LAME - Definition and Overview

LAME is an open source MP3 (that is, MPEG-1 audio layer 3) audio compression application. LAME is a recursive acronym for LAME Ain't an Mp3 Encoder, although the current version is a stand-alone encoder. (see below)

The consensus (as of 2004) seems to be that LAME produces the highest quality MP3 files for (average) bitrates higher than 128 kbit/s. In a public listening test early in 2004, 128 kbit/s LAME MP3 files were the least detectable when compared to uncompressed audio. About 20 people participated in that listening test. [1] (http://www.rjamorim.com/test/mp3-128/results.html)

LAME endured some legal difficulties regarding Fraunhofer's patent on certain key algorithms involved in MP3 encoding, specifically U.S. Patent 5,579,430 and foreign counterparts. These patents were intended to prevent anyone from being able to create an MP3 encoder without paying licensing fees to Fraunhofer, something that is difficult to enforce for an open source program whose users live in dozens of countries, many of which do not recognize patents on algorithms.

At one time, LAME was simply a set of patches against the ISO demonstration source, which is distributed separately, hence the "Ain't an Encoder" name. That ISO code had a restrictive license and implemented some clearly patented algorithms but was available without charge. However, in May 2000, the LAME project reimplemented the last of the ISO source code; compiling recent versions of LAME no longer requires the ISO source code.

LAME compatible systems

• Grip, a front-end for use with GNOME (Linux)
• Lamedrop, yet another easy to use front-end for use of LAME in Windows, similar to OggDrop
• RazorLame (http://www.dors.de/razorlame/) (formerly RazorBlade), a Microsoft Windows front-end user interface for the commandline LAME Encoder executable, some background info can be found at http://jthz.com/mp3
• winLAME (http://winlame.sourceforge.net/), another much appreciated front-end for Windows

See also

• Vorbis
• Audio data compression
• HydrogenAudio forums (http://hydrogenaudio.org/), set up by Dibrom. Dibrom is the nickname of a metal music fan, who introduced the alternate presets as commandline preferences to the LAME developers (now included in the source code).

External links

• Lame settings (http://studenti.ing.unipi.it/~s234519/miscellanea/utilities.htm#lamesettings) web page
• LAME Website (http://lame.sourceforge.net/)
• LAME Win32 binaries (http://jthz.com/lame/)
• LAME source tarballs (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=290)
• LAME Mp3 Info Tag revision 1 Specifications (http://gabriel.mp3-tech.org/mp3infotag.html)