# Need Wav to MP3 converter - Quick! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 11, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-wav-to-mp3-converter-quick/187727 "2003-07-11T15:32:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-wav-to-mp3-converter-quick/187727/1 "2003-07-11T15:32:36Z")
I’ve been trying to find a freeware wav to mp3 converter, but trying to save myself from searching the depths of the 'net. I’m need to send some music I’m making to a partner, but don’t feel like emailing a 45 meg wav file. I have a converter but it only converts to 56k, I want better quality, so if anyone can point me in the correct direction this would be very helpful. **DISCLAIMER** The music is 100% created by yours truly right in my very studio, not Boy George or anything like that, but if this causes any problems shut this thread down. I apologize in advance to the Mods, otherwise I send thanks in advance to the dopers. ---
**Author:** ![Lagged2Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lagged2Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lagged2Death)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-wav-to-mp3-converter-quick/187727/2 "2003-07-11T15:51:51Z")
LAME (Lame Ain’t an MP3 Encoder) is a well-regarded free MP3 encoder available for many computing platforms. It’s best at making high-quality, high-bitrate MP3s - like 192kbps and over - but it can do lower bitrates too. You don’t say what computer system you’ll be running on. If it’s Windows, you’ll want [winLAME](http://winlame.sourceforge.net/). If it’s another platform, you’ll have to look around - I’m sure there are \*nix versions and there may be Mac versions too. If you’ve no experience with setting up an MP3 encoder, just use one of LAME’s “preset” configurations - setting up all the options is trickier than you’d expect, and you’re likely to get better sound and smaller file sizes with a preset. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-wav-to-mp3-converter-quick/187727/3 "2003-07-11T15:56:32Z")
^^^ What he said. And just to nitpick, it’s a WAV to MP3 _encoder_ not “converter”. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-wav-to-mp3-converter-quick/187727/4 "2003-07-11T16:05:28Z")
Worked like a charm. I’ll remember you when we get signed. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-wav-to-mp3-converter-quick/187727/5 "2003-07-11T16:07:00Z")
[http://www.dbpoweramp.com/](http://www.dbpoweramp.com/) (which uses the LAME encoder already mentioned) VERY easy to use and user friendly. HIGHLY recommended. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-wav-to-mp3-converter-quick/187727/6 "2003-07-11T16:08:51Z")
Arrrrg, too late!