EncSpot is a very featureful MPEG audio stream analyzer created by Jon Dee of Guerrilasoft.

It has a graphical interface built around an improved version of mp3guessenc (improved at the time - the current version of mp3guessenc, that is still being developed, is much more advanced that Encspot ever was).

The main feature is trying to guess which encoder was used to encode an MP3 file. To do that, it analyzes tags and usage of MP3 features that tend to be typical of one encoder or another.

Besides that, it offers advanced analysis features such as bitrate distribution graphs, frame statistics, bit reservoir usage and other detailed information about the stream. Some of these features were only available in a "Pro" version (that cost US$20).

EncSpot also has some support for analyzing Musepack files. The developer had plans to add other formats, such as Ogg Vorbis and WAV, but these never materialized.

Around mid-2005 Encspot stopped being developed and in late 2006 Jon decided to give away the Pro version license for free (also included in the download files). The web site is gone, but you can find a mirror of it at the Internet Archive.

It is worth mentioning that version 2.1 is actually more featureful (but perhaps more buggy) than version 2.2.


Date: 2005-05-31
Version: 2.2 pro
Interface: Graphical
Platform: Win32
Download: encspotpro2.2beta2.zip - 513kB

Date: 2002-06-18
Version: 2.1 pro
Interface: Graphical
Platform: Win32
Download: encspot-2.1-pro.zip - 589kB