Linux Filesystem; MP3 to OGG

[nemorathwald]

I'm copying my MP3 collection from my Windows computer to my Linux computer. I'd like to have it all in OGG Vorbis format. For a while I had a program on Windows that changed them from one to the other, but it was shareware and expired. I tried installing a free open source program on Linux to do this but it's one of those programs that doesn't appear in the Applications menu. So it's apparently intended for use from the command line.

Of course that would involve finding the executable in the filesystem first, I guess. In a command line interface you are walking through a subterranean network of perfectly dark tunnels. Instead of a flashlight or lantern, you are provided with an infinite supply of camera flashbulbs called the ls command. I prefer searching the filesystem through the graphical browser. I figure at least I can find the darn executable, then I can go into the shell and start up the program.

I have been informed that programs are found in the usr/bin directory, but all the executables there are named cryptically. As I go through clicking every one, nine tenths of them do nothing. Anyway, let me know any advice you might have, from any approach you desire.

Comments

[natashasikorsky.livejournal.com]

Why do you want them in OGG format? Converting from mp3 to OGG will involve another compression, degrading the sound. You might want to rip new tracks from CD in OGG format, if you really like the format, but why would you want to change existing mp3s to oggs?

FWIW, if you think the program has "ogg" in its filename or path, the following incantation will find all files with "ogg" in the name or path without having to build a locate database...

find / -name "*ogg*" -print

But if it's a program than handles multiple file type conversions it probably doesn't have ogg in its name.

This may take a while to run, which is why you create a locate database if you will be doing this often.

Amy

[matt-arnold.livejournal.com]

Since I don't care very much about degrading the sound, to switch just on principle would cost me very little compared to what it would cost an audiophile. Yes, I could get the same audio quality if I rip to OGG from CD, but putting in and taking out all my CDs would take more work than just pointing an application at the Music folder and saying "duplicate every subdirectory at this format." To say nothing of the work of finding all my CDs in storage.