Nero has released a freeware application for Windows that allows you to compress and back-up your music without the hassle or need for massive storage. It purports to support the latest MPEG-4 audio standards (LC-AAC, HE-AAC, HE-AAC v2), letting you choose sampling rates from 8 to 96 kHz and bit rates to 320 kBit/s per channel. 58 CD’s can then be stored in 1 when selecting the ultra compression options, however, sound quality will be have to be sacrificed greatly. If storage and not audio quality is your aim then this might just be the perfect little program. Indeed, dropping the bit rate to an agreeable 128k/B gives you the best of both worlds.

More info and download here.

23 May 2006