LAME MP3 Encoder

Hey Crg:

A few things to point out here. The most recent LAME mp3 Encoder build is 3.98.2, and it's free. The Cakewalk MP3 Encoder that comes with SONAR 8 is LAME version 3.97 and there's a charge of about $20 USD to activate the Cakewalk MP3 Encoder.

A couple of guides to get the freely available LAME mp3 Encoder setup for use in SONAR:

http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.asp?m=1255631&mpage=1&key=

http://www.thirdtake.com/2007/11/15/sonar-mp3-encoding-with-lame/#comment-580

You may notice when using these setup guides, there is no mp3 converter GUI when converting your projects to mp3. There is a free front end for LAME called Lame Front-End 1.2. You can use this to add mp3 ID info to your mp3s outside of SONAR.

I want to do this inside of SONAR and I can do it using the Cakewalk MP3 Encoder which costs about $20. Another thing to know is that if you buy the mp3 activation from Cakewalk and you're using a X64 version of SONAR, you have to contact Cakewalk tech support to get what they call a x64 friendly version of the Cakewalk MP3 encoder activation.exe because the 32 bit version activation.exe doesn't work in the 64 bit Windows environment.

I just finshed going through this stuff, and I'm a happy camper, now.

Hope you find this info useful.

Cya around.

I was under the impression that as of Sonar 8 the MP3 encoder was included and didn't need to be purchased.???

As I understand it, the 30-day trial version is included...Usage past the 30-day limit requires purchasing the authorization/unlock key...In addition to SONAR I use Adobe Audition...I'm guessing that due to the huge amount of video editing that is done with Adobe products they managed to get a very reasonable "blanket" license fee to include Fraunhofer MP3 encoders with all of their products that have any audio options...For those who don't know the history behind the MP format, it was designed as a means to make audio files in motion pictures (MP...DOH!) manageable from a file size standpoint...Believe it or not, it's not a format that was developed by users who had visions of what an ipod could do...

I managed to set up the free LAME MP3 encoder as an export option within SONAR with no difficulty...I even posted specific instructions on how to do so (including which option would change the sample rate)...However, the instructions I set forth were for usage on an XP system...I cannot confirm the results on a Vista system and accept no responsibilities for any major screw-ups that might occur...

I think I found out how to get the Fraunhofer mp3 Encoder version 1.5 command line version to work in SONAR. I believe it's just like entering the info into the External encoder configuration utility just like with LAME in the guides.

Here's some info from the Fraunhofer mp3 Encoder site:

"OFL feature:
OFL (Original File Length) is a tool that puts information about the orignal file's length in the bitstream.
A decoder that is aware of such OFL information can analyze it and then decode the bitstream having the same
starting point and length as the original file (any codec delay or flushing at the end will be removed).
"-ofl" is the relevant switch.

VBR encoding:
the encoder can now produce bitstreams encoded with variable bitrate. Therefore five modes are provided that can
be invoked with the "-m"-switch.
"-m 1..5" (where "1" represents highest quality and "5" lowest average bitrate).
Note: When encoding in VBR mode, "-br 0" must be used. CBR encoding is applied by using "-m 0" and the desired
bitrate, e.g. "-br 128000" for 128kbit/s
VBRI header:
the encoder can prepend information about a VBR encoded bitstream by producing a so-called VBRI header
(VBRI = VBR Index table).
"-vbri" is the relevant switch."

Also I may be able to use the Fraunhofer mp3 Encoder for encoding mp3s of my own music and submitting them for contests where I wouldn't win over $100, 000 USD in a year period. Here's an excerpt from the Fraunhofer mp3 Encoder site addressing the question: Do I need a license?:

"However, no license is needed for private, non-commercial activities (e.g., home-entertainment, receiving broadcasts and creating a personal music library), not generating revenue or other consideration of any kind or for entities with associated annual gross revenue less than US$ 100 000.00."


Hum... interesting

ORIGINAL: Crg

So.. let me see, you get a trial version of the LAME 3.97 encoder with Sonar 8, meanwhile you can download 3.98 and the front end 1.2 for free and add them as encoders in Sonar 8? Meanwhile it is stated that Sonar 8 has an included Encoder? There seems to be some confusion here. I purchased the Fraunhoffer activation key back in Sonar 5 I beleive.

I believe CW uses a Fraunhofer-coding based MP3 device. LAME is a free device so I don't know how CW could legally charge a fee for "authorizing" its use with SONAR products. BTW, as I understand it, once you've purchased an authorization it should be valid for all versions of SONAR you're using.

I am interested in the LAME Encoder due to the advanced capabilities in terms of bit rate conversion that the old Fraunhoffer didn't have. Once again it's turned into a mess. I'm sure thry're both quite good, but what is the real skinny here?

I would suggest trying the LAME app...(and certainly I would check to see if the activation key you purchased is still valid).

OK I found some more info on the Cakewalk MP3 Encoder. This was info from a thread back in 2006, and Bob Damiano (a Cakewalk engineer/employee/Representative), shed some light on the matter. Here's a qoute of his post:

ORIGINAL: Bob Damiano [Cakewalk]

The Lame library that is built-in to SONAR exe must be activated. That's what Joseph is talking about. What you are talking about is using LAME.exe (or any other exe encoder) via our External Encoder framework (configure these by going to Tools|Cakewalk Ext Encoder Config). For many users, the built-in encoder is simpler to set up and a bit faster (because it doesn't have to bounce to an intermediate wave file first). Personally I use them both in different situations

ORIGINAL: Jesse G

Lame is Free it's on the Sonar 5 DVD... Don't tell me you paid Cakewalk or some other company $15 smackers for something that's free and works well.

Whooo These forums get funnier each and every day.

Boys and Girls, now you see why reading the Manual is fundamental !!!



Peace

This quote was from this thread: http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.asp?m=729163&mpage=1&key=Cakewalk%2CMP3%2CEncoderò²²”

So it may be that there still is a LAME library built into the SONAR.exe. I would reckon the activation fee is for the convenience that comes with using the Cakewalk MP3 Encoder ( with the ability to convert to mp3 without leaving SONAR, the easy changing of the bit rate, and ID3 info capability from the Cakewalk enocder GUI and stuff like that). I don't mind paying $19.00 for that convenience, yet any enhancements would be welcomed.

Again I ask: Any thoughts?