Transcoding with LAME On MAC OSX

[geofstro]

Hi folks,

I am completely new to Subsonic and I'm really appreciating it.

I'm just a bit confused about transcoding. I followed the article linked to in this post http://forum.subsonic.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5106 to install Subsonic on a Mac Mini. This includes the installation of LAME.

The one step I haven't followed from that article is to install LAME, because I'm not sure if it's really necessary. Subsonic seems to transcode to MP3 when that option is checked for a particular player and I can set the max bit rate. I can also choose the bitrate in the IOS player I'm using.

So is there still any need or advantage in installing LAME?

The article also mentions the need to enter a command in the "Downsample Command" field of the "Advanced" tab on the web interface; but this field is not appearing on my advanced tab.

Finally the article says you must install Xcode on the Mac. Is Xcode only required to be able to compile LAME or is it needed for other purposes by Subsonic? Perhaps you need XCode to edit the plist for Subsonic, in order to change the memory limit?

I've searched the forum for answers to these questions. Apologies if they're covered elsewhere and I missed it.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

Geoff

[bushman4]

That article is old... Subsonic now relies on ffmpeg to transcode everything in its default configuration, and for "standard" format files I have found little need for any other transcoding tool.

Glenn

[geofstro]

Thanks for the fast response Glenn. So can you also tell me if xCode is still needed? I have it installed anyway; but I want to advise some friends who aren't so computer savvy.

[bushman4]

Unfortunately I am not a mac user so I can't tell you definitively. But if it is not in the official install directions and is only referred to in the posted directions to build a tool that is no longer necessary, I'd lean towards no.

Glenn

[geofstro]

OK, thanks again for your advice Glenn

[manwithaplan]

No, XCode is not needed at all on any Mac for the Subsonic install.

[geofstro]

Thanks. Yes, I can see now that the plist can be edited with certain text editors, such as Textwrangler or BBEdit from Bare Bones. Geoff