The LAME Homepage

Lame Ain't an MP3 Encoder

In the great history of GNU naming, LAME stands for LAME Ain't an Mp3 Encoder.   LAME is not an mp3 encoder.  It is on open source patch against the dist10 ISO demonstration source.  LAME is totally incapable of producing an mp3 stream. It is incapable of even being compiled by itself. You need the ISO source for this software to work.  The ISO demonstration source is also freely available, but any commercial use (including distributing free encoders) may require a license agreement from FhG.

LAME is an educational tool to be used for learning about MP3 encoding.  The goal of the LAME project is to improve the psycho acoustics, quality and speed of MP3.  Another goal of the LAME project is to use these improvements for the basis of a  patent free audio compression codec for the GNU project.

LAME v3.13 - June 1999:

For those interested in MP3 encoding and LAME development, join the mp3encoder mailing list.




LAME was originally developed by Mike Cheng, (LAME v2.1f Nov 1998) and is now maintained by Mark Taylor.  It includes contributions from many people - see History.

LAME 3.x uses software from:

Software which supports LAME:

Other free MP3 encoders:

Most free "encoders" are just front ends for other encoders.   Some, like BladeEnc are just faster versions of the buggy ISO demonstration encoder.   The problem with these is that the quality at any bitrate is noticeably inferior to the commercial encoders.

Related Links:

Patent Information:




E-mail: mt@sulaco.org