM in a lossy format, it would result in further degradation of the sound and is generally not recommended, even though the changes may still remain inaudible. So, if you have the option of editing the original file from which the MP3 was made, that would be ideal. However, it's not imperative. If instead of saving it in a lossy format, you save it in a lossless format like .wav or .flac, I recommend naming the file something like "whatever.mp3.flac" or "whatever [sourced from MP3].flac", so that its lossy origins are clear.

In a nutshell:
  • WAVE (.wav) or AIFF (.aiff) = a convenient wrapper for raw PCM (usually), by Microsoft & Apple, respectively; has sample format info (bit depth, sample rate, # of channels) and basic metadata (performer/title/date/etc.).
  • FLAC (.flac) = a lossless, compressed format; uses ~30% less space than PCM; has robust metadata support, 2nd most popular noncommercial format behind MP3.
  • MP3LAME (.mp3) = Nero's name for ordinary MP3 as created by the LAME encoder; MP3 is lossy and compressed, with robust metadata support.
  • Ogg Vorbis (.ogg) = a lossy format similar to MP3 but not encumbered by patents (an issue affecting people who make & distribute MP3 encodes); also used by Wikipedia and related projects.
  • WMA (.wma) = Windows Media Audio, a lossy format (usually), generally only used by Microsoft products.
  • AC-3 (.ac3) = a lossy format used mainly in DVD authoring.
  • AAC (.aac, .m4a) = a lossy format that's basically MP3 with greater technical capability, more features, and less complexity.
  • MP3PRO = basically a dead format that tried to add one of AAC's features to MP3 to improve (sorta) the sound of low-bitrate files.


Hope this helps.

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #3 –
Quote from: dodo_maia on
I am editing a MP3 sound file


You might incur generation losses - that is, the "lossiness" part of encoding might degrade the signal each time you save. Depending on how many times, and on what you started with, it need not be audible, but be aware of it. Best practice is not to touch lossies more than you have to. As long as you only want to cut or change volume - that allows for some very primitive fading too - then mp3directcut can do it losslessly.

What are you doing?

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Porcus on
Quote from: dodo_maia on
I am editing a MP3 sound file


You might incur generation losses - that is, the "lossiness" part of encoding might degrade the signal each time you save. Depending on how many times, and on what you started with, it need not be audible, but be aware of it. Best practice is not to touch lossies more than you have to. As long as you only want to cut or change volume - that allows for some very primitive fading too - then mp3directcut can do it losslessly.

What are you doing?



Hello my friends! First I would like to thank the attention and help of all of you.

I'm a student, I usually do college and course notes during class. I broke my finger and had to immobilize the hand and could no longer write and then removed the splint to immobilize the hand and stayed with some sequels can not write right.

I started recording the lectures since he could not write and now I'm editing the audio of recorded lectures.

If someone knows something and can help me I will be very grateful.

Many thanks for the help , attention and time of all

hugs

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #5 –
OK, so it is speech, and you do not need more sound quality than picking up the content. That means you do not need to worry so much about the lossiness of it.

Anyway, you say you are "editing the audio". Does it mean you are splitting it? Or tagging it? Or, what do you actually want to do about the sound?

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Porcus on
OK, so it is speech, and you do not need more sound quality than picking up the content. That means you do not need to worry so much about the lossiness of it.

Anyway, you say you are "editing the audio". Does it mean you are splitting it? Or tagging it? Or, what do you actually want to do about the sound?


Hello Porcus ! These are editing audio files , because during the classes there is a free period for students to go to the bathroom and eat something if they are hungry .

There are also periods of recording where there is silence during class and the presentation of some video or other content that would not be so interesting to have in class audio file.

I'm Removing those periods that are not interesting to keep in audio recording software that I am using these options provides file format when you save my editing , so my doubt about the best format .

After finishing these edits I need a software to convert the audio into text , since my injury and I can not leave sequelae usually write , and having the audio files transforado in texts can study better shape and better absorb the course content during lessons .

All this came about because of this problem can not write . = ( 

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #7 –
Editing MP3 files without even de-/reen-coding can be achieved, depending on complexity, by programs such as mp3splt, mpTrim, and maybe some other I forgot. Then you would not have to worry about any loss of quality or which format to re-encode to, for you would be keeping the original file as-is except the bits you cut out.

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #9 –
Yeah, that sounds familiar and is probably it; thanks

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #10 –
Yep! Now for speech it is not so crucial, but it is better to learn how to do it The Right Way [tm]. The tools mentioned can cut out the parts you want from an mp3 file without making a new mp3 signal. Kind of like cutting a tape with a knife, avoiding the generation loss of a tape-to-tape copy.

Quote from: Porcus on
As long as you only want to cut or change volume - that allows for some very primitive fading too - then mp3directcut can do it losslessly.

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #11 –
Quote from: db1989 on
Editing MP3 files without even de-/reen-coding can be achieved, depending on complexity, by programs such as mp3splt, mpTrim, and maybe some other I forgot. Then you would not have to worry about any loss of quality or which format to re-encode to, for you would be keeping the original file as-is except the bits you cut out.



Hello db1989. Okay? I want these issues, but would like to maintain the quality and clarity of the audio, just to be able to do this operation, turn the audio file testo order to print and study.
Understood my intention and my concern now? =)
Thanks for your help and attention.
hugs

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #12 –
Quote from: TomasPin on
Quote from: db1989 on
(..) and maybe some other I forgot.

Mp3DirectCut, perhaps? I've been using that one for trimming and adding fade-outs. Great piece of software.


Hello TOmasPin. Okay?
This software looks great for editing! It will help me a lot and he 'more appropriate than the program I'm using (NERO WAVE 10).
Thanks for your help and attention.
hugs

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Porcus on
Yep! Now for speech it is not so crucial, but it is better to learn how to do it The Right Way [tm]. The tools mentioned can cut out the parts you want from an mp3 file without making a new mp3 signal. Kind of like cutting a tape with a knife, avoiding the generation loss of a tape-to-tape copy.

Quote from: Porcus on
As long as you only want to cut or change volume - that allows for some very primitive fading too - then mp3directcut can do it losslessly.




Hello Pocus! Okay?
Okay now I'm learning the right way to edit and the right tool to use.
So my question what is the best format to finalize a file. =)
Thanks for your help and attention.
hugs

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #14 –
Quote from: db1989 on
Editing MP3 files without even de-/reen-coding can be achieved, depending on complexity, by programs such as mp3splt, mpTrim, and maybe some other I forgot. Then you would not have to worry about any loss of quality or which format to re-encode to, for you would be keeping the original file as-is except the bits you cut out.


Hello bd1989.
Thanks for the indications for use of software.
Will help me a lot! =)
Thanks for your help and attention.
hugs

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #15 –
Did you try the program? I think you'll will find the correct answer when you do. Basically the original format, not re-encoded.

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #16 –
Quote from: markanini on
Did you try the program? I think you'll will find the correct answer when you do. Basically the original format, not re-encoded.


Hello markanini. Okay?
I have not had chance to test the programs listed, but want to test them as soon as possible.
Yes I end up seeing the testing results.
The original format is perhaps the best of them, but as I said need to edit them.
Which software do you recommend? What file format would recommend?
Thanks for your help and attention.
hugs

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #17 –
We can all read the replies ...

I have used mp3directcut, the others mentioned could be more user-friendly, but I have not needed to try them. Likely you can use any of them.

Now here is the main point regarding format: These save in the same (mp3!) format as the input file, because they do not decode and encode - they just cut out the part of the mp3 stream that you want. There is nothing to choose, and there is no quality to lose either.

Of course, keep a backup of your old files in case you destroy something.

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #18 –
See it this way. Your original is a mp3, a lossy format. By editing a lossy file and re-encoding to a lossy format you risk quality loss. Mp3DirectCut is a specialized software that edits the mp3 file directly, so no chance of quality loss. So the final format will be the same as the original: mp3. You could also re-encode to a lossless format like wav or flac but this only makes sense if the original was lossless, if your original was lossy you can't recover any quality that was lost.

Let us know if you are unclear about any terminology.

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #19 –
Quote from: markanini on
See it this way. Your original is a mp3, a lossy format. By editing a lossy file and re-encoding to a lossy format you risk quality loss. Mp3DirectCut is a specialized software that edits the mp3 file directly, so no chance of quality loss. So the final format will be the same as the original: mp3. You could also re-encode to a lossless format like wav or flac but this only makes sense if the original was lossless, if your original was lossy you can't recover any quality that was lost.

Let us know if you are unclear about any terminology.

This somehow covers what it's been said so far regarding lossy-to-lossy conversion.

As a matter of fact, the thread above belongs to our FAQ, where many a persistent, dejavu newbie question wouldn't have probably seen the light of day, had their authors bothered looking their doubts up there in the first place. 
• Listen to the music, not the media it's on
• The older, the 'lossier'

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #20 –
Quote from: Porcus on
We can all read the replies ...

It's actually kinda amusing seing someone else's nicknames (not our own, of course) being put through their paces every other post just for kicks, erm, Hocus(?) "Pocus"?
• Listen to the music, not the media it's on
• The older, the 'lossier'

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #21 –
Hello my friends. Okay?
After a time absent on account of ill health, now I'm back.
Thank you all for your help.
hugs

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #22 –
Quote from: Porcus on
We can all read the replies ...

I have used mp3directcut, the others mentioned could be more user-friendly, but I have not needed to try them. Likely you can use any of them.

Now here is the main point regarding format: These save in the same (mp3!) format as the input file, because they do not decode and encode - they just cut out the part of the mp3 stream that you want. There is nothing to choose, and there is no quality to lose either.

Of course, keep a backup of your old files in case you destroy something.


Hello Porcus. Perhaps you are wondering how to respond to topics like me here on the forum starting my answer always named who I'm responding. It craze my writing. Sorry. (laughs)
You are quite right, the topic here is about the format of the audio file.
Yes, I'm sharing this concern with the size and quality file because I want to turn them into text to be printed out and read then to be able to study, so my concern with the quality.
And you're right, it's a good idea to keep the original file as a backup safety.
Thank you.
hugs

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #23 –
Quote from: markanini on
See it this way. Your original is a mp3, a lossy format. By editing a lossy file and re-encoding to a lossy format you risk quality loss. Mp3DirectCut is a specialized software that edits the mp3 file directly, so no chance of quality loss. So the final format will be the same as the original: mp3. You could also re-encode to a lossless format like wav or flac but this only makes sense if the original was lossless, if your original was lossy you can't recover any quality that was lost.

Let us know if you are unclear about any terminology.


Hello Markanini!
Thanks for the tips on Mp3DirectCut.
As said earlier, this world of audio is new to me, and I'm still an amateur, novice on the subject.
I still fumble a bit in terminology.
lossless is a lossless quality. Is it?
lossy-to-lossy is transforming a file to another file without quality loss. Is it?
Thanks for the help.
hugs

Please guys, which is better audio format MP3LAME or MP3PRO?

Reply #24 –
Quote from: includemeout on
Quote from: markanini on
See it this way. Your original is a mp3, a lossy format. By editing a lossy file and re-encoding to a lossy format you risk quality loss. Mp3DirectCut is a specialized software that edits the mp3 file directly, so no chance of quality loss. So the final format will be the same as the original: mp3. You could also re-encode to a lossless format like wav or flac but this only makes sense if the original was lossless, if your original was lossy you can't recover any quality that was lost.

Let us know if you are unclear about any terminology.

This somehow covers what it's been said so far regarding lossy-to-lossy conversion.

As a matter of fact, the thread above belongs to our FAQ, where many a persistent, dejavu newbie question wouldn't have probably seen the light of day, had their authors bothered looking their doubts up there in the first place. 


hello includemeout. Okay?
You're right, I'm a newbie and am trying to learn and better understand the world of audio editing.
hugs