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4 stars
Version: MPEG Suite 2001 1.5.5
"Possibly The Best Of The Free Encoders"
Pros: I'm very fussy about my music. I want the highest frequency response, etc. I don't mind using multiple programs to rip CDs and then convert them to .mp3 if it will result in a high-quality end product.
I tried most of the free .mp3 encoders here and found MPEG Suite to be the best for several reasons:
* Choice of encoders (although I would have liked to see Fraunhofer, too)
* One of the better user interfaces
* Highest frequency response
I used a spectrum analyzer on all the encoders I tried and Plugger will consistently deliver in excess of 20 KHz, which approaches true CD frequency and fidelity. (Yes, I know there's more to music than just raw frequency, but that added response enhances an already good signal.)
All in all, an excellent software package, and possibly the best of the free encoders. There are features I don't need and will probably never use, since all I was looking for was a simple encoder that's better than the other freeware.
Cons: The user interface, although intuitive and straight-forward, could be better. For example, it maintains a fixed column width that sometimes makes seeing the whole song title more difficult. It would also be helpful to separate configuration options from the music selection options. And, once the directory is called up and you have decided what you want to encode, there is no good reason to put the user through a second step to select them and move them to another column.
Since there is more than one encoder to choose from, this is obviously a 'front end' program to execute command line functions, and it would be great to be able to choose external codecs not included in this program.
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