The BEST Way to Convert WAV to MP3

Tutorial on the application that I always use and recommend to convert WAV or WAVE files co MP3 format in the highest audio quality. It's free, open-source, extremely lightweight and no installation needed.

LAME MP3 Encoder

LAME Binaries

► BASICS SERIES - WRITTEN ARTICLES

MORE WOODY PIANO SHACK

[GertBoers]

Some 20 years ago lame was already the best mp3 encoder. Nothing has changed. 😉

[TheLethargicWeirdo]

Thanks for this! Turns out I was converting all my music at 128kbps and I didn't know why and this vid helped a lot!

[lundsweden]

Lame, what a name, but good free software, thanks for the tip Woody!

[maroon_thefox]

I can't make the bat file. When i do .bat it does nothing

[dykodesigns]

Audacity uses the Lame encoder as well, I remember from some years ago that you had to download separately as it wasn’t included because of the mp3 patents (who should have expired some years ago). About 20-15 years ago I used the ogg vorbis format which was fine with Winamp, but many hardware players at the time didn’t support it.

[whaleguy]

Reaper uses the LAME encoder for mp3s directly 🙂 I don't know if it ships with the encoder now since I installed the LAME encoder long ago when it came without it. That way I can export my project directly to mp3 from Reaper.

[HOLLASOUNDS]

I was using Goldwave to convert Wave to MP3 but something went wrong and it cant save MP3 files so I just use an android app.

[devans]

Thanks. While we are on the subject of music file formats, could you do a video explaining the best format and settings for project mixdowns??

[kaiaphasful]

You can use the Freeware Mediahuman Auduo Converter where you can Batch convert any format. Im using their paid Tube downloader for Youtube videos and i cant live without anymore

[Lunolux]

nice video, converting from the command line can be useful, when we have many file to convert at once (with script)

[RobertKreese]

I actually ripped my whole collection of CD's like 10-15 years ago. Did only go for 192 Kbps though wich I regret today. As a bonus I scanned all the covers and inluded in the mp3's too. That can be done in a program called mp3tag (and also name the mp3's correctly aswell). Still using Winamp to play mp3's, kinda nerdy. What is the best player these days?

[conan]

Great and concise video Woody 👍
I've been using for all my sound processing and editing tasks the MAGIX Sound Forge Pro (former SONY Sound Forge Pro) since version 9 or 10. A fantastic pro sound editor IMO.
But regardless of the soft used for the conversions, if going for mp3, always convert to the possible highest quality of 320k mp3, for me anything less is just sub-standard.

[charlespagano]

Which "quick link" would work for an Android tablet?
Thx

[kingrs]

Hi Woody, Excellent tutorial. I was worried you might start humming a tune during the tutorial and get pulled up for copyright violation again. There is a new series on TV Five called "the Bay" and there is a character in this that is the spitting image of you. Vincent Regan as Ray.
Lol

[jackpisso]

I still prefer the original Fraunhofer encoder. At 256 kbps.

[synchro]

Thank you. I've always wondered how LAME was installed/used in Windows.

[NotNoAndrew]

I use Apple Compressor but costs like $30 but supports many formats and can be used for audio and video encoding

[hartleygabolinscy]

Woody, I did all that...!
My toaster sprang into life immediately and produced 28 slices of evenly smoked and smoking fried bread.., my goldfish did backward summersaults across the lawn while the cat sat down and played cards with the dog from next door.
Just a portion of what normally happens when my software gets anywhere near me. The hoops one has to jump and words that require a dictionary just to get to the next page, let alone the next chapter. I’m softwared out... i’m a customer not a tech scientist. The only thing that put me off reel to reel tape machines was the ‘demagnetizing’ bit. Otherwise I would just get the sounds and multi-track., still.
I long for the days one just plugged gear into the wall and everything blew up. At least I knew where I was.
Never found the gear though !! Cheers Woody. 👍🎹👍

[randyharrigan]

dbPoweramp is much easier and more convinient imo

[nihonam]

Format Factory does all formats conversion. And is free.