After creating a new file (5min audio + 25min “Generate → Silence”)x2 and exporting it with “File → Export as mp3 → Extreme 220-260kbps” i got an invalid file that failed to play correctly in many players:
mac os quick native player (space) - first 5 min audio is played in place where silent must be (05:00 - 30:00 and 35:00 - 59:59)
Android PowerAMP - first 5 min audio is played in place where silent must be (05:00 - 30:00 and 35:00 - 59:59)
Android AIMP player - track length is shown as 12:37 instead of 59:59
On the other hand, at the same time file is played correctly and as intended on Audirvana macOS player and foobar2000 Windows player.
That file looks OK to me, and plays correctly in all of my media players.
Some media players have buggy support for VBR encoded MP3s (the file is VBR encoded). For maximum compatibility, export from Audacity as “CBR” encoded MP3. To do that, select “Constant” as the “Bit rate mode” (see: https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/mp3_export_options.html)
Not ideal because encoding (or re-encoding) to MP3 always loses a bit of sound quality, but yes you can import the file into Audacity and then export it in the required format.
