Exporting MP3 Files

Audacity cannot encode MP3 files by itself, because the MP3 encoding algorithm is patented and cannot legally be used in free programs. However, Audacity has been programmed to recognize other existing MP3 encoders that you can download separately. All you have to do is obtain the appropriate MP3 encoder for your computer and then show Audacity where it is located.

If you use...	You need to...
Windows	Download LAME and look for the file called lame_enc.dll
Linux/Unix	Download LAME and compile it as a shared object, then look for the file called libmp3lame.so
Macintosh	Download LAMELib (see our website for more info).

For links to these MP3 encoders, go to the Audacity web page (http://audacity.sourceforge.net) and click on the link for your operating system.

The first time you try to export an MP3 file, Audacity will ask you to locate your MP3 encoder. Locate the file indicated above. From then on, Audacity will not need to ask you again and you will be able to export MP3 files easily!

Support for more MP3 encoders may be coming in the future. Let us know if there is a particular MP3 encoder you want supported.

What is an MP3 file and how does it differ from WAV and AIFF files?

MP3 (MPEG II, layer 3) is a popular format for storing music and other audio. A typical MP3 file is one tenth the size of the original WAV or AIFF file, but it sounds very similar. MP3 encoders make use of psychoacoustic models to, in effect, "throw away" the parts of the sound that are very hard to hear, while leaving the loudest and most important parts alone.

Unfortunately, no MP3 encoder is perfect, and so an MP3 file will never sound quite as good as the original. Still, most people find that the quality of an MP3 file is virtually indistinguishable from a CD when played on headphones or on small computer speakers, which is why the format is so popular.

Why doesn't Audacity ship with an MP3 encoder?

Unfortunately, the algorithm to encode or create MP3 files is patented, and Audacity would not be able to include an MP3 exporting algorithm without either charging a fee or violating the law in many countries.

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