# MP3 codec round trip encode decode possible? **URL:** \ **Category:** Audio Plugins\ **Created:** [August 16, 2021, 1:26am UTC](https://forum.juce.com/t/mp3-codec-round-trip-encode-decode-possible/47353 "2021-08-16T01:26:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![unclefreddie70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3e96dc/32.png) [@unclefreddie70](https://forum.juce.com/u/unclefreddie70)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2021, 1:26am UTC](https://forum.juce.com/t/mp3-codec-round-trip-encode-decode-possible/47353/1 "2021-08-16T01:26:46Z")
Hi, I want to write a dead simple JUCE plugin to take input, convert it to a 128kbps MP3 stream internally, then de-convert back to audio on the output. The goal is a simple way to hear how a basic streaming service might affect the audio. Can anyone point me in the right direction for this? I have some experience with JUCE; I have written a simple mono to stereo plugin that I love to death and I use on everything. But I cannot seem to find anything related to MP3 codecs. Thanks, Fred ---
**Author:** ![anoesisaudio](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.juce.com/anoesisaudio/32/1132_2.png) [@anoesisaudio](https://forum.juce.com/u/anoesisaudio)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2021, 1:38am UTC](https://forum.juce.com/t/mp3-codec-round-trip-encode-decode-possible/47353/2 "2021-08-16T01:38:02Z")
You probably want LAMEEncoderAudioFormat. [https://docs.juce.com/develop/classLAMEEncoderAudioFormat.html#details](https://docs.juce.com/develop/classLAMEEncoderAudioFormat.html#details) ---
**Author:** ![xenakios](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.juce.com/xenakios/32/4047_2.png) [@xenakios](https://forum.juce.com/u/xenakios)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2021, 1:47am UTC](https://forum.juce.com/t/mp3-codec-round-trip-encode-decode-possible/47353/3 "2021-08-16T01:47:52Z")
That is not suitable for real time processing of the sound, which the original poster wants. ---
**Author:** ![xenakios](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.juce.com/xenakios/32/4047_2.png) [@xenakios](https://forum.juce.com/u/xenakios)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2021, 1:50am UTC](https://forum.juce.com/t/mp3-codec-round-trip-encode-decode-possible/47353/4 "2021-08-16T01:50:35Z")
This plugin idea seems to come up in various forums every now and then. It’s not at all a simple plugin to implement, but might be possible if you are willing to tolerate quite a lot of latency. You will probably also need to use the mp3 encoders and decoders directly, I think the Juce classes are not suitable for implementing that kind of a real time plugin. ---
**Author:** ![LukeM1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b3f665/32.png) [@LukeM1](https://forum.juce.com/u/LukeM1)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2021, 10:14am UTC](https://forum.juce.com/t/mp3-codec-round-trip-encode-decode-possible/47353/5 "2021-08-16T10:14:43Z")
The JUCE codec code is suitable for reading/writing audio files, not for real-time encoding/decoding of audio streams. There are existing products which can do this for you in real-time, which I’m happy to shamelessly self-promote if necessary! ---
**Author:** ![daniel](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/forum.juce.com/daniel/32/790_2.png) [@daniel](https://forum.juce.com/u/daniel)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2021, 11:22am UTC](https://forum.juce.com/t/mp3-codec-round-trip-encode-decode-possible/47353/6 "2021-08-16T11:22:39Z")
> [@LukeM1](#): > > which I’m happy to shamelessly self-promote if necessary! I am interested, so please do. Is that available with JUCE interfaces? like AudioSource? or what do you use? ---
**Author:** ![unclefreddie70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3e96dc/32.png) [@unclefreddie70](https://forum.juce.com/u/unclefreddie70)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2021, 1:32pm UTC](https://forum.juce.com/t/mp3-codec-round-trip-encode-decode-possible/47353/7 "2021-08-16T13:32:11Z")
Thank you for clarifying, this is info I needed. ---
**Author:** ![LukeM1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b3f665/32.png) [@LukeM1](https://forum.juce.com/u/LukeM1)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2021, 1:38pm UTC](https://forum.juce.com/t/mp3-codec-round-trip-encode-decode-possible/47353/8 "2021-08-16T13:38:56Z")
We collaborated with Fraunhofer directly to create products which do exactly what the OP was discussing: [https://www.sonnox.com/plugin/fraunhofer-pro-codec](https://www.sonnox.com/plugin/fraunhofer-pro-codec) [https://www.sonnox.com/plugin/codec-toolbox](https://www.sonnox.com/plugin/codec-toolbox) Obviously the code is not available publicly, which I think is perhaps what you were asking! But if you’re looking for an existing product to get that end result as a user… ---
**Author:** ![unclefreddie70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3e96dc/32.png) [@unclefreddie70](https://forum.juce.com/u/unclefreddie70)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2021, 1:44pm UTC](https://forum.juce.com/t/mp3-codec-round-trip-encode-decode-possible/47353/9 "2021-08-16T13:44:00Z")
Thank you for clarifying, this is info I needed. Damn it, I deleted my original reply trying to figure out how to reply with quoting. ---
**Author:** ![unclefreddie70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3e96dc/32.png) [@unclefreddie70](https://forum.juce.com/u/unclefreddie70)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2021, 1:53pm UTC](https://forum.juce.com/t/mp3-codec-round-trip-encode-decode-possible/47353/10 "2021-08-16T13:53:14Z")
Thanks. I was aware of the Sonnox products. Since all I wanted was a dead simple 128kbps round trip, I wanted to write it myself. They do look like well-designed products, though.