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.
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.
The CUDA package can be selected as EAC's external lame.exe in the same way as the standard build. It accepts common EAC/LAME switches including -v, -h and -p, plus cVBRb options such as --vbr-min-strict and --bitrate-boost=2.
Use it only on a system with a supported NVIDIA GPU and driver. Choose a standard CPU build when portability across different computers matters.
.mp3lame.exeWith 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.
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 using the cVBRb branch. |
| CBR 320 kbps | -b 320 |
Simple fixed-bitrate output. Larger than necessary for many tracks, but widely understood. |
The screenshots below show the basic flow. Use the thumbnails for a quick guide, or click any screenshot to open the larger version.
Use -V2. It is a strong general-purpose MP3 setting and keeps file sizes reasonable.
Use -V0 if you prefer a larger, more conservative normal VBR encode.
Use -V0 -b 192 --vbr-min-strict when you want to enforce the requested minimum bitrate floor.
Use a bitrate-boost level for a more conservative allocation that shifts more frames toward higher bitrates.
EAC does not normally discover LAME automatically. Download and unzip a Windows build first, then use the Browse button in Compression Options to select the extracted lame.exe file. Do not select the ZIP archive or libmp3lame.dll.
Choose the LAME MP3 Encoder parameter scheme, set the file extension to .mp3, and enter the required command-line options. Moving or deleting the extracted encoder folder later will break the saved path.
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.
That usually means LAME was called but returned an error. Run the same command from Command Prompt with a WAV file to confirm the EXE and options work.
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.