[CentOS] Re: Capturing audio streams with Linux? -- I try to answer with assumptions (but please RTFM)

[Preston Crawford]

On Thu, 2005-09-15 at 13:32 -0700, Bryan J. Smith wrote:
> Again, RTFM.  This isn't an answer that is "use command X
> with options Y" non-sense.  Encoding is VERY SUBJECTIVE --
> and I make the assumption you are using "lame" as your
> encoder!  I've tried to _minimize_ by post as best as I can,
> but I'm sure some people will privately (or even publicly)
> bitch, moan and otherwise complain.  I ask you to read the
> man page, especially the "-lameopts," or you'll have to if
> you're not using "lame."
> 
> - SPLITTING FILES
> 
> To split files, the option is "-endpos".  You can put it in
> terms of hh:mm:ss.mm (integers default to seconds), or bytes
> (b), kilobytes (kb) or megabytes (mb).

I'll check into that. My main goal, in the end, is to break these files
off where they logically break off in the playlist. If you look at a
Real Audio playlist it usually has a file that defines a bunch of other
streams. I'd want to (and I once wrote a script that does this, but lost
it and don't particularly feel like recreating it) have it broken down
into the same logical breaks that NPR breaks it down into.

> Now you have to talk about the algorithm to the encoding
> rate.  This is why I said RTFM.  Assuming you're using lame,
> read up the manpage on "-lameopts".  The two base modes I
> typically use are constant bit rate (CBR) and average bit
> rate (ABR).  ABR is typically recommended, although try CBR
> if you have troubles with ABR -- passes might be an issue
> with real-time encoding.
> 
> Then there is the actual bitrate option in kpbs.
> 
> Then there are more subjective quality, algorithm quality,
> compression, etc...
> 
> So if you just want me to give you a set of options to try,
> since it sounds like you're listening to voice, use ABR with
> a bit-rate of 64kbps and see how that works.
> 
>   -lameopts vbr=3:br=64

Thanks.

> Again, there are no less than 30+ options/variables for just
> the lame encoder for MP3 under mencoder.  This is highly
> subjective, so I leave it to you to explore further.

I will. I appreciate the help.

Preston