External Codecs in Audiograbber

To use any of the external codecs mentioned on the Audiograbber Introduction Page you need to specify, via the command line, parameters you require the codec to use. Unlike internal codecs you just cannot make a selection! The arguments below are based on the recommended settings for each encoder.

To set up all the codecs you need to go to the MP3 Settings and then select External Encoder. Sadly Audiograbber does not save any of the command lines you fill in so you need to remember them or write them down somewhere. If you only use one encoder at the same setting then you are safe!

For ease of use I recommend extracting the encoders into Audiograbber's directory. Finally before I start Audiograbber comes complete with Predefined Arguments for external encoders. However none of these meet my needs (with the exception of FLAC) and concentrate on the lower bitrates so you will need to select User Defined from the predefined arguments list.

Note: This page is about what encoders can be used with Audiograbber and the parameters required. It is not a discussion on which codec is best etc. That is up to you to decide.

Thanks to Jackie and Hans-Jurgen for help on some of the arguments.

Each encoder needs to be set up in the same way (see image below for an example):

• Select MP3 Settings
• Select External Encoder
• Browse and select the external encoder (i.e LAME.exe, FAAC.exe etc)
• Depending on the encoder you selected Audiograbber defaults to a predefined arguement. We don't want this so select User Defined
• Write your command line in Arguments leaving %s %d in front of any argument you may write unless stated otherwise (see below for arguments) %s is the placeholder for the source filename (the ripped wav-file). %d the placeholder for the destination filename.
• Enter the file extension (i.e.... mp3. aac, mpc)
• Don't Select Encoder is capable of using stdin/stdout as a data stream - this is only if you want to use the encoder as an internal one and use the direct rip and encode feature.
• Don't select use Encoder as an internal encoder
• Under Launch Encoder leave as Audiograbber Currently Is or Normal (it doesn't matter).
• Back to the top of the settings dialog and select MP3 via intermediate wav file. Delete the wav file.
• For mp3 files only you can select Use ID3V1 tag for file information. Select and edit the data although the bulk of it should be there if you used freedb or entered anything in the main Audiograbber or line-in sampling screens. You will get ID3V2 tags written automatically unless you switch them off.
• Press OK

You have set up the external encoder. You are now ready to rip a CD or encode a wav file.

Note that when you encode using an encoder a DOS or Command box will appear. Leave this be!

The External Encoders and their Arguments

Lame MP3

Ogg Vorbis

Musepack

Gogo MP3

TooLame MP2 Encoder

I-tunes AAC Codec

FAAC and Tagged MP4/M4a Files (Version 1.24)

FAAC untagged aac file (Version 1.24)

Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC)

NERO AAC Codec

NERO AAC Codec without Tags

Monkeys Audio (3.99)

Wavpack Lossless (4.1)

Wavpack Hybrid (4.1)

Optim Frog Lossless

Optim Frog Dual Stream

TTA Lossless Audio 3.0

Shorten

Lossless Audio

Notes

All external links open in a new window

MP3 Settings for LAME 3.96.1

UPDATED Lame 3.96.1 (Current stable release)

If you use the latest version of lame.exe (currently 3.96.1) then there is no need for the --alt to precede the argument as previously was required. The argument is now:

%s %d --preset standard

Extension mp3

To use an average bitrate enter --preset <k/bits> i.e. %s %d --preset 192. To use a constant bitrate enter %s %d --preset CBR 192

LAME MP3 (using the Hydrogen Audio recommended 3.97.b2 version)

Arguments (see example above)

Using this preset %s %d -V 2 --vbr-new

This will give you a high quality bitrate file around 190 - 220 k/bits

Extension mp3

Remember to select Use ID3V1 and ID3v1.1 Tags and switch off ID3v2 tags (unless you want ID3v2 Tags)

By default this compile of lame now adds replaygain information to your files. If you do not want replaygain information use this as an argument:

%s %d -V 2 --vbr-new --noreplaygain

Recommended settings - V(number) where number is 0-9, 0 being highest quality, 9 being the lowest.

For more see the Hydrogen Audio Wiki page on recommended settings or this page which has all the switches within lame itself.

UPDATED Ogg Vorbis (using Recommended aoTuV beta 4.51)

Argument -q 6 -a "%1" -t "%4" -l "%2" -d "%6" -N "%3" -G "%7" %s

Extension ogg

Other Settings

You can specify another quality rate dependent on the bitrates you are after:

These settings, with the exception of -2 & -1 can be used in any version of the Ogg Vorbis encoder.

See the Hydrogen Audio Ogg forums for more information and the recommended settings for more explaination of the settings and different ogg encoders.

UPDATED Musepack (Using recommended mppenc 1.15v versions).

If you use the 1.15v version there is no need to specify the x-level switch with this build. So the argument would now is :

With Tags  --quality 5 --artist "%1" --title "%4" --album "%2" --year "%6" --track "%3" --genre "%7" %s

Extension mpc

See the Hydrogen Audio Musepack forums and the recommended settings for more information.

Gogo MP3 version 3.13

Arguments %s %d -v 2 -m j -q 3 This will give a VBR file of around 190 k/bits

Extension mp3

What do the settings mean? v relates to vbr quality on a scale between 0-9. m j means that the encode mode is joint stereo. q is the setting for quality on a scale between 0-9. See the gogo help for more.

Remember to select Use ID3V1 and ID3v1.1 Tags and switch off ID3v2 tags (unless you want ID3v2 Tags)

There is a wealth of information on Hydrogen Audio's mp3 forums.

TooLAME MP2 Encoder

Arguments %s %d  -p 2 -v 5 This will create a file using the default bitrate of 192 kbps and using the default psychoacoustic model.

Extension mp2

Another example argument is %s %d -p2 -m s -b 192 -V5

This example is using the second psychoacoustic model, using stereo with a variable bitrate around 192 k/bits.

Remember to select Use ID3V1 and ID3v1.1 Tags and switch off ID3v2 tags (unless you want ID3v2 Tags)

More information on the settings can be found here. This explains the different psychoacoustic models.This is a link to the Project Page.

I-tunes AAC Codec

You can use Audiograbber to call upon the i-tunes AAC encoder if i-tunes is installed on your computer. To do this you need to download a small file called itunesencode. Once downloaded and extracted to Audiograbber's directory select itunesencode.exe as the external encoder. The parameters for the encoder are set within itunes so make sure the required bitrate is selected before you start.

Arguments -e "AAC Encoder" -a "%1" -l "%2" -t "%4" -g "%7" -y "%6" -n "%3" -i %s -o %d

Extension m4a

With the above argument the files that have been ripped remain in the itunes library. If you do not want them to be part of the itunes library you can add a switch to delete the library entry but not the actual file.

-e "AAC Encoder" -a "%1" -l "%2" -t "%4" -g "%7" -y "%6" -n "%3" -i %s -o %d -d

Note the -d at the end of the argument. This is the switch required as mentioned above.

You can also use itunesencode to rip using itunes lossless AAC or mp3 codec - see the help file for more.

Free Advanced Audio Coder (FAAC) version 1.24.1 and Tagged MP4/M4A Files

Under version 1.24 the tagging arguments have changed. Unlike with previous versions there is no need to specify the -w switch if you want to create mp4 or m4a files. You just change the extension. Also -o is added to the argument for rippers like Audiograbber. Note where this is in the argument. It must always precede the %d.

Argument %s -o %d --artist "%1" --title "%4" --album "%2" --year "%6" --track "%3" --genre "%7" -q 100

Extension mp4 or m4a

Tag Changes in v1.24

There are other tagging switches like --cover-art that will add any GIF, JPG or PNG file on your HDD to the output file. See the FAAC help for more.

Free Advanced Audio Coder (FAAC) version 1.24.1 and untagged aac files

To create untagged aac files (they cannot be tagged with the argument above) use:

Argument %s -o %d -q 100

Extension aac

You can use MP3tag or Foobar to tag the files or you can give them APEv2 tags:

• Download wapet and extract to Audiograbbers directory
• Under external mp3 program name select wapet.exe
• Select USER DEFINED from Predefined Arguments
• Enter the following argument %d -t "Artist=%1" -t "Title=%4" -t "Album=%2" -t "Year=%6" -t "Track=%3" -t "Genre=%7" faac.exe %s -o %d -q 100
• If faac.exe isn't in search path (i.e.Audiograbber's directory) you need to specify full path for it.
• Change File extension to aac
• Press OK and grab as normal

Other FAAC Settings - Copied from FAAC Page at Audiocoding.Com

 UPDATED Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) 1.1.2

Arguments -T "artist=%1" -T "title=%4" -T "album=%2" -T "date=%6" -T "tracknumber=%3" -T "genre=%7" %s

Extension flac

Before encoding remember to disable both id3v1 and id3v2 tags from Audiograbbers Settings Menu or your file will be corrupt.

NERO AAC Codec

You need to haver a copy of registered copy of Nero for this to work. This has been tested on Nero 5 & 6 and should work on version 7. You need to download a copy of Nero Front ends (rar file via Rarewares) and extract this to the Audiograbber directory. You will also need two files from your Nero installation. Locate NeroIPP.dll and aacenc.dll and copy them to the Audiograbber directory.

The example here uses normal which will give you a file averaging 180 kbs. If you want a constant bitrate file change the first part of the argument to -cbr 128 (or your preferred bitrate).

Note that the encoder changes the extension from mp4 to m4a as part of the encoding process. If you specify m4a in the argument tags will not be written.

Argument -vbr normal -artist "%1" -album "%2" -track "%3" -title "%4" -genre "%7" -year "%6" %s %d

Extension mp4

Monkeys Audio (3.99)

Argument %s %d -c3000

Extension ape

-c3000 specifies high compression. Other options include -c2000 (normal compression) and -c3500 (extra high compression)

Monkeys Audio accepts id3v1, id3v1.1 and id3v2 tags. I recommend using id3v1 (and then select id3v1.1 if you want track number information) which you should set in the mp3 settings dialog box.

If you want Moneys Audio with APEv2 tags disable both id3v1 and id3v2 tags from Audiograbbers Settings Menu and do the following:

• Download wapet and extract to Audiograbbers directory
• Under external mp3 program name select wapet.exe
• Select USER DEFINED from Predefined Arguments
• Enter the following argument %d -t "Artist=%1" -t "Title=%4" -t "Album=%2" -t "Year=%6" -t "Track=%3" -t "Genre=%7" mac.exe %s %d -c3000
• If mac.exe isn't in search path (i.e.Audiograbber's directory) you need to specify full path for it.
• Change File extension to ape
• Press OK and grab as normal

UPDATED Wavpack 4.31 Lossless

Argument -m -w "Artist=%1" -w "Title=%4" -w "Album=%2" -w "Year=%6" -w "Track=%3" -w "Genre=%7" %s

Extension wv

Before encoding remember to disable both id3v1 and id3v2 tags from Audiograbbers Settings Menu or your file will be corrupt.

More on Wavpack arguments

UPDATED Wavpack 4.31 Hybrid

This argument produces a lossy file and a correction file so you can restore a full lossless file at later date. This is ideal if you store the lossy file on your PC and the correction file back up on an external hard drive, DVD, CDR etc.

Argument -m -b200 -c -w "Artist=%1" -w "Title=%4" -w "Album=%2" -w "Year=%6" -w "Track=%3" -w "Genre=%7" %s

Extension wv

What the switches mean:

-c =Correction file. If you just want the lossy file and not the correction file just omit the -c switch.

b200 = -bxxx enables lossy mode with target bitrate xxx = 24 - 400 kbit/s as example, or
xx = 1 - 23 for used bits per sample and -c enables the magic lossless & lossy Hybrid mode of WavPack by creating a correction file.

Before encoding remember to disable both id3v1 and id3v2 tags from Audiograbbers Settings Menu or your file will be corrupt.

Now the bad part. Audiograbber does not expect the correction file (extension wvc) so it just keeps the name as temp.wvc. If you are ripping a whole album in this way you will get a message if you want the previous temp file over written. If you select yes the correction file is overwritten and selecting no means the codec exits. The developer of wavpack recommends ripping to wav and using a wavpack frontend, such as this one from Speek, should you wish to create hybrid and correction files.

More on Wavpack arguments

Optim Frog Lossless (v4.509)

Argument %s %d --encode --mode normal

Extension ofr

Optim Frog Lossless accepts id3v1, id3v1.1 and id3v2 tags. I recommend using id3v1 (and then select id3v1.1 if you want track number information) which you should set in the mp3 settings dialog box.

If you want Optim Frog Lossless with APEv2 tags disable both id3v1 and id3v2 tags from Audiograbbers Settings Menu and do the following:

• Download wapet and extract to Audiograbbers directory
• Under external mp3 program name select wapet.exe
• Select USER DEFINED from Predefined Arguments
• Enter the following argument %d -t "Artist=%1" -t "Title=%4" -t "Album=%2" -t "Year=%6" -t "Track=%3" -t "Genre=%7" ofr.exe --encode --mode normal %s %d
• If ofr.exe isn't in search path (i.e.Audiograbber's directory) you need to specify full path for it.
• Change File extension to ofr
• Press OK and grab as normal

Other arguments that can be used (taken from the Optim Frog Lossless help file)

--mode {fast|normal*|high|extra|best|highnew|extranew|bestnew} specify the compression mode to be used. The default value is normal. For general use, I recommend the normal, extra, and extranew modes

There are plenty of other options - see the help file for more.

Optim Frog Dual Stream (v4.509)

This encoder produces a lossy file and a correction file (similar to Wavpack Hybrid) so you can restore a full lossless file at later date. This is ideal if you store the lossy file on your PC and the correction file back up on an external hard drive, DVD, CDR etc.

Argument --encode --quality 5 --correction %s %d

Extension ofs

If you just want the lossy file and not the correction file just omit the --correction switch.

Optim Frog Dual Stream accepts id3v1, id3v1.1 and id3v2 tags. I recommend using id3v1 (and then select id3v1.1 if you want track number information) which you should set in the mp3 settings dialog box.

If you want Optim Frog Dual Stream with APEv2 tags disable both id3v1 and id3v2 tags from Audiograbbers Settings Menu and follow the instructions for Optim Frog Lossless lossless and change the argument to:

%d -t "Artist=%1" -t "Title=%4" -t "Album=%2" -t "Year=%6" -t "Track=%3" -t "Genre=%7" ofs.exe --encode --quality 5 --correction %s %d

Remember to change the extenstion to ofs!

Now the bad part. Audiograbber does not expect the correction file (extension ofc) so it just keeps the name as temp.ofc. If you are ripping a whole album in this way you will get a message if you want the previous temp file over written. If you select yes the correction file is overwritten and selecting no means the codec exits. I suggest ripping to wav then using Speeks Dual Stream frontend (not the kermit frontend on the same page) should you wish to create lossy and correction files.

Optim Frog Dual Stream Quality (--quality) usage guidelines (taken from the ofs help file)

0: ranging from 183 - 265, on average 236 kbps should be distinguishable from the original in ABX tests
1: ranging from 209 - 295, on average 268 kbps possibly distinguishable from the original in ABX tests
2: ranging from 242 - 326, on average 302 kbps possibly distinguishable from the original in ABX tests
3: ranging from 277 - 362, on average 339 kbps, default normally undistinguishable from the original in ABX tests
5: ranging from 351 - 443, on average 418 kbps transparent, suitable for archiving and transcoding
6: ranging from 392 - 486, on average 458 kbps transparent, on average 3:1 compression for CD audio

TTA Lossless Audio (version 3.0)

Argument -e2 %s -o %d

Extension tta

the -e followed by a number signifies compression level. Use -e3 for high compression -e2 for normal compression and -e1 for fast compression. -o is the output file.

TTA accepts id3v1, id3v1.1 and id3v2 tags. I recommend using id3v1 (and then select id3v1.1 if you want track number information) which you should set in the mp3 settings dialog box.

Shorten (version 3.6.0)

To get Shorten working you only need to enter %s %d in the argument field. This will convert your file to the default settings. There are some additional settings you can enter (refer to Shorten's help file). In Audiograbber enter these after %s %d.

Argument %s %d -(other switch - See Shorten help)

Extension shn

Lossless Audio (0.4b)

To get Lossless Audio working you only need to enter %s %d in the argument field. This will convert your file to the default settings. There are some additional settings you can enter. In Audiograbber enter these after %s %d as the example shows:

%s %d -high

Extension la

Lossless Audio accepts id3v1, id3v1.1 and id3v2 tags. I recommend using id3v1 (and then select id3v1.1 if you want track number information) which you should set in the mp3 settings dialog box.

Other Lossless Audio Arguments (taken from the Lossless Audio website)

Notes

You may see other arguments on other websites that you would like to use with Audiograbber. These may well have tag arguments but when you use them instead of where the tags should be you have letters. This is because Audiograbber uses numbers instead of letters to insert the tags. You will need to change the letters to numbers based on the following table:

Note 2: You can view the commands for external codecs from the command line. In a DOS or COMMAND PROMPT box just type the location and name of file. For example C:\Codecs\lame.exe - if you need to change directories the DOS Command is cd. An example would be C:\My Documents cd C:\Codecs\lame.exe. When I get the time I will add the exe help files for all the codecs to this page.

Note 3: For updating any of the codecs see the information on the Obtaining Codecs page.

Comments

If you have any comments or suggestions on these arguments then please let me know.

Resources (all links open in another window)

• Hydrogen Audio - loads of information here.
• Cases Audio Compression Guide A lot of the arguments adapted for use with Audiograbber.
• Users Guide to EAC & wavpack Hybrid I got the wavpack hybrid parametes here.
• Audiograbber Website or try these international sites German - Dutch - Brazilian - French
• Audiograbber Forums - for ideas and problems