MPEG-1 Layer II Header Chart | Conversion Programs Tested | Conversion Results

MP2 CONVERSIONS BY PROGRAM - SHORT AUDIO

Allen Rieland, rieland@wpr.org, Wisconsin Public Radio - Last Updated January 30, 2007 - for PRSS

OUTPUT OUTPUT CONV OUTPUT PADDING PRSS

PROGRAM, VERSION, PLUGIN OS PROGRAM CONVERSION SETTINGS* IN BYTES SECONDS TIME STATUS & COMMENT OK?

256Kbps Conversions

Adobe Audition V1.5
with OpenSource MP2 Plug-in Win Save-as MPEG, uncheck "Extra non-audio information", In Options; select Layer 2, Model: Musicam, De-Emphasis: None, Data Rate: 256. Check: Joint Stereo, Uncheck: Error Protection, Original, Copyrighted. Click OK. 3,318,597 1:43 00:18 No Padding Option and Default is On. NO

Adobe Audition V2.0
with Qdesign MP2 Plug-in Win Save-as Qdesign MP2. Uncheck "Save Extra Non-Audio Information". Under Options, select Layer 2, Studio Model, Joint Stereo, 256kbps. 3,314,950 1:43 00:16 No Padding Option and Default is Off. Settings menu buried. Can not rename file root YES

Awave Audio V9.1 or V10 Converter Win Add files to select WAV, Next, Select MP2 CBR Format, 256kbit/s, Quantization Round to Nearest Integer, Stereo. Under More Options, uncheck "ID3 Tags for MP2 files". Check "Write Joint Stereo for MP2 files". Click Start. 3,314,950 1:43 00:26 No Padding Option and Default is Off. Settings menu buried. Can not rename file root YES

CDEX V1.51 or CDEX V1.70b2 Win F4 (settings), Generic tab: Uncheck normalize. Filenames Tab: Filename=%4, set "Wav-MP3 Output" to Mp2 destination folder. Encoder Tab: Select Internal MP2 Encoder, MPEG-1, On the fly MP2 encoding, 256kbps, J-Stereo, No Options checked except "Allow No Padding", VBR=None. OK. In main window. Settings can be "saved". F11 for "Convert WAV to Compressed FIle", Set folder of WAV file, highlight WAV file, uncheck all options. Convert. 3,314,950 1:43 00:05 Complicated to set up, but settings can be saved to a Profile. Once Profile is set, you can select it and press F11 to convert, but assumes destination is always the same folder. YES

dBpowerAMP V9 & Rel 11.5 Win Select File to Convert, Select Toolame MP2, Bitrate: 256kbps, Mode: Joint Stereo, Set Output Folder, Uncheck both Normalize & Preserve ID Tags 3,318,596 1:43 00:06 Basic converter, Simple to operate but Defaults to Padding On NO

Easy Hi-Q Converter V1.0 & 1.7 Win Navigate to source Wav file, then add file(s) to Conversion List. Click Options, Select MP2, 441000Hz HiQ, 256Kbps Studio, Stereo. Uncheck "Copy ID3 Tags to New Files". Specify destination file folder. OK. 3,317,760 1:43 00:05 Padding and CRC Error Correction On by Default. Easy Navigation. Will convert a file to several formats at once. NO

PRX Converter
(44.1KHz Version "09/29/2004") Win Drop WAV file onto Icon or open program. Output file with MP2 extension will be delivered into same folder. 3,314,950 1:43 00:09 No Options. Simplest Program Available YES

PRX Converter
(44.1KHz Version "09/29/2004") OSX Drop WAV file onto Icon or open program. Output file with MP2 extension will be delivered into same folder. 3,314,951 1:43 00:10 No Options. Simplest Program Available YES

Sony Sound Forge Audio Studio V8.0a with MainConcept Standard Plug-in Win Save-as MainConcept MPEG-1. Uncheck "Save Metadata with File". In Custom section, Audio tab: Mode: Joint Stero, Model: 1 (or 2), Layer: 2, Bit Rate: 256, Emphasis: No, Sample Rate: 44100. Unchecked CRC, Copyright and Original options. 3,318,596 1:43 00:13 Padding On by Default. Can save settings into standard template. File output has .mpg extension so must be renamed. NO

Sony Sound Forge V8.0d
with MainConcept Premium Plug-in Win Save-as MainConcept MPEG-1. Uncheck "Save Metadata with File". In Custom section, Audio tab: Mode: Joint Stero, Model: 1 (or 2), Layer: 2, Bit Rate: 256, Emphasis: No, Sample Rate: 44100. Unchecked CRC, Copyright and Original options. 3,318,596 1:43 00:14 Padding On by Default. Can save settings into standard template. File output has .mpg extension so must be renamed. Leaves extraneous work files NO

WinXMedia CD MP3-WAV-WMA Converter V1.0.91 Win Preset MP2 encoder for MPEG-1, 256kbps, J-Stereo, No options selected except "Allow No Padding". No VBR, No Normalizing, No ID3 Tagging. Then Add File to Conversion list, Select MP2 Encoder, Select Output Folder, Click "Start Convert". 3,314,950 1:43 00:02 Settings buried. Similar to CDEX. Faster than CDEX but not free. YES

128Kbps Conversions

Adobe Audition V2.0 w/ Qdesign MP2 Plug-in (128kbps Conversion) Win Save-as Qdesign MP2. Uncheck "Save Extra Non-Audio Information". Under Options, select Layer 2, Studio Model, 128kbps. 1,655,490 1:43 00:07 Source must be mono for mono output. YES

Awave Audio V9.1 Converter (128kbps Conversion) Win Add files to select WAV, Next, Select MP2 CBR Format, 128kbit/s, Quantization Round to Nearest Integer, Mono. Under More Options, uncheck All MPEG Options related to MP2. Start. 1,655,490 1:43 00:13 Settings buried. Can not rename file root YES

CDEX V1.51 or CDEXV1.70b2 (128kbps Conversion) Win F4 (settings), Generic tab: Uncheck normalize. Filenames Tab: Filename=%4, set Wav-MP3 Output location. Encoder Tab: Select Internal MP2 Encoder, MPEG-1, On the fly MP2 encoding, 128kbps, Mono, No Options checked except "Allow No Padding", VBR=None. OK. In main window. Settings can be "saved". F11 for Convert WAV to Compressed FIle, Set directory of WAV file, highlight file, uncheck all options. Convert. 1,655,490 1:43 00:03 Complicated to set up, but settings can be saved to a Profile. YES

dBpowerAMP (V9 ?). Also Release 11.5. (128Kbps Conversion) Win Select File to Convert, Select Toolame MP2, Bitrate: 128kbps, Mode: Stereo, Set Output Folder, Uncheck both Normalize & Preserve ID Tags 1,659,298 1:43 00:05 Defaults to Padding On. No option for Mono output file. NO

PRX Converter (44.1KHz Version "09/29/2004") Win Drop WAV file onto Icon or open program. Output file with MP2 extension will be delivered into same folder. 1,655,490 1:43 00:04 No Options. To convert to Mono MP2, WAV must be Mono. YES

PRX Converter (44.1KHz Version "09/29/2004") OSX Drop WAV file onto Icon or open program. Output file with MP2 extension will be delivered into same folder. 1,655,491 1:43 00:05 No Options. To convert to Mono MP2, WAV must be Mono. YES

Sony Sound Forge Audio Studio V8.0a (128kbps Conversion with MainConcept Standard Plug-in) Win Save-as MainConcept MPEG-1. In Custom section, Audio tab: Mode: Mono, Model: 1, Layer: 2, Bit Rate: 128, Emphasis: No, Sample Rate: 44100. Unchecked CRC, Copyright and Original options. 1,659,298 1:43 00:10 Padding On by Default. Can save settings into standard template. File output has .mpg extension so must be renamed. NO

WinXMedia MPEG Converter V1.0.91 (128kbps Conversion) Win Preset MP2 encoder for MPEG-1, 128kbps, Mono, No options selected except "Allow No Padding". No VBR, No Normalizing, No ID3 Tagging. Then Add File to Conversion list, Select MP2 Encoder, Select Output Folder, Click "Start Convert". 1,655,490 1:43 00:02 Settings buried. Similar to CDEX. Faster than CDEX but not free. YES

NOTES:

1. Output file size in bytes, time and frame length were determined using MPEG Audio Info V2.1 by Konrad Windszus. Exact filesize varied slightly due to output name.

2. Macintosh OS-X output files and their conversion times were supplied by Scott Bridgewater.

3. The input file for conversions to 256kbps was called ttbook-test.wav (16 bit, 44.1KHz PCM) and was exactly 103.700 seconds (1:43.700) in length.

4. The input file for conversions to 128kbps monaual was called ttbook-testm.wav (16 bit, 44.1KHz PCM) and was exactly 103.700 seconds (1:43.700) in length.

5. File conversions to 128kbps were done using both stereo and monaural source WAV files, but some programs needed a Monaural source file for Monaural output..

6. Except for Adobe V2.0, the PC doing the Windows-based conversions was running Win 2000 SP4 with a Pentium 4, 2.6GHz processor with 2GB of DRAM

7. For the Adobe V2.0 with QDesign tests, the PC used was running Windows XP SP2 with a Pentium 4, 3.4GHz processor with 2GB DRAM

8. For all conversions, as much as possible, we tried to set the internal MPEG flags as follows: (Some programs had fewer options available than others)

a) MPEG-1 Layer II

b) 128kbps or 256kbps using 44,100Hz sample rate

c) For the 128kbps conversion, use Monaural. For the 256kbps conversion, use Joint-Stereo mode if available

d) MPEG Model: Musicam (if option available)

e) Constant Bitrate (CBR) (or "No VBR")

f) Frame Padding: Off (or "Allow No Padding": On)

g) CRC (error correcting): On

h) Copyrighted Material: On

i) Original Media (not copy): On

j) Emphasis: None

MP2 CONVERSIONS BY PROGRAM - SHORT AUDIO
Allen Rieland, rieland@wpr.org, Wisconsin Public Radio - Last Updated January 30, 2007 - for PRSS

			OUTPUT	OUTPUT	CONV	OUTPUT PADDING	PRSS
PROGRAM, VERSION, PLUGIN	OS	PROGRAM CONVERSION SETTINGS*	IN BYTES	SECONDS	TIME	STATUS & COMMENT	OK?
256Kbps Conversions
Adobe Audition V1.5 with OpenSource MP2 Plug-in	Win	Save-as MPEG, uncheck "Extra non-audio information", In Options; select Layer 2, Model: Musicam, De-Emphasis: None, Data Rate: 256. Check: Joint Stereo, Uncheck: Error Protection, Original, Copyrighted. Click OK.	3,318,597	1:43	00:18	No Padding Option and Default is On.	NO
Adobe Audition V2.0 with Qdesign MP2 Plug-in	Win	Save-as Qdesign MP2. Uncheck "Save Extra Non-Audio Information". Under Options, select Layer 2, Studio Model, Joint Stereo, 256kbps.	3,314,950	1:43	00:16	No Padding Option and Default is Off. Settings menu buried. Can not rename file root	YES
Awave Audio V9.1 or V10 Converter	Win	Add files to select WAV, Next, Select MP2 CBR Format, 256kbit/s, Quantization Round to Nearest Integer, Stereo. Under More Options, uncheck "ID3 Tags for MP2 files". Check "Write Joint Stereo for MP2 files". Click Start.	3,314,950	1:43	00:26	No Padding Option and Default is Off. Settings menu buried. Can not rename file root	YES
CDEX V1.51 or CDEX V1.70b2	Win	F4 (settings), Generic tab: Uncheck normalize. Filenames Tab: Filename=%4, set "Wav-MP3 Output" to Mp2 destination folder. Encoder Tab: Select Internal MP2 Encoder, MPEG-1, On the fly MP2 encoding, 256kbps, J-Stereo, No Options checked except "Allow No Padding", VBR=None. OK. In main window. Settings can be "saved". F11 for "Convert WAV to Compressed FIle", Set folder of WAV file, highlight WAV file, uncheck all options. Convert.	3,314,950	1:43	00:05	Complicated to set up, but settings can be saved to a Profile. Once Profile is set, you can select it and press F11 to convert, but assumes destination is always the same folder.	YES
dBpowerAMP V9 & Rel 11.5	Win	Select File to Convert, Select Toolame MP2, Bitrate: 256kbps, Mode: Joint Stereo, Set Output Folder, Uncheck both Normalize & Preserve ID Tags	3,318,596	1:43	00:06	Basic converter, Simple to operate but Defaults to Padding On	NO
Easy Hi-Q Converter V1.0 & 1.7	Win	Navigate to source Wav file, then add file(s) to Conversion List. Click Options, Select MP2, 441000Hz HiQ, 256Kbps Studio, Stereo. Uncheck "Copy ID3 Tags to New Files". Specify destination file folder. OK.	3,317,760	1:43	00:05	Padding and CRC Error Correction On by Default. Easy Navigation. Will convert a file to several formats at once.	NO
PRX Converter (44.1KHz Version "09/29/2004")	Win	Drop WAV file onto Icon or open program. Output file with MP2 extension will be delivered into same folder.	3,314,950	1:43	00:09	No Options. Simplest Program Available	YES
PRX Converter (44.1KHz Version "09/29/2004")	OSX	Drop WAV file onto Icon or open program. Output file with MP2 extension will be delivered into same folder.	3,314,951	1:43	00:10	No Options. Simplest Program Available	YES
Sony Sound Forge Audio Studio V8.0a with MainConcept Standard Plug-in	Win	Save-as MainConcept MPEG-1. Uncheck "Save Metadata with File". In Custom section, Audio tab: Mode: Joint Stero, Model: 1 (or 2), Layer: 2, Bit Rate: 256, Emphasis: No, Sample Rate: 44100. Unchecked CRC, Copyright and Original options.	3,318,596	1:43	00:13	Padding On by Default. Can save settings into standard template. File output has .mpg extension so must be renamed.	NO
Sony Sound Forge V8.0d with MainConcept Premium Plug-in	Win	Save-as MainConcept MPEG-1. Uncheck "Save Metadata with File". In Custom section, Audio tab: Mode: Joint Stero, Model: 1 (or 2), Layer: 2, Bit Rate: 256, Emphasis: No, Sample Rate: 44100. Unchecked CRC, Copyright and Original options.	3,318,596	1:43	00:14	Padding On by Default. Can save settings into standard template. File output has .mpg extension so must be renamed. Leaves extraneous work files	NO
WinXMedia CD MP3-WAV-WMA Converter V1.0.91	Win	Preset MP2 encoder for MPEG-1, 256kbps, J-Stereo, No options selected except "Allow No Padding". No VBR, No Normalizing, No ID3 Tagging. Then Add File to Conversion list, Select MP2 Encoder, Select Output Folder, Click "Start Convert".	3,314,950	1:43	00:02	Settings buried. Similar to CDEX. Faster than CDEX but not free.	YES
128Kbps Conversions
Adobe Audition V2.0 w/ Qdesign MP2 Plug-in (128kbps Conversion)	Win	Save-as Qdesign MP2. Uncheck "Save Extra Non-Audio Information". Under Options, select Layer 2, Studio Model, 128kbps.	1,655,490	1:43	00:07	Source must be mono for mono output.	YES
Awave Audio V9.1 Converter (128kbps Conversion)	Win	Add files to select WAV, Next, Select MP2 CBR Format, 128kbit/s, Quantization Round to Nearest Integer, Mono. Under More Options, uncheck All MPEG Options related to MP2. Start.	1,655,490	1:43	00:13	Settings buried. Can not rename file root	YES
CDEX V1.51 or CDEXV1.70b2 (128kbps Conversion)	Win	F4 (settings), Generic tab: Uncheck normalize. Filenames Tab: Filename=%4, set Wav-MP3 Output location. Encoder Tab: Select Internal MP2 Encoder, MPEG-1, On the fly MP2 encoding, 128kbps, Mono, No Options checked except "Allow No Padding", VBR=None. OK. In main window. Settings can be "saved". F11 for Convert WAV to Compressed FIle, Set directory of WAV file, highlight file, uncheck all options. Convert.	1,655,490	1:43	00:03	Complicated to set up, but settings can be saved to a Profile.	YES
dBpowerAMP (V9 ?). Also Release 11.5. (128Kbps Conversion)	Win	Select File to Convert, Select Toolame MP2, Bitrate: 128kbps, Mode: Stereo, Set Output Folder, Uncheck both Normalize & Preserve ID Tags	1,659,298	1:43	00:05	Defaults to Padding On. No option for Mono output file.	NO
PRX Converter (44.1KHz Version "09/29/2004")	Win	Drop WAV file onto Icon or open program. Output file with MP2 extension will be delivered into same folder.	1,655,490	1:43	00:04	No Options. To convert to Mono MP2, WAV must be Mono.	YES
PRX Converter (44.1KHz Version "09/29/2004")	OSX	Drop WAV file onto Icon or open program. Output file with MP2 extension will be delivered into same folder.	1,655,491	1:43	00:05	No Options. To convert to Mono MP2, WAV must be Mono.	YES
Sony Sound Forge Audio Studio V8.0a (128kbps Conversion with MainConcept Standard Plug-in)	Win	Save-as MainConcept MPEG-1. In Custom section, Audio tab: Mode: Mono, Model: 1, Layer: 2, Bit Rate: 128, Emphasis: No, Sample Rate: 44100. Unchecked CRC, Copyright and Original options.	1,659,298	1:43	00:10	Padding On by Default. Can save settings into standard template. File output has .mpg extension so must be renamed.	NO
WinXMedia MPEG Converter V1.0.91 (128kbps Conversion)	Win	Preset MP2 encoder for MPEG-1, 128kbps, Mono, No options selected except "Allow No Padding". No VBR, No Normalizing, No ID3 Tagging. Then Add File to Conversion list, Select MP2 Encoder, Select Output Folder, Click "Start Convert".	1,655,490	1:43	00:02	Settings buried. Similar to CDEX. Faster than CDEX but not free.	YES

NOTES:
1. Output file size in bytes, time and frame length were determined using MPEG Audio Info V2.1 by Konrad Windszus. Exact filesize varied slightly due to output name.
2. Macintosh OS-X output files and their conversion times were supplied by Scott Bridgewater.
3. The input file for conversions to 256kbps was called ttbook-test.wav (16 bit, 44.1KHz PCM) and was exactly 103.700 seconds (1:43.700) in length.
4. The input file for conversions to 128kbps monaual was called ttbook-testm.wav (16 bit, 44.1KHz PCM) and was exactly 103.700 seconds (1:43.700) in length.
5. File conversions to 128kbps were done using both stereo and monaural source WAV files, but some programs needed a Monaural source file for Monaural output..
6. Except for Adobe V2.0, the PC doing the Windows-based conversions was running Win 2000 SP4 with a Pentium 4, 2.6GHz processor with 2GB of DRAM
7. For the Adobe V2.0 with QDesign tests, the PC used was running Windows XP SP2 with a Pentium 4, 3.4GHz processor with 2GB DRAM
8. For all conversions, as much as possible, we tried to set the internal MPEG flags as follows: (Some programs had fewer options available than others)
		a) MPEG-1 Layer II
		b) 128kbps or 256kbps using 44,100Hz sample rate
		c) For the 128kbps conversion, use Monaural. For the 256kbps conversion, use Joint-Stereo mode if available
		d) MPEG Model: Musicam (if option available)
		e) Constant Bitrate (CBR) (or "No VBR")
		f) Frame Padding: Off (or "Allow No Padding": On)
		g) CRC (error correcting): On
		h) Copyrighted Material: On
		i) Original Media (not copy): On
		j) Emphasis: None