CD ripping with LAME

Rip CDs to MP3 with Exact Audio Copy and LAME

This quick guide shows how to configure Exact Audio Copy to call a LAME command-line encoder. It is intended for users who want secure CD extraction plus MP3 output using normal VBR, strict cVBR, or cVBRb options.

Use these settings View screenshots

The short version

In EAC Compression Options: enable external compression, choose a LAME executable, set the extension to .mp3, then enter a command line such as -V2. EAC passes the source WAV and destination MP3 automatically when using the LAME MP3 Encoder parameter scheme.

For the cVBR/cVBRb builds from this site, you can also use --vbr-min-strict and --bitrate-boost commands shown below.

Recommended EAC external compression settings

Use external program

Enabled

Parameter scheme

LAME MP3 Encoder

File extension

.mp3

Program path

Browse to your LAME EXE, for example lame_cVBRb_x64.exe

Command field

Use one of the option strings below

With the LAME MP3 Encoder parameter scheme, the examples below should contain only the LAME options. EAC supplies the temporary WAV source and final MP3 destination itself. If you switch to a different parameter scheme such as a user-defined encoder, your EAC version may require placeholders.

LAME command lines for EAC

Paste one option string into EAC's additional command-line options field. Do not add source or destination placeholders when using the LAME MP3 Encoder parameter scheme; EAC supplies those itself.

Use case	Additional command-line options	Notes
Recommended high quality VBR	`-V2`	Good balance of transparency and file size for many users.
Highest LAME VBR preset	`-V0`	Larger files than V2, useful if you prefer the most conservative normal VBR preset.
Strict cVBR floor	`-V0 -b 192 --vbr-min-strict`	Keeps VBR behaviour while enforcing a strict 192 kbps minimum frame floor.
cVBRb medium boost	`-V0 -b 192 --vbr-min-strict --bitrate-boost=2`	Adds extra bitrate margin for users testing the cVBRb branch.
CBR 320 kbps	`-b 320`	Simple fixed-bitrate output. Larger than necessary for many tracks, but widely understood.

Step-by-step screenshots

The screenshots below show the basic flow. Use the thumbnails for a quick guide, or click any screenshot to open the larger version.

Which command should I choose?

Most users

Use -V2. It is a strong general-purpose MP3 setting and keeps file sizes reasonable.

Highest normal VBR

Use -V0 if you prefer a larger, more conservative normal VBR encode.

Strict cVBR testing

Use -V0 -b 192 --vbr-min-strict when you want to enforce the requested minimum bitrate floor.

cVBRb testing

Use a bitrate-boost level if you want to test a more conservative allocation that shifts more frames toward higher bitrates.

Troubleshooting

EAC does not create an MP3

Check the encoder path, make sure the file extension is .mp3, and confirm that the parameter scheme is set to LAME MP3 Encoder and that the command field contains only LAME options such as -V2.

The encoder window flashes and disappears

That usually means LAME was called but returned an error. Test the same command from Command Prompt with a WAV file to confirm the EXE and options work.

Should I keep a lossless rip?

If storage allows, keep a lossless archive such as WAV or FLAC and create MP3 copies from it. MP3 is lossy, so repeated re-encoding is not recommended.