winLAME home page

about winLAME

winLAME is an encoder for several audio formats, including mp3 (MPEG Layer 3), Ogg Vorbis and more. winLAME lets you set up the encoding process with an easy-to-use wizard-style user interface.

winLAME supports many input audio formats, and uses the LAME mp3 encoding library for encoding and the MAD decoding library for decoding.

winLAME uses the services provided by

latest news

2006-02-09 - winLAME prerelease 4
This is a bugfix release. The following bugs are fixed:

crash when transcoding from mp3 to mp3
encoding was auto-started when going back and forth after all files are ripped from cd
fixed transferring track infos from CD audio to mp3 ID3v1 tags
on encode page, when there are no more files to encode, go directly to "input" page on back button

Be sure to uninstall all previous versions of winLAME and make sure all remaining files are removed before installing winLAME prerelease 4.

2005-12-13 - winLAME prerelease 3
Today I released prerelease 3 (go to the download section directly), the next step to the final winLAME version. I tested this version in-depth so that it produces the same mp3 files as when using the command line lame.exe. While testing I found a rather serious bug that led to different files, so this version of winLAME is now the recommended one.

The new release for the first time is available as Windows Installer (.msi) file that helps to ease installation and uninstallation. Using the Windows Installer service on Windows is the most reliable way to install winLAME, even for LUA (Limited User Accounts) scenarios. I also updated other components of winLAME: It now includes an ICL compile of LAME 3.97 beta 1 (Thanks John Edwards!), libsndfile 1.0.12, libmad 0.15.1b and Ogg Vorbis 1.1.2 (from Rarewares).

The next release will contain only bug fixes to the program and an update to the help file. While using and testing winLAME please report all bugs that have to do with features in winLAME. Here's my email address: .

2005-07-26 - winLAME prerelease 2
I did a new build, "prerelease 2" with some new features. winLAME now supports ripping CDs via the BASS CD library, as well as some enhancements and new formats done by DeXT. (for FLAC support, drop libFLAC.dll into winLAME's install folder). winLAME also has LAME 3.96.1, MAD 0.15.1 beta and libsndfile 1.0.11 on board. Note that this version wasn't tested well, so use at your own risk. Reporting bugs in the new features is welcome! I may find some minutes from time to time to work on winLAME.

2004-03-22 - new winLAME build
Released a new build "pre1" (don't know of what it is a "pre", but oh well :-). It has the LAME-3.95.1, MAD 0.15.0b and libsndfile 1.0.5 on board. If you previously had problems with ID3v2 tags on your files that won't load into winLAME, try this. Note: this version is completely untested, so use at your own risk! And no, this project won't restart.

2003-06-11 - new winLAME DLLs by john33
john33 (from the Hyrdogenaudio site) compiled new DLLs for use with winLAME. New ones were the MAD 0.15.0b and LAME 3.90.3 (using ICL4.5 and Dibrom's switches). Just head over to Rarewares, change to chapter "mp3" and search for winLAME. Many thanks john33!

2003-01-27 - home page redesign
Today the winLAME home page was redesigned to have a new and permanent design. I also added a FAQ about the most frequently asked questions about winLAME.

2002-12-11 - LAME-3.93.1 library available
John33 compiled a LAME-3.93.1 version nLAME.dll for use in winLAME. It is available here. The needed libmmd.dll is available here.

2002-11-22 - winLAME release candidate 3
Just released winLAME rc3. The following things were added:
- libsndfile 1.0.1 library
- ogg vorbis 1.0 library
- usage of Winamp 2.x input modules
- completed documentation
- added transcoding warning
- added "input file path as output folder" feature
- new logo (thanks davis!)
and no, LAME-3.93 won't be included.

This will be the last release of winLAME, as I don't have time to work on it. Besides that I think there are superior formats like Ogg Vorbis that are much better than mp3. My initial goal was to create a frontend for the LAME encoder without those many confusing options, and I think I managed it. Time to move on to new things.

For all the novice users of audio compression software, head over to the HydrogenAudio forums and learn a about audio coding and the better formats. It's a bit exhausting to comb through the threads, but often very informative.