Codec Manager

Original Author(s): Lynn Leith

LpStudio and Sigtuna DAR have a function that allows you to add different external encoders which can be used with command line parameters. That function is called Codec Manager.

Open the Codec Manager <Ctrl + F7>.
Select add.
Enter a name for the codec in the "Name" field (alphabets and numbers).
Enter the describes the encoder in "Description" field. the "Description" will be shown when selecting the encoder.
Enter the search path to the encoder application in the "Executable" field. (C:Program FilesXingXingMP3Encoderx3enc.exe)
Choose the arguments that determines the order for the parameters for the "First Argument", "Second Argument", and "Third Argument" fields.
- Source-source file
- Destination-destination file
- Options-encoder's options string
Enter an option string for the encoder in the "Options" field. Each encoder has different options.
Enter the correct bitrate in the "Bitrate" field.
Enter the extension to be used on the output files in the "Extension" field. (ex. mp3)
Select save button

Using Xing encoder to compress the audio to MP3 56Kb

Name: XING MEPG 3 56kb
Description: Mpeg Layer 3 56 kb mono
Executable: C:Program FilesXingXingMp3 Encoderx3enc.exe
First argument: Source
Second argument: Destination
Third argument: Options
Options: -b56000 -r -q -d
Bitrate (bps): 56000
Extension: mp3

-h: Print a short help summary (this list)
-p: Print out the supported encode profiles
-f <file>: Read the command line arguments from a file
-b <bitrate>: CBR bitrate to encode with
-v <scale>: VBR scale to encode with
-l: Do not encode with high freq
-r: Let engine choose best sample rate
-o: Turn off original bit
-c: Turn off copyright bit
-d: Downmix to mono
-s: Force simple stereo mode when possible
-q: Do not display progress

Using LAME encoder to compress the audio to MP3 64Kb

Name: LAME64kb
Description: LAME 64kb
Executable: C:.....lame.exe
First argument: Source
Second argument: Destination
Third argument: Options
Options: -b64
Bitrate (bps): 64000
Extension: mp3

--abr: average bitrate encoding
-b: bitrate (8...320)
--decode: decoding only
-f: fast mode
-h: high quality
--help: help
-m: stereo mode (s, j, f, m)
-V: VBR quality setting (0...9)

For MPEG1 (sampling frequencies of 32, 44.1 and 48 kHz)
n = 32,40,48,56,64,80,96,112,128,160,192,224,256,320

For MPEG2 (sampling frequencies of 16, 22.05 and 24 kHz)
n = 8,16,24,32,40,48,56,64,80,96,112,128,144,160

Default is 128 kbs for MPEG1 and 80 kbs for MPEG2.

Place the files "CallFhgEncoder.ini" and "CallFhgEncoder.exe" in the root directory of the LpStudio program (for example: C:Program FilesLpProductsLpStudioPro)
Open and edit CallFhgEncoder.ini so that the path corresponds to the placement of the Fraunhofer encoder itself (for example: ExeName=C:Program FilesFraunhofermp3enc31.exe)
Open Pro/Plus and go to the codec edit window. Here, enter a new codec profile, example:

Name: FHG mp3 48 Kbps
Description: FHG mp3 48 Kbps
Executable: C:Program FilesLpProductsLpStudioProCallFhgEncoder.exe
First argument: source
Second argument: destination
Third argument: options
Options: -br 48000 -qual 1 [other switches may be introduced as appropriate, as long as -if and -of are omitted]
Extension: mp3
Bitrate (bits/smpl): 48000
Save, exit the encoder window, reopen.

In the Sigtuna DAR 3 and LpStudio/Pro installation folder, the file installed_ncoders.ini resides. This file contains all the information about the encoding profiles entered above. By storing this file in a safe place, you can reuse it:

By adding it back to the installation folder after you reinstalled the Sigtuna DAR 3 or LpStudio/Pro program on the computer
By copying it to many computers, assuming that the installation folders are the same on each computer.

By doing this, you save a lot of time and troubleshooting in the long run. Note that the method requires that the installation folders of all programs (DAISY production tool and encoder executables) remain the same.

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LpStudio and Sigtuna DAR have a function that ables you to add different external encoders that can be used with command line parameters. That function is called Codec Manager.

Open the Codec Manager <Ctrl + F7>.
Select add.
Enter a name for the codec in the "Name" field (alphabets and numbers).
Enter the describes the encoder in "Description" field. the "Description" will be shown when selecting the encoder.
Enter the search path to the encoder application in the "Executable" field.
(C:Program FilesXingXingMP3Encoderx3enc.exe)
Choose the arguments that determines the order for the parameters for the "First Argument", "Second Argument", and "Third Argument" fields.
Source-source file
Destination-destination file
Options-encoder's options string
Enter an option string for the encoder in the "Options" field. Each encoder has different options.
Enter the correct bitrate in the "Bitrate" field.
Enter the extension to be used on the output files in the "Extension" field.
ex. mp3
Select save button