Aqua-Soft ForumsIS there a FREE AAC/MP4 encoder/re-encoder/cd ripper for Windows?
I wanna switch from mp3 to m4a
Aac Encoder For Pc?
I've been looking into this too, ihartmacz, and I've come up with very little... What I have found, however, is that, for Windows use, there's very little around in the way of AAC support for commonly used media players (Winamp, WinMP, Real, I dunno about the rest), be this in the form of plugins, or anything else...
If, however, you want to get into the task of using command line players, codecs, and the like, then there's a fair amount of stuff to play with out there... Just google for "windows AAC codec", and take your pick of the results...
Being a long time Windows Media Player user, this is all of little use to me, because no-one seems to have any interest in producing a WinMP AAC codec... So even though I can use PsyTEL's AAC codecs with CDex to re-encode all my mp3s, I've got no intention of using a player which doesn't have media-management capabilities akin to WMP...
Steve
Good find 
I've seen the light!!!!!!! And does it sound good! OK, encoded a Mp3 file to WAV and then re-encoded the WAV file to AAC, thats right AAC! An actual AAC file... instead of a 30MB WAV i now have a 6MB AAC!!! mmm... Im going to rip a CD and i cant wait to hear it even better!!!!!!!!!
You guys (with out iTunes 4) dont know what you are missing! QCD w/ the plugin on its site will play it too, so you have a nice player that looks identical to iTunes 4.1 and now you can even have AAC, and put it on your iPod if you have one!
But only if you have Nero - Burning ROM! You have to get Nero, Nero is not skinnable, but it kicks major ass! Halla'!
I have been using Nero to do all of my MP4 audio coding and it sounds pretty close to Quicktime's files. I have ran a few quality tests and MP4 encoded by either Quicktime & Nero are alot better than MP3. Alot less noise and when compared to the actual WAV file, my ears can't tell the difference. I am using Nero 6 Ultra Edition and it supports batch encoding, while Quicktime is annoying to have to import and export the songs into it each track. I used faac and decided that Nero still sounded the best, too many flaws in the program whereas Nero is clean and easy to use with the best quality.
Thanks,
Clotz
I've seen the light!!!!!!! And does it sound good! OK, encoded a Mp3 file to WAV and then re-encoded the WAV file to AAC, thats right AAC! An actual AAC file... instead of a 30MB WAV i now have a 6MB AAC!!! mmm... Im going to rip a CD and i cant wait to hear it even better!!!!!!!!!
:lol: HA HA HA. You are becoming like Jmitch.
MP3 --> AAC will sound WORSE than either of those two. You dont get it. They are lossy codecs. Example:
WAV:
00000000000000000000000000000000
0000000000000000
0000000000000000
MP3:
0000000000000000000000000
000000000
000000000000000
AAC:
000000000000000000000
000000000000000
000000000000
MP3 --> AAC:
00000000000000
000000
00000
Do you see? MP3 and AAC both physically remove data. There is NO way to get this data back. And since each takes away different bytes, you end up with a horrible song.
The MP3 --> AAC could not have sounded better. It defies physics. Unless AAC can magically bring data back.
@contrasutra: Wow! good point! I'm glad someone finnally explained it the way i think! Thank you so much!!
Now your gunna tell me my files will sound better on NTFS! :smartass:
Thanx!
@everyone, im using anouther encoder plugin for nero, its in th link i poster earlier... in case you missed it..
And download: PsyTEL Advanced Audio Coding
Its da bomb
Now your gunna tell me my files will sound better on NTFS!
:lol:
They might take up less space.
You should all also try OGG. IMO, its the best, and of course, its playable (at least via plugin) in all audio players. Its open source and its a good wholesome codec.
And all OGGs use Variable Bitrate (VBR), so they take up much less space, or you can make it much higher quality.
EDIT:\\ ihart: Did you just change your avatar? 
I think im going crazy.
Yeah, I don't recommend going from MP3 to MP4. Only from direct WAV to MP4.
I can play MP4 in QCD & Winamp via plugins as well, and by my hearing (maybe it's going bad, hehe) MP4 sounds better. I have never tried OGG so can't judge it's quality. I'm also going for future compatibility with the MP4 codec, I'm sure ths will be around for quite some time. Anyways, just my 2 cents worth.
Later,
Clotz
Ill do a comapisong between them to see which sound better... Don't worry they will be ripped from CDs
the test will include the song "Good Charlotte - Motivation Proclamation"
OGG - 500Kbs
ACC - 500kbs
mp3 - 320kbs
so if these are uineven, tell me
OK the only reason i am double posting is... i couldnt edit the previous post...
I am siencerly sorry for any incoveinionce i have cause an admin or mod 
Edit: yes, I did update my avitar numerous time ta'day!
The best audio codec out is MPC at high bitrates (220 kbps) but at 128kbps, OGG powa 
Seriously, try MPC, you'll be really impressed.
I just have to say, (from the test) mp3 was toatally messed up!
Here is a comparison....
aac, awesome sound no complaints! at 435 kbs its very good sounding! (yes it was ripped from a CD) the total file weighed in at about 8 MB (yes, i kno it all depends on the FS constra!)
ogg vbr @ 100%: very clear! 11 MB! what! wow! this was directly encoded from the CD, i like the quality, but the file size was not cool!
ill have to try MPC quick
Try FLAC as well. Its a lossless codec, so the file sizes are bigger, but it has perfect quality.
Hey,why don't you post the files you made so we can all hear.
If you're gonna post the song files, just do a 15-30 second version of it (including the original WAV) just for legality's sake. That should be enough for all of us to listen and compare.
In case you forgot ihartmacz, this was discussed previously here and there was a test comparison done using different AAC encoders here.
i'm gonna try the plugins for nero someone listed before...
i just have to say one thing about my experience with MP3 & AAC (MP4)... psytels aac encoder is based on the AAC MPEG2 standard, the AAC apple's iTunes uses is the AAC MPEG4 standard codec... so far the only plugin compatible that i know of is the one that comes bundled with nero...
that plugin will encode to a *.MP4 file, if you rename to .M4A you can play those files in iTunes, that can only be achieved with a true AAC MPEG4 Audio Codec, not the AAC MPEG2 psytel has...
so far in windows, i've only been able to play those files in Quicktime and in QCD with the AAC Decoder plug-in...
as i wrote this, both AAC plugins for NERO were downloaded... now, let's try them and see...
Are you sure pystel uses Mpeg2? I didn't think that was a free format. I have yet to see a free mpeg2 encoder. But then again, I havent looked too hard.
MPEG2 layer audio for AAC that is...
well i did my first test with the AudioCoding.com AAC codec and it seems to work fine with my setup... great sound quality.
i read on a post in this thread someone making a sound quality test on high bitrate... it's difficult to tell wich one is better if you go hi bitrate... 128kb+... try encoding an mp3 in 96kbits or less and to the same with a AAC... you will hear the difference from heaven to earth! AAC is soooooo much better at low bitrates
lol ok, ill spend some time tomorrow spitting and ripping... All plugins will be set to encode at their highest quality!
so..
Mpc - Braindead - May not be included...
AAC - 500 (as high as the plugin allows)
OGG VBR - 100%
Mp3 VBR 100%
PCM WAV - 44100 Stereo
Im too tired to do it now, plus my hand itches... keep in mind, if you dont want to get in trouble dont share the audio I'm giving out! The chosen song is "Green day - Basket Case" it's a great song plus, is quite in the first 10 secs so you can actually pick out the noise or silence in the background.
I recomend using QCD because it is very good im my opinion and is the only good app i know of that plays most audio w/ a plugin, and is FREE and Skinnable...
See duckie for his wonderful iTunes 4.1b skin - Big props to Duckie!
@Contra - I dont know of a player to play AAC on Linux, I hope you do!
Ogg and AAC are cool but both of them dont offer a significant savings on file size over MP3. Also the fidelity is'nt drasticly better than MP3. Thats what im waitin for. A 2-3 meg OGG, AAC or whatever that sounds as good as a 5-7 meg mp3. Then Im a switcher.
Originally posted by ihartmacz@Jul 14 2003, 05:01 AMI just have to say, (from the test) mp3 was toatally messed up!
Here is a comparison....
aac, awesome sound no complaints! at 435 kbs its very good sounding! (yes it was ripped from a CD) the total file weighed in at about 8 MB (yes, i kno it all depends on the FS constra!)
ogg vbr @ 100%: very clear! 11 MB! what! wow! this was directly encoded from the CD, i like the quality, but the file size was not cool!
ill have to try MPC quick
You cannot compare, OGG was VBR and AAC CBR
Also, if you want to encode MP3, you have to use the very good CD Ripping software which I don't remember the name and use Lame with --alt-preset extreme. This combo gives the best mp3 file you can have.
For the CD ripping software, all I remember is that it gives you a log file with the audio loss for each track.
I think the one siwu is thinking of is Exact Audio Copy. It's what I use to rip my mp3s to put on my iPod, and I've absolutely no complaints.
Get it at http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/