I don't know why some people call it a codec when it can't even decode. The settings for decoding aren't even present. So, what I'm asking is: is there a lame decoder available? I would like to see if it's better than the never changing Fanhaufer codec. Does winamp use this same system default mp3 codec?

Lame is a codec, often used for encoding mp3's...
(Lame stands for LAME Ain't an Mp3 Encoder)

You can download it from here as a win32 command line binary file...

You can grab a GUI from here...


You can set which codec WinAmp should use for encoding/decoding mp'3s under it's options...
Here is MPG123 which The Coaster Factory claims is a perfect decoder...

I hope this answers some of your questions
(If not, post back with a bit more precise Q...)

GO MR.!

Well, since LAME does decode mp3's to wav, I'd say it is a codec...

Here is a test where among many other decoders, lame is tested....


Oh, and using the link you provided, I found this:

Then sending "compression" through Dictionary.com, I get the following result:

And sending "module" trough dictionary.com I get this:

Of this we can see that LAME does fit the description of a codec...


Or I could just send "codec" through Whatis.com and get this:

This too says LAME is a codec, so I think it's safe to concluded that
LAME is indeed a codec


And no, I didn't have anything better to do


[EDIT]Typo's and grammar

And thank you Nick
[/EDIT]

Lame sucks....you want the radium codec...

"Fhg Radium MP3 codec v1.263" it works better than lame, and is automatically detected by programs....

Oh yeah, the DivX codec is good too (as is the AC3 codec)
movies? what movies?