# Install whatmp3 with Homebrew Small script to create mp3 torrents out of FLACs. Version 3.9 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:whatmp3 ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install whatmp3 ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:whatmp3 - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 3.9 - **Source summary:** Small script to create mp3 torrents out of FLACs - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - whatmp3 (cli) - whatmp3 (alias) ## Dependencies - flac - lame - mktorrent ## Uses from macOS - python ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on all ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 3.9 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/RecursiveForest/whatmp3 - Upstream latest detected: v3.9 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## Project history and usage whatmp3 is a niche Python command-line tool for transcoding FLAC directories into lossy audio formats and optionally creating torrent files for the results. The README describes it as a tool that takes top-level directories of FLAC files, creates new directories for the requested formats, and can create torrents with mktorrent. ### Project history The GitHub repository was created in January 2010, placing whatmp3 in the era when private music trackers and local lossless libraries commonly used FLAC as the archival source while distributing additional lossy encodes for compatibility. Release metadata shows tagged versions 3.6 in 2015, 3.7 and 3.8 in 2016, and 3.9 in January 2025. The long gap and narrow README scope suggest a specialized workflow tool maintained for users who already understand the FLAC-to-torrent release process. ### Adoption history whatmp3's adoption appears concentrated in a small music-archiving and tracker-adjacent niche rather than broad media conversion. Its source-backed usage model specifically mentions zeropadded track numbers, ReplayGain, mktorrent, and private tracker torrent creation, all of which point to reproducible release preparation rather than casual one-off conversion. ### How it is used Users pass one or more FLAC album directories and request target formats such as MP3 or Ogg Vorbis. whatmp3 detects CPU cores for simultaneous transcoding by default, can apply ReplayGain, writes output directories named for the source and format, and can create private torrents using a supplied announce URL. The README notes that most behavior is controlled by command-line options, while adding new formats requires editing the script itself. That makes it more of a purpose-built release-preparation script than a general media-transcoding framework. ### Why package nerds care whatmp3 is package-nerd significant because it captures a very particular Unix media workflow in one command: start with archival FLAC, generate distribution encodes, preserve metadata, and emit torrent artifacts. It is not trying to replace ffmpeg or a full tag editor; it glues the established command-line tools together for a community-specific job. ### Timeline - 2010-01-17: The GitHub repository is created. - 2015-06-28: GitHub release metadata records version 3.6. - 2016-03-08: GitHub release metadata records version 3.7. - 2016-12-12: GitHub release metadata records version 3.8. - 2025-01-15: GitHub release metadata records version 3.9. ### Related projects - FLAC and metaflac provide the lossless input and metadata tooling. - Encoders such as lame and oggenc provide lossy output formats. - mktorrent is used when whatmp3 creates torrent files. ### Sources - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** whatmp3 - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Media and graphics packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/media-graphics-tools/) - Matched media, image, audio, video, or graphics metadata. - [flac](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/flac/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [lame](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lame/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [mktorrent](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mktorrent/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [abcde](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/abcde/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, flac, media, mp3. - [easy-tag](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/easy-tag/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, flac, media, mp3. - [taglib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/taglib/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, flac, media, mp3. - [clamz](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/clamz/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media, mp3. - [ebook2cw](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ebook2cw/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media, mp3. - [id3lib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/id3lib/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media, mp3. - [id3v2](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/id3v2/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: audio, cli, media, mp3. - [flac123](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/flac123/) - Both packages work with overlapping file formats or content types. Shared terms: audio, cli, flac, media. - [go-librespot](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/go-librespot/) - Both packages work with overlapping file formats or content types. Shared terms: audio, cli, flac, media. - [snapcast](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/snapcast/) - Both packages work with overlapping file formats or content types. Shared terms: audio, cli, flac, media. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/whatmp3.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/whatmp3.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - cross-ecosystem install command graph