MPC encode settings

The original link is : http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=1927

--------- The partition by Cyanite ----------


These settings require Musepack MPC 1.1 or later.
mppenc 1.15v is the recommended encoder version: Download
mppdec 1.95e is the recommended decoder version: Download



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Recommended encoder settings
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--quality 5
(Previously "--standard", ~170 kbit/s, typical 142 ... 184)

--quality 6
(Previously "--xtreme", ~200 kbit/s, typical 168 ... 212)

--quality 7
(Previously "--insane", ~220 kbit/s)


Note that --quality 5 is transparent for most test samples.
Higher settings can provide a quality headroom, however, you should start off with 5.


Custom settings:
--quality x.xx
Example: --quality 5.55 . The range goes from 0.00 (worst) to 10.00 (best).



The switch --xlevel doesn't need to be specified anymore,
it's a default setting since mppenc 1.15s.
Don't use any further switches to "tweak" the quality.
Some of them no longer work or have undesired effects on quality.
Meanings of older tweaking switches may have completely changed.
Just use the --quality switch for fine-tuning, that's the best way.


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Recommended EAC / MPC Batch Encoder settings
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EAC: Exact Audio Copy
Compression Options -> External Compression -> Use external program for compression
Parameter passing scheme: "User Defined Encoder"
Use file extension: .mpc
Program, including path: C:\MPC\mppenc.exe
Additional command line options (example):

--quality 6 --artist "%a" --title "%t" --album "%g" --year "%y" --track "%n" --genre "%m" %s

Copy the whole line into that option field in EAC.
For comments, add this switch before %s: --comment "blabla"
Example: (...) --genre "%m" --comment "EAC secure" %s

The MPCs will automatically get APEv2 tags, so "Add ID3 tag" must be turned off.
ID3v1 tags could be used, but they are length-limited.
ID3v2 tags are not compatible with MPC!

It's also recommended to use "Secure mode" in "Extraction method",
because if you have a rip with a lot of clicks in it, what good is the MPC quality?

(Only for mppenc 1.14 and older encoder versions: Add "--xlevel" after "--quality 6".)


Simple guide with screenshots




Encoding switch for the MPC Batch Encoder frontend:

--quality x.xx
Example: --quality 6


The frontend can also take care of proper tagging.
In case this was done by EAC, you can then apply ReplayGain:

Replaygain commandline with the MPC Batch Encoder + Replaygain.exe: --auto

(What is ReplayGain good for? / ReplayGain FAQ)



Decoding switches / MPC to WAV (i.e. with the MPC Batch Encoder frontend + mppdec.exe):

For albums: --gain 1 --prev
(or --gain 3 --prev)
For compilations: --gain 0 --prev
(or --gain 2 --prev)


It's a good idea to apply ReplayGain first (see above and further below). Explanations of the switches:

--prev: Activate clipping prevention.
(Clipping occurs when the amplitude of a sound is above the maximum allowed level,
i.e. when it is too loud to be recorded/reproduced. Clipping causes sound to distort.)

--gain 0:
No usage of replaygain. Together with --prev: Title-based clipping prevention.
The loudness of each song is reduced individually to the point where no song is clipping.

--gain 1:
No usage of replaygain. Together with --prev: Album-based clipping prevention.
Each song of an album is attenuated by the same amount and no song has clipping.

--gain 2:
Title-based replaygain, rest like 0.

--gain 3:
Album-based replaygain, rest like 1.




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Recommended Winamp 2.x plug-in settings
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You should use foobar2000 for maximum flexibility, also concerning Replaygain.
However, here's how to make it work in Winamp:

in_mpc 0.99f is the recommended Winamp plug-in: Download


Settings:
(In Winamp, press "CTRL-P" (Preferences), go to "Plug-ins" -> "Input",
select the MPC plug-in and press "Configure"):


Equalizing by [x] Musepack

Winamp's own equalizer attenuates high frequencies.


Dynamic range: 6 dB

Range of the equalizer: -6 to +6 dB


Headroom "K-14"

Headroom is needed to avoid clipping and oversaturated sound. K-14 is the best choice for home listening
(see Level Practices Part I and Level Practices Part II, K-System explained).
ReplayGain'ed MPCs at K-14 will have the same perceived loudness as other formats with applied ReplayGain
- such as Ogg Vorbis or MP3 - with the recommended reference volume of 89 dB.


[x] Dither output

What is dither?


[ReplayGain title based | ClipProtect Off] or [ReplayGain album based | ClipProtect Off]

Use title-based ReplayGain for a "radio-like" listening environment (all songs will have a comparable loudness). Use album-based ReplayGain for an "album-by-album" listening environment (different albums will have a comparable loudness, but volume differences between single songs of an album are preserved).


Replaygain

You have to apply ReplayGain to your MPC files for this to work. The Winamp plug-in will read out the ReplayGain information and use it for title-based or album-based playback. Applying ReplayGain is easy:

First you have to download the MPC decoder and the Replaygain tool.
Then, a simple frontend: MPC Batch Encoder

Extract everything to one folder, start the frontend and go to the "ReplayGain" tab.
In the "Switches" field, enter --auto . Then add the folder with the MPC files.
Important: For correct album gain calculation, only apply ReplayGain to
one album at a time (put each album into a seperate folder).


Getting a "can't decode file" error with Replaygain? Make sure mppdec.exe is in the same directory as replaygain.exe.



How To...

1) ...recursively go through a directory structure and apply ReplayGain to all MPC files,
considering each directory as an individual album ?

Download Sweep and Replaygain. Extract them to your path (e.g. C:\Windows).
In a command-line window (so-called DOS-box), type: sweep replaygain --smart --auto *.mpc

Already replaygained albums will be skipped, due to the --smart option. Sweep starts to scan in the current directory of the DOS-box, going through all subdirectories. To process only a specific path, use the well-known DOS commands to go to that directory (for instance cd "c:\mpc\my downloads\") and then use the command sweep replaygain --smart --auto *.mpc to process all subdirectories from there.



2) ...create replaygain.txt files for a lot albums in one step,
considering each directory as an individual album ?

Create a file called "replaygain.bat" with the following contents:

replaygain --listallreport *.mpc > "replaygain --auto album.txt"

Copy this file into your Windows directory.

This *.bat file needs to be created only once in your life...
So don't worry...

Now the procedure:
- Open a DOS-Box, go to the main folder/directory where the albums are located.
- type: sweep replaygain.bat and press Return
A file ' replaygain --auto album.txt ' will be created in each album-folder. That's it!




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Useful links
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[ Latest MPC compiles ]
Musepack.net: Official page, downloads & source code
MPC page on Rarewares


MPCscan - Scan your folders for corrupt MPCs (Command-line version)


[ Exact Audio Copy ]
The best CD grabbing software, period.
Official site

[ Ripping guides for EAC & MPC ]
Simple EAC guide for MPC
General Tutorials for EAC
users' Tutorials for EAC, MPC & Lossless
The Essential Audio & EAC guide
EAC forum
EAC Offsetbase
AccurateRip Drive Offsets



[ MPC Frontends ]
foobar2000
MuseDrop, drag&drop encoding/decoding
Speek's Frontend, batch encoding, decoding & ReplayGain
Monkey's Audio is a good frontend for MPC, too.


[ Renaming / Tagging / Music Database]
Tag, a very powerful tagger
Tag Frontend
CDIndexer : for CD-Audio & data-CDs
MAC: MPEG Audio Collection 2.92
MAC 2.93



How To...

..convert ID3v2 tags to APEv2 tags:

Use Tag & Tag Frontend with the switches --force ape2 --removeid3v2 in "other options"
(remove all other checkmarks).
Directly from a command-line window: Tag *.mpc --force ape2 --removeid3v2


..transcode MPC to MP3 while keeping tags?

Not recommended for quality reasons, quality will degrade.
But tools for this are here, or use foobar2000.



[ ReplayGain, lossless normalizing ]
ReplayGain information page


[ Useful tools ]
MPC filter for CoolEdit / Adobe Audition
Mr QuestionMan
EncSpot
Tool for ABXing, Blind listening tests
ABC/HR, blind listening tests
Training of musically listening good-ear.com
QuickSFV - SFV and MD5 checksums for files




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Credits
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A big thanks to all MPC developers for making one kickass MPC codec, the best lossy codec in the world.

Idea, original post and list of original settings collected by user, Layout & additional work by CiTay, SNYder and Dibrom.