Create an Ogg Vorbis File for Windows

Step 1 ) To get the Ogg Vorbis drag and drop encoder for Windows click here. If you have experience with DOS there is a newer version of the encoder that you must run in a DOS box to make it work. If you would like to give this encoder a try download the zip file from Vorbis.com. This is not recommended for beginners. We will cover how to use this in a future update of this tutorial.

Step 2 ) After unzipping the file you should have the Ogg Vorbis "drag and drop" application on your desktop.

Step 3 ) You now have the choice of encoding a .mp3 file or .wav file into the .ogg or Ogg Vorbis file type. Better fidelity can be had if you convert a .wav file straight into the .ogg file type.

If you are an advanced user, simply make a .wav file from your CD of choice and drag and drop that .wav file onto the Ogg Vorbis desktop encoder application. It will take a little while, the encoder is still a little slower than some of the commercial MP3 encoders out there, but it does encode in an acceptable amount of time.

If you are not an advanced user, read on about how to make a .wav file using Audio Catalyst's MP3 encoder. You can then convert to the Ogg Vorbis file type format.

Now if you are a begginer and are not up to speed on how to make a .wav file from a CD here are the details on how make a .wav file with Audio Catylsts' Xing MP3 encoder. While reasonable people may use many different similarly functional and inexpensive encoders, we like the Xing encoder for beginners.

Step 4 ) By going to the Xing Web site you can download a trial version to make sure it works with your CD player. You'll have to buy it to encode .wav files. Compared to what's out there, it's pretty reasonable at $30.00. Think of it as a couple of large pizzas. Now think of your mom telling you, "that's too much pizza."

Step 5 ) Now that you have the Xing encoder, open it so you're looking at this. Check the file that you want to "grab" or encode to .wav file format. It in this example we are grabbing track #2.

Step 6 ) Under the Settings menu, choose the XingMP3encoder option. You should be here. Make sure that you choose "Grab to:" .wav and not "mp3" or "both."

Step 7 ) While in the same window hit the Edit ID3 Editor button. Fill in the information and hit "OK."

Step 8 ) Now you should be at the same window as in Step 5. Go ahead and hit the "Grab" button and watch it go. It's a really fast encoder.

Step 9 ) Drag and drap your .wav file onto the Ogg Vorbis desktop encoder. A 4.5MB file took us around 4 minutes to encode to the .ogg file format.