DirectShow is a much more advanced multimedia framework that allows several filters to be chained. In that fashion, one can easily create a chain that will read a wave file, pass its data through several sound processores, and at the other end write to disk directly to MP3.

Features:
· Many improvements in quality in speed over ISO reference software
· MPEG1,2 and 2.5 layer III encoding
· CBR (constant bitrate) and two types of variable bitrate, VBR and ABR
· Encoding engine can be compiled as a shared library (Linux/UNIX), DLL or ACM codec (Windows)
· Free format encoding and decoding
· GPSYCHO: a GPL'd psycho acoustic and noise shaping model
· Powerfull and easy to use presets
· Quality is comparable to FhG encoding engines and substantially better than most other encoders
· Fast! Encodes faster than real time on a PII 266 at highest quality mode
· MP3x: a GTK/X-Window MP3 frame analyzer for both .mp3 and unencoded audio files