LAME
From Free net encyclopedia
LAME is an open source MPEG-1 audio layer 3 (MP3) encoder. LAME is a recursive acronym for LAME Ain't an MP3 Encoder, although the current version is a stand-alone encoder.
As of 2004, the general consensus is that LAME produces the highest-quality MP3 files for bitrates greater or equal to 128 kbit/s. In a public listening test early in 2004, LAME MP3 files were the best 128 kbit/s MP3 files compared to the uncompressed original audio. [1]
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Legal issues
LAME endured some legal difficulties regarding Fraunhofer's patent on certain key algorithms involved in MP3 encoding, including Template:US patent 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 contributers and 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. The ISO code had a restrictive license but was available without charge. However, in May 2000, the LAME project reimplemented the last of the ISO source code, and thus LAME was then a totally new implementation — compiling recent versions of LAME no longer requires the ISO source code.
LAME developers state that since their code is only released in source form, "source code is considered as speech, which may contain descriptions of patented technology. Descriptions of patents are in the public domain."[2]
The LAME software is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL). In November, 2005 there were reports that the Extended Copy Protection software included on some SONY Compact Discs includes portions of the LAME library without complying with the terms of the LGPL.
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 (formerly RazorBlade), a Microsoft Windows front-end user interface for the commandline LAME Encoder executable.
- winLAME, another front-end for Windows
- CDex, Windows CD audio extractor
- Zortam Mp3 Media Studio, another front-end for Windows
- Exact Audio Copy (EAC), Windows audio grabber for CD-ROM drives, which can make use of LAME.
- LAME GUI / BeSweet GUI, another front-end for Windows
- iTunes-LAME, a front end that integrates LAME with iTunes on Mac OS X.
- jRipper, a Java-based frontend for LAME, which includes Windows and Linux binaries.
- Audacity, an audio recording, editing and transforming program, available for Windows and Linux, can export MP3 files using LAME, even though it also exports Ogg-Vorbis and standard WAV files as well.