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1.

Initial settings

Choose File->Preferences from foobar2000 main toolbar.

From menu tree (on the left) choose Advanced->Tools->Converter. In the Additional
command-line encoder paths field specify full paths to the folders with encoders' executable
files (exe), separated with semicolons.
Notes:
- foobar2000 can add more paths itself when you manually specify path to the encoder file
(see
below);
- player uses subfolder foobar2000/encoders as default encoders' exe files path, so there is no
need
to
specify
this
folder;
- also you can write the relative path to encoder's exe directly to the foobar2000 encoder
settings (see below).

2. Converter setup (example of LAME MP3)

Right-click on the any track from foobar2000 playlist or medialibrary and choose Convert>Convert...

You'll see the window with four links to the four settings groups. Let's take up them in
order.

2.1 Encoder settings (Output format)

Here we see the list of encoders profiles. Notice the bit depth and dither settings (for
lossless encoders only):
Output bit depth bit depth for input file decoding: Auto, 8/16/24 (fixed point) or 32
bits (floating point). Recommended value is Auto, but note that then for sources, considered
as lossy, 16-bit decoding will be used.
Dither use dithering + noise shaping: never, lossy sources only, always. Using of this
technology is recommended only if source bit depth is greater than output bit depth will be, in
other cases set never.
For clarity let's create new profile using Add New button.

You will see the windows with encoder settings. Initially the converter suggests you to use
standard settings dialog with quality slider (from VRB V9 to CBR 320). For detailed settings
choose Custom from the drop-down list.

Now we can go directly to the encoder settings.

Encoder here you can set parameters which directly affect the encoding process.
Choose Custom on the top of the window and specify following settings:
Encoder specify path to the encoder executable file. You can specify full path using
... button. Also you can set the path relatively to foobar2000.exe, for
example: ./encoders/lame.exe. The easiest way is to specify just encoder file name (for
LAME it's generallylame.exe), but this will work only if file is located in one of the folders
specified before or in the default folder ./encoders/ (see item 1).
Extension output files extension. Type mp3
Parameters parameters that will be sent to the encoder. For best quality type:

--silent -b 320 -q 0 --noreplaygain - %d


Do not convert in multiple threads prevent parallel encoding of multiple files.

Bit Depth Control parameters which determine codec type and bit depth
supported by it.
Format is codec type. Can be lossy or lossless/hybrid. Option affects the format of data
which are sent to the encoder. For lossy bitstream will have highest depth (next parameter),
for lossless converter keeps value set on previous page (Output bit depth, see above). For
LAME we have to set lossy.
Highest BPS mode supported maximum bit depth supported by the encoder for input
data. Can be 8, 16, 24 (fixed point) or 32 bits (floating point). Since LAME supports floatingpoint data, we have to set 32 bits.

Display Info settings of information that will be displayed in the profile name. Do
not affect encoding process.
Encoder name specify MP3 (LAME)
Bitrate (kbps) for current settings it is 320 kbps
Settings describe parameters of encoding you have used, at your will. We'll specify
only important keys: -b 320 -q 0

Now press OK button.

Now we can see our profile MP3 (LAME) 320 kbps -b 320 -q 0 in the list.
Press Back button and let's pass on to next settings group.

2.2 Output files (Destination).


Here are the destination files settings.

Output path specify where you want output files to be placed:


Ask me later (useful for saving preset) the program will be asking you to specify
folder at each conversion start.
Source folder each file will be saved to the same folder where source file is located.
Specify folder all files will be saved to the specified folder (will be created if it does not
exist).

If file already exists what to do if such file already exists:


Ask ask what to do.
Skip skip this file and pass to the next.
Overwrite overwrite existing file.

Output style and filename formatting choose formatting of output file


name:
Convert each track to an individual file in the Name format field you can specify
desired file name pattern. Recommended is%track% %artist% %title%, see more
here: Title Formatting Help. Note that destination file name (with extension) can not be the
same as input file name, otherwise you'll get an error.
Generate multi-track files merge each group of files into appropriate multi-track file,
according to Name format & grouping pattern. Note that such multi-track files can have
internal markup (for example m4a file can include multiple tracks).
Merge all tracks into one output file all tracks will be merged into the one file with
name Image (extension depends on settings).

2.3 Processing

Here you can specify the settings of audio stream processing before it is sent to the
encoder.

Enable decode postprocessing this option is available only if you have foo_dts
and/or foo_hdcd components installed. It enables DTS/HDCD decoders which causes
irreversible conversion of source PCM stream (for example, to 5.1 format for DRS CD or to 24bit audio for HDCD). For lossy encoding it is recommended to have postprocessing enabled.
ReplayGain you can use RG if the source file has RG metadata, but note that enabling
it for lossless sources is not recommended (while for lossy it can be used to prevent clipping).
DSP enable ability of using DSP effects. Do not enable it without necessity.
DSP chain presets you can save your DSP chain presets and then load them when it's
needed.
Don't reset DSP between tracks do not restart processing for each track it's
necessary for crossfading (mixing ending of previous track and beginning of the next), etc.

2.4 Other settings (Other)

Preview generation you will get short cuts instead of full tracks:
Length percentage specify cuts length in percentage of the source track (from 3 to
30%).
Fixed track length specify fixed cuts' length.

When done operations that will be performed after encoding is finished.


Show full status report if disabled, the report will be shown only in case of error.
ReplayGain-scan output files as albums autoscan the resulting files with RG
scanner as albums and write RG metadata.Recommended for lossy encoding.
Transfer attached pictures copy attached pictures from source to the destination
files.
Copy files to destination folder copy files with specified extensions from source to
the destination directory. For example: *.CUE;*.JPG .

2.5 Setup finishing.

Now go back to the converter's main window. Press Save button to save the preset and
enter it's name LAME MP3, 320 kbps. After pressing Convert button conversion will start.
You can press Cancel to quit.
Now you can convert tracks by marking them in playlist/medialibrary and pressing rightclick->Convert->LAME MP3, 320 kbps.

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