LAME is a free software application used to encode audio into the MP3 file format. The name LAME is a recursive acronym for LAME Ain't an MP3 Encoder, reflecting LAME's early history when it was not actually an encoder, but merely a set of patches against the freely available ISO demonstration source code.

History and development

At one time, LAME was simply a set of patches against the separately distributed ISO demonstration source, hence the claim that it "is not an encoder". The ISO code had a restrictive license but was available without charge.

In May 2000, the LAME project reimplemented the last of the ISO source code, andthereforeLAME was then a totally new implementation - compiling recent versions of LAME no longer requires the ISO source code.

As recent LAME releases are no longer a patch against ISO encoder code, LAME is now itself an MP3 encoder; the LAME acronym has become a misnomer.

Legal issues

Like most (if not all) MP3 encoders, LAME may implement technology covered by patents owned by the Fraunhofer Society and other entities. The developers of LAME do not license themselves the technology described by these patents. Distributing compiled binaries of LAME, its libraries, or programs which are derivative works of LAME in countries which recognize those patents, may be thought of infringing on the relevant patents.

The LAME developers state that since their code is only released in source code form, it should only be thought of as a description of an MP3 encoder, andthereforedoes not infringe any patent by itself when released as source code only. At the same time, they advise obtaining a patent license for any relevant technologies that LAME may implement before including a compiled version of the encoder into a product.

In November, 2005 there were reports that the Extended Copy Protection software included on some SONY Compact Discs includes portions of the LAME library without complying with the terms of the LGPL. See Extended Copy Protection: Copyright violations.

LAME-compatible software

Recommended LAME configuration dialog box

Microsoft Windows

RazorLame a Microsoft Windows front-end user interface for the commandline LAME Encoder executable.

Lamedrop, easy to use front-end in Windows, similar to oggdrop

winLAME

ALL2LAME, A minimalist frontend for LAME that allows piping from commandline decoders of other formats, such as FLAC and Monkey's Audio.

CDex, Windows CD audio extractor

Exact Audio Copy (EAC), Windows audio grabber for CD-ROM drives

Audiograbber

foobar2000, an audio player that supports transcoding to LAME

Burrrn, a simple Cdrdao-based gapless audio CD burning utility that uses LAME in decoding mode to maximize audio quality.

Zortam Mp3 Media Studio a front end that integrates LAME with Zortam Mp3 Media Studio on Windows.

JRiver Media Center, A Media Player/Manager which supports transcoding to LAME

SynthFont, a freeware MIDI file player SoundFont synthesizer that can use LAME to export an audio file in mp3 format.

Winamp

dbPowerAMP Music Converter

Quintessential Player

Easy CD-DA Extractor

FreeRIP

Mac OS X

iTunes-LAME, a front end that integrates LAME with iTunes on Mac OS X.

LameBrain, Free LAME-based mp3 encoder with drag-and-drop batch file processing, CD ripping with FreeDB support, and saving of encoding "profiles"

Max is an application for creating high-quality audio files in LAME or various other formats, from compact discs or files.

BarbaBatch is an audio file format converter using LAME for mp3 encoding.

iLAS simple application that allows you to import a CD or encode a playlist in iTunes using Lame.

Unix-Like Operating Systems

Grip, a front-end for use with GNOME

SoundJuicer, part of the GNOME desktop

KAudioCreator, part of the KDE desktop

K3b, KDE's CD-R and DVD authoring software can rip audio CDs as well

Cross Platform

jRipper, a Java-based frontend for LAME which includes Windows and GNU/Linux binaries.

Audacity, an audio recording, editing and transforming program, available for Windows, GNU, BSD, and Macintosh.

Stickloader is another Java-based Lame frontend allowing files to be encoded easily via drag-and-drop.

LAMEOnJ, an open source Java API wrapping the LAME API exported by native binaries (Windows, MacOSX and Linux supported).