Convert a folder of MP3s to lower bitrate MP3s

[mlind1]

I have hundreds of MP3s in a folder that I want to convert to a lower bitrate. Is there an easy way to use VLC media player for that? If not, does anyone have other suggestions?

[kodela]

@ECHO OFF

REM transcode mp3-files to mp3-files with bitrate 96

FOR %%a IN (*.mp3) DO "C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\vlc\vlc.exe" -I dummy -vvv %%a --sout=#transcode{vcodec=none,acodec=mpga,ab=96,channels=2,samplerate=44100}:std{access=file,mux=raw,dst="%%a.mp3"} vlc://quit

[Lotesdelere]

Or use dedicated tools like LameXP or TAudioConverter which will also copy tags, if any.

However, it's a bad idea to convert from MP3 to MP3 (lossy to lossy), you will lose a lot of quality, you'd better reencode from the original source to MP3 (lossless to lossy).

[kodela]

Yes, it is a bad idea!

[mlind1]

@ECHO OFF

REM transcode mp3-files to mp3-files with bitrate 96

FOR %%a IN (*.mp3) DO "C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\vlc\vlc.exe" -I dummy -vvv %%a --sout=#transcode{vcodec=none,acodec=mpga,ab=96,channels=2,samplerate=44100}:std{access=file,mux=raw,dst="%%a.mp3"} vlc://quit

Wow - thanks for the quick reply! I'm a newb and I don't know scripting well, so I just want to check with you that there's not another more newb-friendly way of doing it. If not, where do I put in the string the URL for the folder where my music is located?

[kodela]

where do I put in the string the URL for the folder where my music is located?

You created and start the script file in the folder where your music is located.

Important:
The line with the command (FOR%% a IN ... vlc ://quit) can not have a line break!