-w -q 100 -c 16000 - %d

Error flushing file (Object not found) : file://C:\...........

FAAC officially sounds terrible. Nero sounds pretty good. This is a TOS8 violation, but there are numbers on here somewhere that back me up...

Listening tests here at HA have shown the NeroAAC encoder to be better qualitywise than the FAAC encoder.

Nero AAC has improved quite a bit since that test, whereas FAAC has not.

2005-02-02  sur
    * libfaac:
        Directory kiss_fft added to the repository
    
    * libfaac/kiss_fft/README.kiss_fft:
        Instructions how to download and install kiss_fft library.
    
    * libfaac/coder.h:
        Added DRM-compatible FRAMLE_LEN, BLOCK_LEN_LONG, BLOCK_LEN_SHORT definitions.

    * libfaac/fft.c:
        Added interface to kiss_fft library to implement FFT for 960 transform length.
    
    * libfaac/fft.h:
        Added interface to kiss_fft library to implement FFT for 960 transform length.

    * libfaac/filtbank.c:
        960 transform length implemented.
    
    * libfaac/filtbank.h:
        NFLAT_LS definition changed to be 1024/960 transform length compatible.
    
    * libfaac/huffman.c:
        Fixed bug in Huffman_End.
        
    * libfaac/libfaac_dll_drm.sln:
        Win32 Visual Studio solution file to build DRM-compatible libfaac.
        This is experimental code, please do not use this project to build 'ordinary' libfaac.
    
    * libfaac/libfaac_dll_drm.vcproj:
        Win32 Visual Studio project file to build DRM-compatible libfaac. 
        This is experimental code, please do not use this project to build 'ordinary' libfaac.
    
    * libfaac/libfaacdrm.def:
        Win32 module definition file for libfaac_dll_drm project.

    * libfaac/util.c:
        Minor changes to make code 1024/960 transform length compatible.
            
2004-08-19  menno
    * frontend/main.c:
        Removed stupid comment in help of FAAC. RAW AAC files are USELESS,
        it seems that already some people encoded their collection using
        the -r option.
        typo, it's not bad to have this option, but people should be warned
        that they can get severe playback problems with RAW AAC files (anything
        other then 44100 will not be decoded properly unless you know that it
        has that samplerate). Seeking is also not possible on these files.

2004-08-06  danchr
    * frontend/main.c:
        TNS is no longer enabled by default (reported by guruboolez)
        documentation fixes in frontend
        default to mp4 for *.m4b as well

2004-08-02  danchr
    * configure.in, common/mp4v2/Makefile.am:
        linux portability fixes

    * frontend/main.c:
        NetBSD portability fix + fixing metadata bugs w/ sscanf().
        *BSD portability fix.
        fix --shortctl documentation.

2004-07-28  danchr
    * Makefile.am, bootstrap, configure.in,
    frontend/: Makefile.am, main.c,
    common/Makefile.am, common/mp4v2/Makefile.am:
        Darwin portability fixes, should help on Linux too

2004-07-27  menno
    * common/mp4v2:
        Directory /cvsroot/faac/faac/common/mp4v2 added to the repository

    * common/mp4v2/:
    3gp.cpp API_CHANGES INTERNALS Makefile.am README TODO
    atom_bitr.cpp atom_co64.cpp atom_cprt.cpp atom_ctts.cpp
    atom_d263.cpp atom_damr.cpp atom_dimm.cpp atom_dinf.cpp
    atom_dmax.cpp atom_dmed.cpp atom_dref.cpp atom_drep.cpp
    atom_edts.cpp atom_elst.cpp atom_enca.cpp atom_encv.cpp
    atom_esds.cpp atom_free.cpp atom_frma.cpp atom_ftyp.cpp
    atom_hdlr.cpp atom_hinf.cpp atom_hmhd.cpp atom_hnti.cpp
    atom_iKMS.cpp atom_iSFM.cpp atom_iods.cpp atom_maxr.cpp
    atom_mdat.cpp atom_mdhd.cpp atom_mdia.cpp atom_meta.cpp
    atom_mfhd.cpp atom_minf.cpp atom_moof.cpp atom_moov.cpp
    atom_mp4a.cpp atom_mp4s.cpp atom_mp4v.cpp atom_mvex.cpp
    atom_mvhd.cpp atom_nmhd.cpp atom_nump.cpp atom_payt.cpp
    atom_pmax.cpp atom_root.cpp atom_rtp.cpp atom_s263.cpp
    atom_samr.cpp atom_sawb.cpp atom_schi.cpp atom_schm.cpp
    atom_sdp.cpp atom_sinf.cpp atom_smhd.cpp atom_snro.cpp
    atom_stbl.cpp atom_stco.cpp atom_stdp.cpp atom_stsc.cpp
    atom_stsd.cpp atom_stsh.cpp atom_stss.cpp atom_stsz.cpp
    atom_stts.cpp atom_tfhd.cpp atom_tims.cpp atom_tkhd.cpp
    atom_tmax.cpp atom_tmin.cpp atom_tpyl.cpp atom_traf.cpp
    atom_trak.cpp atom_tref.cpp atom_treftype.cpp atom_trex.cpp
    atom_trpy.cpp atom_trun.cpp atom_tsro.cpp atom_udta.cpp
    atom_url.cpp atom_urn.cpp atom_vmhd.cpp atoms.h
    descriptors.cpp descriptors.h isma.cpp libmp4v260.dsp
    libmp4v2_st60.dsp mp4.cpp mp4.h mp4array.h mp4atom.cpp
    mp4atom.h mp4common.h mp4container.cpp mp4container.h
    mp4descriptor.cpp mp4descriptor.h mp4file.cpp mp4file.h
    mp4file_io.cpp mp4info.cpp mp4meta.cpp mp4property.cpp
    mp4property.h mp4track.cpp mp4track.h mp4util.cpp mp4util.h
    mpeg4ip.h mpeg4ip_version.h need_for_win32.c
    ocidescriptors.cpp ocidescriptors.h odcommands.cpp
    odcommands.h qosqualifiers.cpp qosqualifiers.h rtphint.cpp
    rtphint.h,
    frontend/: faac.dsw, faac.dsp, libfaac/libfaac.dsp,
    plugins/cooledit/: Cfaac.h, FAAC.dsp, FAAC.dsw,
    plugins/winamp/: Cfaac.h, out_FAAC.dsp, out_FAAC.dsw:
        Moved mp4v2 library to faac module and updated to newest version
        Will require some changes for linux makefiles I guess

    * configure.in:
        small linux patch

2004-07-18  corrados
    * libfaac/frame.c:
        New bandwidth settings for DRM, improved quantization
        quality adaptation (almost constant bit-rate now).

2004-07-13  corrados
    * libfaac/frame.c bitstream.c:
        bug fix with new object type definitions

2004-07-12  corrados
    * libfaac/: huffman.h, huffman.c, aacquant.c:
        VCB11 fixes

2004-07-08  corrados
    * libfaac/: psychkni.c, frame.c, bitstream.c:
        New scalefactorband table for 960 transform length,
        bug fix in HCR

2004-07-08  menno
    * plugins/winamp/: .cvsignore, CRegistry.cpp, CRegistry.h, Cfaac.cpp,
    Cfaac.h, FAAC.rc, Out_faac.cpp, RESOURCE.H, defines.h, mpeg4ip-v.bmp,
    out_FAAC.sln, out_FAAC.vcproj, CTag.cpp, CTag.h, EncDialog.cpp,
    EncDialog.h, id3v2.ico:
        Updated plugins for FAAC

    * plugins/cooledit/: .cvsignore, CRegistry.cpp, CRegistry.h, Cfaac.cpp,
    Cfaac.h, Cfaad.cpp, Cfaad.h, FAAC.rc, FAAC.sln, FAAC.vcproj,
    Faac.cpp, Faad.cpp, Main.cpp, aacInfoLib.dsp, aacInfoLib.vcproj,
    defines.h, mpeg4ip-v.bmp, resource.h, CTag.cpp, CTag.h, DecDialog.cpp,
    DecDialog.h, EncDialog.cpp, EncDialog.h, id3v2.ico:
        Updated plugins for FAAC

2004-07-04  corrados
    * libfaac/: huffman.c, frame.c, coder.h, bitstream.h, bitstream.c, aacquant.c,
    include/: faaccfg.h, faac.h:
        made faac compliant with Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) (DRM macro must be set).
        implemented HCR tool, VCB11, CRC, scalable bitstream order.
        note: VCB11 only uses codebook 11! TODO: implement codebooks 16-32.
        960 transform length is not yet implemented (TODO)! Use 1024 for
        encoding and 960 for decoding, resulting in a lot of artefacts.

2004-05-13  menno
    * plugins/winamp/: CRegistry.cpp, CRegistry.h, Cfaac.cpp, Cfaac.h,
    FAAC.rc, Open.bmp, Out_faac.cpp, RESOURCE.H, ReadMe.txt, defines.h,
    out_FAAC.sln, out_FAAC.vcproj:
        New plugins for FAAC with tagging

    * plugins/cooledit/: CRegistry.cpp, CRegistry.h, Cfaac.cpp, Cfaac.h,
    Cfaad.cpp, FAAC.rc, FAAC.sln, FAAC.vcproj, Faac.cpp, Main.cpp,
    Readme.txt, defines.h, resource.h, Open.bmp:
        New plugins for FAAC with tagging

2004-05-03  danchr
    * libfaac/:frame.c, version.h:
        bump version to unstable 1.24+

    * frontend/main.c:
        fix documentation bugs (per Hans-Jürgen's suggestions)
        enable (preliminary) multiple output file support

2004-04-23  danchr
    * libfaac/version.h:
        removing beta status

2004-04-22  danchr
    * frontend/main.c:
        set copyright notice to my full name

2004-04-16  menno
    * plugins/winamp/: CRegistry.cpp, CRegistry.h, FAAC.rc, Open.bmp,
    Out_faac.cpp, RESOURCE.H, ReadMe.txt, defines.h, out_FAAC.dsp,
    out_FAAC.dsw, AudioCoding.bmp, Cfaac.h, Email.bmp, mpeg4ip-v.bmp,
    Cfaac.cpp:
        New out_faac Winamp output filter code

    * plugins/cooledit/: CRegistry.cpp, CRegistry.h, FAAC.dsp,
    FAAC.dsw, FAAC.rc, Faac.cpp, Faad.cpp, Main.cpp, Readme.txt,
    TypeDef.h, aacInfoLib.dsp, defines.h, resource.h, Cfaac.cpp,
    Cfaac.h, Cfaad.cpp, Cfaad.h:
        New cooledit filter code

2004-04-16  danchr
    * configure.in, frontend/: getopt.c, main.c:
        change -a <kbps/channel> to -b <kbps>
        Darwin portability fixes
        Make LTP imply MPEG-4 AAC
        silence a few warnings

    * frontend/main.c:
        don't use stderr on Windows

2004-04-13  danchr
    * frontend/main.c:
        compilation and composer patch by Jordan Breeding
        undocumented single-letter switches removed
        numerous bug-fixes

    * libfaac/:frame.c, version.h:
        clarify release <> unstable status

2004-04-03  danchr
    * frontend/main.c:
        non-backwards compatible revamp of the FAAC command line
        interface.
        cover art metadata support based on patch by Jordan Breeding
        make TNS default
        fix typo + add GIF support

Here is an extract from the FAAC 1.25 Changelog since Feb 2004:

I don't know how to quantify "quite a bit" without another listening test.

...
Latest Nero AAC encoder (one that is free of charge and available in command line form) is a result of the complete encoder rewrite in late 2005 - it has nothing to do with the old encoders used in Roberto's tests.

And, yes, I do believe its quality is way above FAAC at any bit rate where AAC usage seems reasonable.

Here is an extract from the FAAC 1.25 Changelog since Feb 2004:

...
I do not see many quality changes in this log. Mainly frontends stuff and addition of DRM modes.

Again, from my personal experience I have found version 1.24 of FAAC to be quite usable and free of any obvious artifacts.

Well I did a FAAC vs Nero AAC test in Late 2005 and the difference was so easy to spot that ABXing was not needed.
However, you are free to do ABX test by yourself - and see how it looks like nowdays.

...This thread is about comparing the quality of Nero AAC versus FAAC. And all data we have suggests that the Nero encoder is the superior one.

Since you seem to disagree with everybody here, why don't you perform some ABX tests and show us the results?

Sorry I am travelling at the moment, but I'll surely upload something on Sunday.

Sure 175kbps (and 225kbps for MP3) is well above the range of transparency.  Try comparing them at 128kbps.

Of course that kind of testing does not settle the matter, I am quite aware of that, and anyways I am not trying to settle anything. All I am saying is that the superiority of NeroAAC vs. FAAC at all bit rates is not obvious at all.

Ivan Dimkovic
And, yes, I do believe its quality is way above FAAC at any bit rate where AAC usage seems reasonable.

I did a big test last year including faac with -q 82 setting. Quality was far worse than Nero AAC and iTunes AAC.
...

...
if you carefully read my post, you would notice this small little part:

Quote

Ivan Dimkovic
And, yes, I do believe its quality is way above FAAC at any bit rate where AAC usage seems reasonable.

At 175 kbps, you would prolly end up with MP3 sounding as good as AAC for many audio items, except on very hard to encode pieces where MP3 has algorithmic problems that can't be solved with the particular encoding strategy (e.g. Fatboy.wav)

...
However, if you pick some extreme samples, you would figure out that FAAC has problems with them even at such bit rate, and it is much safer to use Nero AAC (or any other well-tuned AAC encoder) because they are tuned extremely well.

It is mainly for your own safety - I would not like having few of my samples having nasty artifacts in them - and both FAAC and Nero AAC are free nowdays

We can now put 25,000 songs (with quality way below transparency level) instead of 12,500 (with quality at or above transparency level) on a 60GB iPod. Life is good again!