LAME MP3 Command Line Examples

Windows command-line guide

Practical LAME commands for VBR, CBR, cVBR and cVBRb

These examples show how to run LAME from a normal Windows Command Prompt. They are intended as a quick starting point for users of the Windows builds on lamemp3.co.uk.

View examples EAC setup guide

Executable names

Many LAME guides use lame.exe because it is the conventional encoder name. The Windows builds on lamemp3.co.uk may use longer descriptive filenames. Replace lame.exe with the actual .exe file you downloaded.

For advanced examples, this page uses lame_cVBRb_x64.exe as an example lamemp3.co.uk build name.

Basic command structure

In a normal Command Prompt, include the encoder executable, options, input file and output file:

lame.exe [options] input.wav output.mp3

If paths contain spaces, put them in quotes:

lame.exe -V2 "E:\Music Tests\input file.wav" "E:\Music Tests\output file.mp3"

Common command examples

Use these from a Windows Command Prompt. For Exact Audio Copy, see the separate EAC note below because EAC supplies the source and destination files itself.

Use case	Command	Notes
Basic WAV to MP3	`lame.exe input.wav output.mp3`	Uses LAME defaults. Good as a first test, but most users will want to choose a VBR or CBR setting explicitly.
Recommended high-quality VBR	`lame.exe -V2 input.wav output.mp3`	A common high-quality choice with efficient file sizes. Good for most music collections.
Highest normal VBR preset	`lame.exe -V0 input.wav output.mp3`	Larger files than V2, useful if you prefer the most conservative normal LAME VBR setting.
CBR 192 kbps	`lame.exe -b 192 input.wav output.mp3`	Fixed-bitrate output at 192 kbps. Simple and compatible, but usually less efficient than VBR.
CBR 320 kbps	`lame.exe -b 320 input.wav output.mp3`	Maximum standard MP3 CBR bitrate. Easy to understand, but often larger than necessary.
Minimum VBR request	`lame_cVBRb_x64.exe -V0 -b 192 input.wav output.mp3`	Requests a 192 kbps minimum with V0, but ordinary minimum VBR is not necessarily a strict frame-by-frame floor.
Strict cVBR floor	`lame_cVBRb_x64.exe -V0 -b 192 --vbr-min-strict input.wav output.mp3`	Keeps VBR behaviour while enforcing the requested minimum bitrate more strictly.
cVBRb light boost	`lame_cVBRb_x64.exe -V0 -b 192 --vbr-min-strict --bitrate-boost=1 input.wav output.mp3`	Adds a light bitrate boost on top of strict cVBR.
cVBRb medium boost	`lame_cVBRb_x64.exe -V0 -b 192 --vbr-min-strict --bitrate-boost=2 input.wav output.mp3`	A stronger boost setting and a useful middle option when testing cVBRb.
cVBRb aggressive boost	`lame_cVBRb_x64.exe -V0 -b 192 --vbr-min-strict --bitrate-boost=3 input.wav output.mp3`	The most conservative tested cVBRb boost level, shifting more frames toward higher bitrates.

Which option should I start with?

Most users

Start with -V2. It is a common high-quality VBR setting with efficient file sizes.

Conservative normal VBR

Use -V0 if you prefer larger files and the highest normal LAME VBR preset.

Strict bitrate floor

Use -V0 -b 192 --vbr-min-strict if you want VBR with a stricter minimum frame floor.

Testing cVBRb

Add --bitrate-boost=1, 2 or 3 to bias allocation toward higher bitrate frames.

Command Prompt vs EAC commands

Command Prompt examples include the input and output filenames:

lame_cVBRb_x64.exe -V0 -b 192 --vbr-min-strict input.wav output.mp3

In Exact Audio Copy’s LAME MP3 Encoder mode, enter only the encoder options because EAC supplies the source and destination paths automatically:

-V0 -b 192 --vbr-min-strict

For screenshots and step-by-step setup, see the Exact Audio Copy LAME guide.

Batch convert WAV files in a folder

This simple batch loop converts every .wav file in the current folder to MP3 using V2:

for %%F in (*.wav) do lame.exe -V2 "%%F" "%%~nF.mp3"

If typing directly into Command Prompt rather than saving a .bat file, use a single percent sign:

for %F in (*.wav) do lame.exe -V2 "%F" "%~nF.mp3"

Common mistakes

Wrong folder: either run the command from the folder containing the encoder, or use the full path to the .exe.
Spaces in paths: wrap file paths in quotation marks.
EAC confusion: do not copy full Command Prompt examples into EAC’s command box; use options only there.
Quality claims: cVBR and cVBRb provide stricter bitrate control and optional extra margin, not a guarantee that every listener will hear an improvement.