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Topic: Best AAC encoder (Windows) & Settings (Read 4702 times) previous topic - next topic
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Best AAC encoder (Windows) & Settings

Hello all!  I'm an old school encoder and have settled on Apple Lossless for my CD library and transcode to LAME -V0 for portability.

Recently I realized that most if not all my devices support AAC, and that it maybe more efficient from a space standpoint and potentially sound better.  I've scoured the forums for the better part of two hours now, and I'm wondering:

What is the best AAC encoder and what are the settings that will give me LAME -V0 results (with potentially smaller file size OR increased quality.

I DJ with a primarily lossless library for my "hits", but I have non hit tracks that were encoded back in 2006 with LAME -aps, I'm thinking of re-encoding these tracks (from lossless) to a more efficient format (AAC).

I don't have the space to allow all these non hit songs to be lossless either.

Your advice is much appreciated.

Best AAC encoder (Windows) & Settings

Reply #2 –
1. I think you will be safe using qaac with the default settings of Q 91 (~192 kbps). You will save some space compared to LAME at V0 and both should be transparent.

Here is one transparency test

2. If you want your AAC files to have about the size of LAME at V0, use qaac with Q 100 (~224 kbps) or Q 109 (~256 kbps).

3. You could use the iTunes Plus settings "-v256 -q2" if you don't mind a little more size and it makes you feel safer using the same settings as Apple (for iTunes Plus).

All of them should be transparent and a good choice. Ideally you would do your own ABX tests to see at which bitrate AAC is transparent to you. eahm postet the last listening test results showing how good the codecs became even at lower bitrates. So my recommendations are probably overkill. But since you like to choose the highest VBR option in LAME i thought you would prefer a higher bitrate for AAC to ease your mind. So feel safe using qaac with Q 91.

qaac Download
qaac Documantation
Make sure you have installed AppleApplicationSupport components.

Best AAC encoder (Windows) & Settings

Reply #3 –
I personally use QAAC with a setting of Q73 (because I mostly use my iPod in my car, which has a lot of ambient noise to mask any obvious artifacts that might pop up) and it sounds just fine to me. That might even be more than I need.

If your actual goal is "guaranteed" transparency, (Apple/QuickTime) AAC is considered transparent around ~128kb/s, possibly lower. You can (and should) do your own testing to see where the transparency point for your own hearing is.

If you're just looking to match LAME V0, then rudolf's suggestions should get you there.