Updated F.A.Q. document.

doc/FAQ.html

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ a:visited { color: #0000EE; }
 <li><a href="#fd53d98a">Who created LameXP?</a>
 <li><a href="#de1c5e44">What license is LameXP released under?</a>
 <li><a href="#303e5fa7">Do I have to pay for LameXP? / How can I donate to the authors of LameXP?</a>
+<li><a href="#e75ad4ac">Why is the thing called "LameXP" when it does so much more?</a>
 <li><a href="#054010d9">MP3, AAC or Vorbis - What is the best compressed audio format?</a>
 <li><a href="#411d1257">What is the difference between the CBR, VBR and ABR rate control modes?</a>
 <li><a href="#71a113b0">How do I enable AAC/MP4/M4A output (encoding) in LameXP?</a>
@@ -216,6 +217,23 @@ If you want to support the development of LameXP, you can do so by contributing
 
 <br><br>
 
+<a name="e75ad4ac"></a><b>Why is the thing called "LameXP" although it does so much more?</b><br>
+<br>
+LameXP was created as a (very simple!) GUI front-end to the LAME MP3 encoder, back in 2004. That version did<br>
+NOT support any encoders except for LAME, it did NOT support any input formats other than Wave Audio files,<br>
+it did NOT support any audio filters, it did NOT support multi-threading, it did NOT support Unicode file<br>
+names and it did NOT handle meta data at all. Because the program really was nothing but (yet another) LAME<br>
+front-end for Windows and because at that time Windows XP was the operating system of choice - for many<br>
+people it still is nowadays - I decided to call the program "LameXP" (aka "LAME for Windows XP"). Since then<br>
+more and more features have been added to LameXP. The program even went through two complete re-writes. Thus<br>
+the name "LameXP" may not be the most meaningful one, especially because the program supports a huge number<br>
+of encoders and decoders now, but I'm obviosuly lacking the creativity to come up with a better name. Also I<br>
+think we already have enough doubious "super-duper everything to everything converter" programs out there...<br>
+<br>
+So to make a long story short: The name has historical reasons and probably isn't going to change ;-)<br><br>
+
+<br><br>
+
 <a name="054010d9"></a><b>MP3, AAC or Vorbis - What is the best compressed audio format?</b><br>
 <br>
 This question can NOT be answered in general. The best audio format is the format that works best for you!<br>
@@ -252,31 +270,35 @@ Another resource you might find interesting are Sebastian's Public Listening Tes
 <br>
 CBR means "constant bitrate" and, as the name implies, CBR mode allocates the bits at a constant rate. This<br>
 means that each part of the audio will get the same amount of bits, regardless of its content. Obviously this<br>
-will waste bits in parts of the audio that are easy to compress. At the same time the quality of parts of the<br>
+will waste bits in parts of the audio that are "easy" to compress. At the same time the quality of parts of<br>
-audio that are hard to compress will be degraded. Consequently using CBR mode is NOT a very good idea, unless<br>
+the audio that are "hard" to compress will be degraded. Consequently using CBR mode is NOT a very good idea,<br>
-you really have to for some reason. However CBR mode has the advantage that the final size of the compressed<br>
+unless you really have to enforce a 100% constant bitrate (this is almost NEVER the case). However CBR mode<br>
-file is perfectly predictable. The resulting file size is defined simply as "duration &times; fixed bitrate".<br>
+has the advantage that the final size of the compressed file is perfectly predictable. The resulting file<br>
+size is defined simply as "duration &times; fixed_bitrate". Note: The file size *is* predictable with ABR mode too!<br>
 <br>
 VBR means "variable bitrate" and, in contrast to CBR mode, VBR mode allows the bitrate to vary/fluctuate.<br>
 Thus the VBR mode enables the encoder to adapt the bitrate with respect to the content of the audio. Parts of<br>
-the audio that are easy to compress will get a lower bitrate in order to safe bits. Parts of the audio that<br>
+the audio that are "easy" to compress will get a lower bitrate in order to avoid wasting bits there. At the<br>
-are hard to compress will get a higher bitrate in order to avoid quality degradation. Or in other words: VBR<br>
+same time, parts of the audio that are "hard" to compress will get a higher bitrate in order to avoid quality<br>
-mode "moves" the bits to the locations where they are actually needed. Therefore the VBR mode achieves a much<br>
+degradation. Or in other words: VBR mode "moves" the bits to the locations where they are actually needed!<br>
-better compression efficiency than the CBR mode, i.e. with VBR mode you can get a better quality at the same<br>
+Therefore the VBR mode achieves a much better compression efficiency than the CBR mode. This means with VBR<br>
-file size, or the same quality at a smaller file size (compared to CBR mode). One disadvantage of the VBR<br>
+mode you can get a better quality at the same file size - or the same quality at a smaller file size. One<br>
-mode is, however, that the final size of the compressed file can NOT be predicted. The resulting file size is<br>
+disadvantage of the VBR mode, however, is that the final size of the compressed file can NOT be predicted.<br>
-defined as "duration &times; average bitrate", but the average bitrate can NOT be known beforehand. That's<br>
+The resulting file size now is defined as "duration &times; average_bitrate", but the average bitrate is NOT<br>
-because the average bitrate for a specific VBR quality level can vary greatly, depending solely on the<br>
+known beforehand. That's because the average bitrate for a specific VBR quality level can vary greatly,<br>
-complexity of the individual audio. Nonetheless VBR mode generally should be the preferred encoding mode.<br>
+depending solely on the complexity of the individual audio. With VBR mode the encoder uses as many bits as<br>
+required to achieve the desired level of quality. That clearly makes VBR the preferred encoding mode.<br>
 <br>
 ABR means "average bitrate". You can think of ABR mode as a compromise between the CBR and VBR mode. With ABR<br>
 mode the bitrate is allowed to vary/fluctuate, similar to VBR mode. However the ABR mode doesn't work with a<br>
 predefined/fixed quality level, as VBR mode does. Instead in ABR mode the encoder will continuously re-adjust<br>
 the quality level in order to hit the target average(!) bitrate. You can also think of ABR mode as a mode<br>
 that pre-allocates the bits in a CBR-like fashion and then redistributes the bits within a local neighborhood<br>
-as needed. Thus the ABR mode combines advantages of CBR mode (predictability) and VBR mode (good quality).<br>
+as needed. Thus the ABR mode combines advantages of CBR mode (predictability) and VBR mode (higher quality).<br>
-The final size of the encoded file is still defined as "duration &times; average bitrate", but with ABR mode the<br>
+The final size of the encoded file is still defined as "duration &times; average_bitrate", but with ABR mode the<br>
 average bitrate *is* known beforehand. So if you need to hit a specific file size, ABR mode is the solution.<br>
+Using ABR mode is to be preferred over CBR mode. Nonetheless VBR mode usually provides the best experience.<br>
+<br>
 <br>
 Hint: The Nero AAC encoder supports a variant of the ABR mode, the so-called "2-Pass" mode. That mode scans<br>
 through the entire file once (first pass) before the actual encoding is performed (second pass). This way the<br>
@@ -291,10 +313,11 @@ quality for obvious reasons. But drawing the conclusion that there is no differe
 VBR/ABR modes would be very wrong! The differences will become significant when using a reasonable bitrate.<br>
 Another mistake is starting with a low-quality source file and concluding that all modes perform equally bad.<br>
 <br>
-Summary of rate control modes:<br><ul>
+<br>
-<li>Need to hit a specific fixed file size and still want to retain decent quality? &rArr; ABR mode
+SUMMARY ON RATE CONTROL MODES:<br><ul>
-<li>Want to retain a certain level of quality and the file size doesn't matter that much? &rArr; VBR mode
+<li>Need to hit a specific fixed file size and still want to retain a decent quality? &rArr; ABR mode
-<li>Avoid CBR mode by all means, unless there are crude restrictions that force you to use it!</ul>
+<li>Want to retain a certain level of quality and hitting an exact file size is not needed? &rArr; VBR mode
+<li>Avoid CBR mode by all means, unless there are "external" restrictions that force you to use it!</ul>
 
 <br><br>
 

etc/Translation/LameXP_DE.ts

@@ -1898,6 +1898,10 @@
         <source>OpusEnc:</source>
         <translation></translation>
     </message>
+    <message>
+        <source>Show Help</source>
+        <translation>Hilfethemen anzeigen</translation>
+    </message>
 </context>
 <context>
     <name>MetaInfo</name>

etc/Translation/LameXP_ES.ts

@@ -1897,6 +1897,10 @@
         <source>OpusEnc:</source>
         <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
     </message>
+    <message>
+        <source>Show Help</source>
+        <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
+    </message>
 </context>
 <context>
     <name>MetaInfo</name>

etc/Translation/LameXP_FR.ts

@@ -1907,6 +1907,10 @@ Ouvrir le dossier récursivement...</translation>
         <source>OpusEnc:</source>
         <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
     </message>
+    <message>
+        <source>Show Help</source>
+        <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
+    </message>
 </context>
 <context>
     <name>MetaInfo</name>

etc/Translation/LameXP_IT.ts

@@ -1898,6 +1898,10 @@
         <source>OpusEnc:</source>
         <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
     </message>
+    <message>
+        <source>Show Help</source>
+        <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
+    </message>
 </context>
 <context>
     <name>MetaInfo</name>

etc/Translation/LameXP_KR.ts

@@ -1897,6 +1897,10 @@
         <source>OpusEnc:</source>
         <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
     </message>
+    <message>
+        <source>Show Help</source>
+        <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
+    </message>
 </context>
 <context>
     <name>MetaInfo</name>

etc/Translation/LameXP_RU.ts

@@ -1903,6 +1903,10 @@
         <source>OpusEnc:</source>
         <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
     </message>
+    <message>
+        <source>Show Help</source>
+        <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
+    </message>
 </context>
 <context>
     <name>MetaInfo</name>

etc/Translation/LameXP_TW.ts

@@ -1897,6 +1897,10 @@
         <source>OpusEnc:</source>
         <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
     </message>
+    <message>
+        <source>Show Help</source>
+        <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
+    </message>
 </context>
 <context>
     <name>MetaInfo</name>

etc/Translation/LameXP_UK.ts

@@ -1898,6 +1898,10 @@
         <source>OpusEnc:</source>
         <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
     </message>
+    <message>
+        <source>Show Help</source>
+        <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
+    </message>
 </context>
 <context>
     <name>MetaInfo</name>

etc/Translation/LameXP_ZH.ts

@@ -1897,6 +1897,10 @@
         <source>OpusEnc:</source>
         <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
     </message>
+    <message>
+        <source>Show Help</source>
+        <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
+    </message>
 </context>
 <context>
     <name>MetaInfo</name>

gui/MainWindow.ui

@@ -1269,17 +1269,91 @@
              </spacer>
             </item>
             <item>
-             <widget class="QLabel" name="labelEncoderInfo">
+             <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_10">
-              <property name="font">
+              <item>
-               <font>
+               <widget class="QLabel" name="labelEncoderInfo">
-                <weight>50</weight>
+                <property name="font">
-                <bold>false</bold>
+                 <font>
-               </font>
+                  <weight>50</weight>
-              </property>
+                  <bold>false</bold>
-              <property name="text">
+                 </font>
-               <string notr="true">(Encoder Info)</string>
+                </property>
-              </property>
+                <property name="text">
-             </widget>
+                 <string notr="true">(Encoder Info)</string>
+                </property>
+               </widget>
+              </item>
+              <item>
+               <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_60">
+                <property name="orientation">
+                 <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+                </property>
+                <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+                 <size>
+                  <width>40</width>
+                  <height>20</height>
+                 </size>
+                </property>
+               </spacer>
+              </item>
+              <item>
+               <widget class="QLabel" name="labelCompressionHelp">
+                <property name="palette">
+                 <palette>
+                  <active>
+                   <colorrole role="WindowText">
+                    <brush brushstyle="SolidPattern">
+                     <color alpha="255">
+                      <red>0</red>
+                      <green>0</green>
+                      <blue>255</blue>
+                     </color>
+                    </brush>
+                   </colorrole>
+                  </active>
+                  <inactive>
+                   <colorrole role="WindowText">
+                    <brush brushstyle="SolidPattern">
+                     <color alpha="255">
+                      <red>0</red>
+                      <green>0</green>
+                      <blue>255</blue>
+                     </color>
+                    </brush>
+                   </colorrole>
+                  </inactive>
+                  <disabled>
+                   <colorrole role="WindowText">
+                    <brush brushstyle="SolidPattern">
+                     <color alpha="255">
+                      <red>120</red>
+                      <green>120</green>
+                      <blue>120</blue>
+                     </color>
+                    </brush>
+                   </colorrole>
+                  </disabled>
+                 </palette>
+                </property>
+                <property name="font">
+                 <font>
+                  <weight>50</weight>
+                  <bold>false</bold>
+                  <underline>true</underline>
+                 </font>
+                </property>
+                <property name="cursor">
+                 <cursorShape>PointingHandCursor</cursorShape>
+                </property>
+                <property name="text">
+                 <string>Show Help</string>
+                </property>
+                <property name="alignment">
+                 <set>Qt::AlignRight|Qt::AlignTrailing|Qt::AlignVCenter</set>
+                </property>
+               </widget>
+              </item>
+             </layout>
             </item>
             <item>
              <spacer name="verticalSpacer_2">
@@ -1323,8 +1397,8 @@
               <rect>
                <x>0</x>
                <y>0</y>
-               <width>604</width>
+               <width>602</width>
-               <height>1677</height>
+               <height>1668</height>
               </rect>
              </property>
              <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout_22">
@@ -4514,6 +4588,9 @@
   <include location="../res/Icons.qrc"/>
   <include location="../res/Icons.qrc"/>
   <include location="../res/Icons.qrc"/>
+  <include location="../res/Icons.qrc"/>
+  <include location="../res/Icons.qrc"/>
+  <include location="../res/Icons.qrc"/>
  </resources>
  <connections>
   <connection>

src/Config.h

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 #define VER_LAMEXP_MINOR_LO					5
 #define VER_LAMEXP_TYPE						Alpha
 #define VER_LAMEXP_PATCH					13
-#define VER_LAMEXP_BUILD					1068
+#define VER_LAMEXP_BUILD					1069
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // Tool versions (minimum expected versions!)

src/Dialog_MainWindow.cpp

@@ -316,10 +316,12 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(FileListModel *fileListModel, AudioFileModel *metaInfo, S
 	m_encoderButtonGroup->addButton(radioButtonEncoderOpus, SettingsModel::OpusEncoder);
 	m_encoderButtonGroup->addButton(radioButtonEncoderDCA, SettingsModel::DCAEncoder);
 	m_encoderButtonGroup->addButton(radioButtonEncoderPCM, SettingsModel::PCMEncoder);
+
 	m_modeButtonGroup = new QButtonGroup(this);
 	m_modeButtonGroup->addButton(radioButtonModeQuality, SettingsModel::VBRMode);
 	m_modeButtonGroup->addButton(radioButtonModeAverageBitrate, SettingsModel::ABRMode);
 	m_modeButtonGroup->addButton(radioButtonConstBitrate, SettingsModel::CBRMode);
+
 	radioButtonEncoderAAC->setEnabled(m_neroEncoderAvailable || m_fhgEncoderAvailable || m_qaacEncoderAvailable);
 	radioButtonEncoderMP3->setChecked(m_settings->compressionEncoder() == SettingsModel::MP3Encoder);
 	radioButtonEncoderVorbis->setChecked(m_settings->compressionEncoder() == SettingsModel::VorbisEncoder);
@@ -333,9 +335,15 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(FileListModel *fileListModel, AudioFileModel *metaInfo, S
 	radioButtonModeAverageBitrate->setChecked(m_settings->compressionRCMode() == SettingsModel::ABRMode);
 	radioButtonConstBitrate->setChecked(m_settings->compressionRCMode() == SettingsModel::CBRMode);
 	sliderBitrate->setValue(m_settings->compressionBitrate());
+	
+	m_evenFilterCompressionTab = new CustomEventFilter();
+	labelCompressionHelp->installEventFilter(m_evenFilterCompressionTab);
+
 	connect(m_encoderButtonGroup, SIGNAL(buttonClicked(int)), this, SLOT(updateEncoder(int)));
 	connect(m_modeButtonGroup, SIGNAL(buttonClicked(int)), this, SLOT(updateRCMode(int)));
+	connect(m_evenFilterCompressionTab, SIGNAL(eventOccurred(QWidget*, QEvent*)), this, SLOT(compressionTabEventOccurred(QWidget*, QEvent*)));
 	connect(sliderBitrate, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(updateBitrate(int)));
+
 	updateEncoder(m_encoderButtonGroup->checkedId());
 
 	//--------------------------------
@@ -630,6 +638,7 @@ MainWindow::~MainWindow(void)
 	LAMEXP_DELETE(m_evenFilterCustumParamsHelp);
 	LAMEXP_DELETE(m_evenFilterOutputFolderMouse);
 	LAMEXP_DELETE(m_evenFilterOutputFolderView);
+	LAMEXP_DELETE(m_evenFilterCompressionTab);
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -690,42 +699,6 @@ void MainWindow::addFiles(const QStringList &files)
 		/* ignore any exceptions that may occur */
 	}
 
-	//--ST--
-	//
-	//FileAnalyzer_ST *analyzerST = new FileAnalyzer_ST(files);
-	//connect(analyzerST, SIGNAL(fileSelected(QString)), m_banner, SLOT(setText(QString)), Qt::QueuedConnection);
-	//connect(analyzerST, SIGNAL(progressValChanged(unsigned int)), m_banner, SLOT(setProgressVal(unsigned int)), Qt::QueuedConnection);
-	//connect(analyzerST, SIGNAL(progressMaxChanged(unsigned int)), m_banner, SLOT(setProgressMax(unsigned int)), Qt::QueuedConnection);
-	//connect(analyzerST, SIGNAL(fileAnalyzed(AudioFileModel)), m_fileListModel, SLOT(addFile(AudioFileModel)), Qt::QueuedConnection);
-	//connect(m_banner, SIGNAL(userAbort()), analyzerST, SLOT(abortProcess()), Qt::DirectConnection);
-	//
-	//try
-	//{
-	//	m_fileListModel->setBlockUpdates(true);
-	//	QTime startTime = QTime::currentTime();
-	//	m_banner->show(tr("Adding file(s), please wait..."), analyzerST);
-	//	timeST = startTime.secsTo(QTime::currentTime());
-	//}
-	//catch(...)
-	//{
-	//	/* ignore any exceptions that may occur */
-	//}
-	//
-	//------
-	//
-	//if(timeST > 0 && timeMT > 0)
-	//{
-	//	double speedUp = static_cast<double>(timeST) / static_cast<double>(timeMT);
-	//	qWarning("ST: %d, MT: %d", timeST, timeMT);
-	//	QMessageBox::information(this, "Speed Up", QString().sprintf("Announcement: The new multi-threaded file analyzer is %.1fx faster !!!", speedUp), QMessageBox::Ok);
-	//}
-	//else
-	//{
-	//	QMessageBox::information(this, "Speed Up", "Couldn't compare the the new multi-threaded file analyzer this time!", QMessageBox::Ok);
-	//}
-	//
-	//------
-
 	m_fileListModel->setBlockUpdates(false);
 	qApp->processEvents(QEventLoop::ExcludeUserInputEvents);
 	sourceFileView->update();
@@ -3398,6 +3371,17 @@ void MainWindow::updateBitrate(int value)
 	}
 }
 
+/*
+ * Event for compression tab occurred
+ */
+void MainWindow::compressionTabEventOccurred(QWidget *sender, QEvent *event)
+{
+	if((sender == labelCompressionHelp) && (event->type() == QEvent::MouseButtonPress))
+	{
+		QDesktopServices::openUrl(QUrl("http://lamexp.git.sourceforge.net/git/gitweb.cgi?p=lamexp/lamexp;a=blob_plain;f=doc/FAQ.html;hb=HEAD#054010d9"));
+	}
+}
+
 // =========================================================
 // Advanced option slots
 // =========================================================

src/Dialog_MainWindow.h

@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ private slots:
 	void clearFilesButtonClicked(void);
 	void clearMetaButtonClicked(void);
 	void closeButtonClicked(void);
+	void compressionTabEventOccurred(QWidget*, QEvent*);
 	void customParamsChanged(void);
 	void customParamsHelpRequested(QWidget *obj, QEvent *event);
 	void customTempFolderChanged(const QString &text);
@@ -214,4 +215,5 @@ private:
 	CustomEventFilter *m_evenFilterCustumParamsHelp;
 	CustomEventFilter *m_evenFilterOutputFolderMouse;
 	CustomEventFilter *m_evenFilterOutputFolderView;
+	CustomEventFilter *m_evenFilterCompressionTab;
 };

src/Thread_Initialization.cpp

@@ -743,7 +743,7 @@ void InitializationThread::selfTest(void)
 				qDebug("%02i -> %s", ++n, g_lamexp_tools[i].pcName);
 			}
 		}
-		if(n != 25)
+		if(n != 28)
 		{
 			qFatal("Tool count mismatch !!!");
 		}