This open source application call Mediacoder can be used in batch mode to convert, music files of one format to another format. I have used this software to convert APE files to FLAC so I don’t have to use wxMusik, or Media Player Classic just for the APE files, while I prefer to use VLC media player. Since both files are lossless I don’t notice any difference in sound.

The Web sites provides this list for formats

  • MEncoder
  • FFmpeg
  • FFmpeg2theora
  • x264
  • XviD
  • Windows Media Encoder (not included)
  • Lame MP3 encoder
  • Vorbis encoder
  • FAAC encoder
  • Nero reference audio encoder
  • CT aacPlus encoder (not included for legal issue)
  • 3GPP AAC+ encoder
  • 3GPP AMR encoder (not included for legal issue)
  • Helix Encoder (not included)
  • MusePack encoder
  • OptimFROG encoder
  • WavPack encoder
  • FLAC encoder
  • Monkey’s Audio (APE) encoder
  • AAC lossless encoder
  • Matroska merger
  • MP4Box
  • PMP/PMPAVC Muxer

What I find unusual about this app is that it starts the default Web Browser, and brings that to the front on my system anyway, but the application GUI is located on the application toolbar, so you can find this app.

Addendum:

Since I now use Media Player Classic, i no longer have these issues, but i fully recommend this fine open source application as a way to change the format of various audio and video files. Just remember that this software can NOT ADD QUALITY !!! If you convert MP3 to APE, or FLAC the quality will not be better. The lossless version of a file are always better, it is possible make a lossy version from a lossless compression method, since the lossy compressed version is an incomplete picture of the original. The lossless compressed version is named that because there was no information lost in the process of creating the file, while MP3 files are always lossy, in this case some of the higher frequency transitions are lost, and there may be some transitions to lower frequencies lost as well, but in most cases normal people (like me) have no trouble listening to MP3 files.

[tags]microface, open source, Music, Transcoder[/tags]