macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install lamelocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install lameMacPorts ports tree · audio/lame/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install lame with Homebrew, apk, chocolatey, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop, winget, zypper
High quality MPEG Audio Layer III (MP3) encoder. Version 3.100 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add lameAlpine Linux edge package indexes · lame · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install lameDebian stable package indexes · lame · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install lameFedora Rawhide package metadata · lame · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#lamenixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/la/lame/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S lameArch Linux sync databases · lame · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install lameopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · lame · source: download.opensuse.org
Windows
Chocolateyverified · 92%
choco install lameChocolatey community package catalog · lame · source: community.chocolatey.org
Scoopverified · 92%
scoop install main/lameScoop official bucket manifest trees · bucket/lame.json · source: api.github.com
Windows Package Managerverified · 92%
winget install --id LAME.LAME -eWindows Package Manager source index · LAME.LAME · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com
overview
Package summary
High quality MPEG Audio Layer III (MP3) encoder
Project links
Commands and aliases
- lame
history
Project history and usage
LAME is one of the defining open-source MP3 encoders. It began as a patch and research vehicle around MPEG Layer III encoding, then became a standalone LGPL encoder known for psychoacoustic improvements, source-code distribution, and deep integration into audio conversion workflows.
Project history
The official LAME homepage says development started around mid-1998 when Mike Cheng began with patches against the 8hz-MP3 encoder sources, then restarted from the dist10 MPEG reference sources after quality concerns. That branch became LAME 2.0, and by LAME 3.81 the remaining dist10 code had been replaced.
The official about page explains the recursive name and the early limitation: LAME started life as a GPL patch against the dist10 ISO demonstration source and was not initially a standalone MP3 encoder. In May 2000 the last ISO-source remnants were replaced, making LAME a fully LGPL MP3 encoder. Mark Taylor's leadership and gpsycho psychoacoustic model helped turn it from a speed-focused patch line into a quality-focused encoder.
Adoption history
The LAME project describes itself as source-code-only software aimed at users who can compile C, while also noting that many ripping and encoding programs include the LAME encoding engine. Package managers made that source-first upstream usable for ordinary users by supplying the lame CLI and library builds across Unix, Windows-oriented, and cross-platform ecosystems.
How it is used
The package is most visible as the lame command-line encoder, used to encode PCM/WAV audio to MP3 with constant, average, or variable bitrate modes. It is also built as a shared library, DLL, DirectShow filter, or ACM codec in downstream environments.
Why package nerds care
LAME is package-nerd famous because MP3 historically sat at the intersection of patents, codec quality, source distribution, and optional multimedia features. For years, having or not having LAME support was a visible signal of how a distribution handled audio codecs, licensing risk, and user convenience.
Timeline
- 1998: Mike Cheng began LAME development as patches against earlier MP3 encoder sources.
- 1998: The dist10-based branch became LAME 2.0.
- 2000-05: LAME replaced the last ISO source remnants and became a fully LGPL MP3 encoder.
- 2001: By LAME 3.81, all dist10 code had been replaced.
- 2017-10: LAME v3.100 was released.
Related projects
- Related projects and technologies include the 8hz-MP3 encoder sources, the dist10 ISO demonstration source, tooLAME for MP2 encoding, MPEG Layer III, and audio ripping or encoding front ends that embed the LAME engine.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: blue
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.
Risk classifier
blue risk · medium confidence · tool
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
Signals
- text:audio
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 13 platform targets.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
lame | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version3.100
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://lame.sourceforge.io/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:lame |
|---|---|
| Version | 3.100 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/lame |
| Homepage | https://lame.sourceforge.io/ |
| Repository | https://sourceforge.net/p/lame/svn/HEAD/tree |
| Upstream docs | https://lame.sourceforge.io/ |
| License | LGPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/lame/lame/3.100/lame-3.100.tar.gz |
| Uses from macOS | ncurses |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | lame |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
lame 3.100-6+b3
MP3 encoding library (frontend)
sudo apt install lame- Section: sound
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: lame
- 4 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
Debian apt95%
lame-doc 3.100-6
MP3 encoding library (documentation)
sudo apt install lame-doc- Section: doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: lame
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
Debian apt95%
libmp3lame-dev 3.100-6+b3
MP3 encoding library (development)
sudo apt install libmp3lame-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: lame
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
Debian apt95%
libmp3lame0 3.100-6+b3
MP3 encoding library
sudo apt install libmp3lame0- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: lame
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
Nix95%
lame
nix profile install nixpkgs#lame- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
Ubuntu apt95%
lame 3.100-6build1
MP3 encoding library (frontend)
sudo apt install lame- Section: universe/sound
- Architecture: amd64
- 4 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
Ubuntu apt95%
lame-doc 3.100-6build1
MP3 encoding library (documentation)
sudo apt install lame-doc- Section: doc
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: lame
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
Ubuntu apt95%
libmp3lame-dev 3.100-6build1
MP3 encoding library (development)
sudo apt install libmp3lame-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: lame
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
Ubuntu apt95%
libmp3lame0 3.100-6build1
MP3 encoding library
sudo apt install libmp3lame0- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: lame
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
apk95%
lame 3.100-r5
An MP3 encoder and graphical frame analyzer
sudo apk add lame- License: LGPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lame
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
apk95%
lame-dev 3.100-r5
An MP3 encoder and graphical frame analyzer (development files)
sudo apk add lame-dev- License: LGPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lame
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
apk95%
lame-doc 3.100-r5
An MP3 encoder and graphical frame analyzer (documentation)
sudo apk add lame-doc- License: LGPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lame
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
apk95%
lame-libs 3.100-r5
An MP3 encoder and graphical frame analyzer (libraries)
sudo apk add lame-libs- License: LGPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lame
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
dnf95%
lame 3.100-21.fc44
Free MP3 audio compressor
sudo dnf install lame- License: LGPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: lame
- 6 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
dnf95%
lame-devel 3.100-21.fc44
Development files for lame
sudo dnf install lame-devel- License: LGPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: lame
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
dnf95%
lame-libs 3.100-21.fc44
LAME MP3 encoding library
sudo dnf install lame-libs- License: LGPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: lame
- 4 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Lame
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment