MP3 is back to same with 3 VBR options and 1 at 320 --cbr -b 320 --noreplaygain - [outputfile] If I alter this line to 256 as when i do i apply, then save, then it just defaults to 320 again, most frustrating
Those are the defaults for the LAME encoder. There is no good reason why MusicBee shouldn't accept any changes you make to these parameters - and yes, the number in the CBR option is the bitrate for the encoder to use.
Are you saying the parameter defaults back to 320, or do you mean that after changing it your encodes are still coming out at 320?
If the latter, see my earlier reply about how to specify which encoding profile to use when ripping CDs.
Also if the latter, if you still can't get it, I'll include screenshots to make it clear, but don't have time right now.
(see also:
https://musicbee.fandom.com/wiki/Ripping which might help)
I suggest using the following as the line in the the encoding parameters box:
--vbr-new -V 0 --noreplaygain - [outputfile]
This provides a variable bitrate that averages in the vicinity of the one you specified and with a quality that myself and many others feel constitutes "transparency," i.e. is audibly indistinguishable from the source of the encode. Technically the "--vbr -new" part is not needed as it is the default with this version of LAME but I left it there as it appears in the MusicBee-supplied line already and hurts nothing to leave it in.
OP is asking for clear instructions to encode CBR at 196 or 256 and is having difficulties.
I'm not sure this is the right market to be selling the virtues of VBR.
Be sure to hit the "Reset" button after making the manual change, to the right of the "MP3 Enabled" box, before hitting apply/save. That's why your changes were not sticking.
Er... what?
Bee excellent to each other...