I need an HE-AAC (AACplus) encoder

[theaveng]

I'm trying to squeeze some old-time radio drama programs to 16 kbit/s and the standard AAC provided by Itunes is not cutting it.

I need a (free) HE-AAC encoder with SBR so it will sound halfway decent.

Thanks!

[theaveng]

Alternatively I'll take an MP3pro encoder at 16 kbit/s.

Or a Vorbis encoder at 16 kbit/s.

(From what I've read, these are all good for ultra-low bitrates.)

[Midzuki]

I need a (free) HE-AAC encoder

Winamp.

Alternatively I'll take an MP3pro encoder at 16 kbit/s.

Or a Vorbis encoder at 16 kbit/s.

lame --longhelp says:

MPEG-1 layer III sample frequencies (kHz): 32 48 44.1
bitrates (kbps): 32 40 48 56 64 80 96 112 128 160 192 224 256 320

MPEG-2 layer III sample frequencies (kHz): 16 24 22.05
bitrates (kbps): 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 80 96 112 128 144 160

MPEG-2.5 layer III sample frequencies (kHz): 8 12 11.025
bitrates (kbps): 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 80 96 112 128 144 160

and toolame (.mp2 encoder) says:

Allowable bitrates for 16, 22.05 and 24kHz sample input:
8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 144, 160

Allowable bitrates for 32, 44.1 and 48kHz sample input:
32, 48, 56, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 160, 192, 224, 256, 320, 384

HTH.

============

[theaveng]

I need a (free) HE-AAC encoder

Winamp.

Um yeah. But. I was messing with Winamp yesterday, trying to do a conversion from MP3 to HE-AAC. But. Where in Winamp's menu is the "convert one Audio file into another" option? I don't see that. All I see are a bunch of options to PLAY songs, not to output a converted version?

[edit] [Never mind. I see I have to upgrade to Winamp Pro.]

lame --longhelp says:

MPEG-2 layer III sample frequencies (kHz): 16 24 22.05
bitrates (kbps): 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 80 96 112 128 144 160
MPEG-2.5 layer III sample frequencies (kHz): 8 12 11.025
bitrates (kbps): 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 80 96 112 128 144 160

Yeah cool, but that's not MP3pro (MP3+SBR). LAME just does standard MP3. Checking wikipedia it appears MP3pro is a failed codec with next-to-no support.... so I won't pursue that any further.



I just did some testing with WMA Encoder 9. That seems adequate even as low as 10 kbit/s (16 kilohertz sampling) (8000 Hertz bandwidth). I don't like supporting MonopolySoft, but right now it seems my only option to compress the OTR dramas into a teeny-tiny size.

[Midzuki]

Where in Winamp's menu is the "convert one Audio file into another" option? I don't see that. All I see are a bunch of options to PLAY songs, not to output a converted version?

http://forum.videohelp.com/topic338148.html#1760333

+++++++++++++++++++++

[theaveng]

http://forum.videohelp.com/topic338148.html#1760333

Sweet!

I just did a test conversion to HE-AAC at 12 kbit/s (36 kHz sampling) (16000 hertz bandwidth).

In comparison to HE-AAC, WMA sounds like crap. I love HE-AAC..... I don't understand why so many people & device programmers ignore it.

[Midzuki]

Sweet!

I just did a test conversion to HE-AAC at 12 kbit/s (36 kHz sample).

So it worked for you? GREAT!

That makes WMA sound like crap. I love HE-AAC..... I don't understand why so many people & device programmers ignore it.

Would it be because m4a smells like Apple?
Only a guess, do not take this very seriously...

[theaveng]

No. AAC is not an Apple-developed product. It's part of the MPEG4 spec.

The real secret is the +SBR that extends the high-frequency components..... otherwise AAC without SBR would sound like a telephone (poor).

So it worked for you? GREAT!

Yep. Now I can start squashing those old-time radio dramas from 64 kbit/s MP3 to 12 kbit/s HE-AAC with only minimal loss.

I see two codec options. I don't imagine there's any difference, but thought I'd better check:
- HE-AAC Encoder v1.26
- MPEG4/HE-AAC Encoder v1.26

[Midzuki]

No. AAC is not an Apple-developed product. It's part of the MPEG4 spec.

Actually, I was thinking about this:

While much less popular than MP3, its sustainability is currently maintained by it being the default Apple iTunes codec, the media player which inter-operates with the iPod, the market leading digital audio player.[7] Furthermore, the iTunes Store, whose sales account for 85% of the market for legal online downloads in the US, [8] sells AAC-encoded songs (mostly encapsulated within FairPlay Digital Rights Management).

{ source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.AAC#Marketing_aspects }

And maybe you'd like to take a look at this too:

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm


+++++++++++++

[theaveng]

Why am I looking at DBamp? I don't understand your point.

No. AAC is not an Apple-developed product. It's part of the MPEG4 spec.

Actually, I was thinking about this:

While much less popular than MP3, its sustainability is currently maintained by it being the default Apple iTunes codec, the media player which inter-operates with the iPod, the market leading digital audio player.[7] Furthermore, the iTunes Store, whose sales account for 85% of the market for legal online downloads in the US, [8] sells AAC-encoded songs (mostly encapsulated within FairPlay Digital Rights Management).

Oh.

I don't own an Ipod, so I didn't make that connection. When I think AAC, I usually think of Shoutcast and Winamp, because I listen to their HE-AAC streams. Also AOL Radio. And XM satellite. And DAB (digital audio broadcasting) or HD Radio.

I don't understand why Itunes only does AAC, not HE-AAC. I tried using Itunes to convert my MP3s to a smaller size, but without the HE part, it just wasn't any good. Apple ought to upgrade. Anyway...

I ripped my MP3-CDs today.
Instead of 40 gigabytes (36 kbit/s),
they now occupy about 11 gig (10 kbit/s).

Good deal. Those radio dramas didn't fit onto my c: hard drive previously, but now they do, so I'm all set to kill time at work.

[davidsama]

i do not own an ipod either

[theaveng]

I recently purchased a thing off Ebay that is made by Best Buy (insignia brand). The reason I like this Insignia MP3 player better than an Ipod is because it has an:

- FM Radio

So if I grow tired of listening to my own music, I can switch-over to hear what new music is being played by the DJs.