Shareware program with limitations if you don't register after a month. Woah... up to $39 for a single license, but worth every yen.
 
Best audio format converter on the planet without a second, recently updated to ver 15.1.
 
http://www.dbpoweramp.com/
 
Takes out the mp3 codec and online links to CD info databases after a month. Allows all other functions to go on forever if you don't want to register.
 
"Codec Central" with updates to about anything you could want or need.
 
http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central.htm
 
15.1 installs with current wav, aiff, Flac,mp3 codecs. Have to visit Codec Central for Ogg and others not automatically installed. Mp3 codec is internal at 3.99.5. Unfortunately can't be replaced by a LAME_enc.dll to override, so the free approach is to install dBpower, let everything else crap out after a month and use the likes of WinLame or others to manage mp3 conversion.
 
http://sourceforge.net/projects/winlame/
http://lame.sourceforge.net/
 
 
Have had the registered version of dB since 9, and all the upgrades have been free. Have trusted this engine for years to do all my conversions with all available options under the hood. Always render a project as a wav file and turn the conversion over to dBpoweramp. Also has one of the fastest and stable CD rippers out there. Tagger and other functions.
 
Worth checking out because format conversion does not get any better.
 
John

I've had it so long I can't remember if I've got the original shareware or the paid with upgrades thingy. But yes...worth every penny and I'll gladly upgrade if I already haven't.

Thanks Ol Pal,
 
If you got the registered version from way back when they were selling for 19.95, all upgrades are free. Sailed thru about six major versions and haven't been charged anything yet.
 
If using the free shareware, then it is entirely worth doing mp3's thru the LAME encoder and some freely available GUI interface after the free trial of dB burns out.
 
Codec Central is awesome getting the latest upgrades on format conversion encoders. This database is accessed thru the program and you are alerted if there is any conversion update available. Friggin' beautiful program.
 
John

One thing I'd be concerned about and is DB retaining the ability to convert to 8bit Ulaw...which is a proprietary format, apparently, for many old on hold systems...even though it sucks donkey dongs. We still get requests from many clients to "downsample" to this bitrate. So...like it or not (NOT) we need this.

Hey Ol Pal,
 
Don't know how well this would get you covered, but Audacity does Ulaw conversion.
 
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
 
r8brain from Voxengo does about the cleanest bit and sample rate conversions available.
 
http://www.voxengo.com/product/r8brain/
 
Could reduce the bit depth if needed and reformat with Audacity. Most have probably seen a sample rate conversion comparison that also has r8brain. Some interesting information.
 
http://src.infinitewave.ca/
 
John
 

thanks!  I'll give it a look.

Random observation... If the data is correct, and no reason to doubt that it ain't so, couple slightly disturbing facts regarding the SRC analysis. Not a deal killer by any means, since we aren't routinely converting a ProTools 192 and up to red book CD 44.1k using Sonar, but...
 
Looks like we took a minor hit, emphasis "minor", on the transparency in conversion artifacts from Sonar 8.5 to X3. There is some bounce back aliasing into the audible spectrum (down to 2k) with X3, but less garbage happens in 8.5. Whatever we did in the engine upgrade is a backward step, on paper anyway. Only relevance of this may be that your pet bat might get upset. Might mean nothing in reality.
 
Reaper did considerably worse than Sonar 8.5.
 
Like with audio format conversion, I never trust any DAW to play with changes from anything other than what the project was recorded at. Always save as wav, and turf conversion tasks to external programs that are quality specialized for the job. Good news is that pristine operations can be done free.
 
John

Following this further (or backward). Curious as to what educated current thoughts are on an optimal sample rate for recording.
 
Also, my subjective experience in a realm that has been bitterly thrashed into oblivion and says I'm full of crap for even bringing this up. That a DAW sounds better than another DAW. Arguments about pan laws and null tests are out there, but when Sonar kicks in, there is a gratification point where the raw guitar audio signal is so solid and present. Can't get that elsewhere, even if the math says it don't exist. Presence of a refined, clean compression or something that lets me know I'm on the rock. Can hear the difference even if the data says I'm hallucinating.
 
Opinions are polar opposite about recording rate and sample conversion. Both seem real because each argument makes sense.
 
Idea that if you are going to make a CD, record at the standard 44.1k and 16 bit depth. Save some CPU grief since this is where it has to end up and why put up with conversion artifacts.
 
Other argument is that the aliasing mirror up top is taken out of the audible spectrum if you record at insane sample rates, and then convert to CD standards with a converter that won't throw in a lot of junk in the degraded conversion. Why I advised to look at r8brain.
 
Any thoughts appreciated on the best way to move forward.
 
John