use audacity to convert wav to mp3

[wearashirt]

Hi! Just asking whether I should NOT use Audacity to convert final WAV masters into mp3's for distribution.

What do you guys think?

[James Perrett]

According to the manual Audacity uses the Lame library to encode mp3 so it should be as good as anything. Just make sure that you use a reasonably high bit rate - I'd suggest 256kb/s if you use variable bit rate and 320kb/s for a fixed bit rate.

[The Elf]

No reason not to use it.

[Folderol]

According to the manual Audacity uses the Lame library to encode mp3 so it should be as good as anything. Just make sure that you use a reasonably high bit rate - I'd suggest 256kb/s if you use variable bit rate and 320kb/s for a fixed bit rate.

It does indeed. This was a minor problem at one time as debian wouldn't include LAME due to the mp3 patent status, so you had to fetch it separately.

As a result I got into the habit of calling LAME directly from the command line.

[Sam Spoons]

Reaper users have to download Lame separately too, it's a free/open source download but AIUI they can't include it with Reaper for licensing reasons.

[Drew Stephenson]

Reaper users have to download Lame separately too, it's a free/open source download but AIUI they can't include it with Reaper for licensing reasons.

Not sure that's the case anymore Sam. When i changed computer last year and was reloading all my software I didn't need to load Lame separately.

[James Perrett]

According to Wikipedia all the mp3 related patents had expired by 2017 in the US (and by 2012 in Europe) so the licensing issues have probably gone away now.

[Sam Spoons]

Reaper users have to download Lame separately too, it's a free/open source download but AIUI they can't include it with Reaper for licensing reasons.

Not sure that's the case anymore Sam. When i changed computer last year and was reloading all my software I didn't need to load Lame separately.

Maybe, I'm shortly going to install Reaper V6 so will find out then

[ef37a]

If you want a very versatile converter you can download the 30 day demo of Samplitude Pro X 6 from MAGIX. It is very simple to use, Once your .wave is loaded you just click 'Export' and select MP3 (there are several other options)
A new box appears and it is very easy to select the quality level you want.

Very quick and easy for batch ripping CD tracks as well.

Dave.

[ConcertinaChap]

According to the manual Audacity uses the Lame library to encode mp3 so it should be as good as anything. Just make sure that you use a reasonably high bit rate - I'd suggest 256kb/s if you use variable bit rate and 320kb/s for a fixed bit rate.

I've used Audacity a lot for this purpose. No problems at all. I agree with James' bit rate recommendations, but that would be true for any such tool and not just Audacity.

CC

[wearashirt]

Thanks all for your important comments!! Now I feel bad for the one buyer who got her file as 128 kbps...

[The Elf]

Thanks all for your important comments!! Now I feel bad for the one buyer who got her file as 128 kbps...

95% of people neither know, nor care...