LAME mp3 and FFmpeg install located but are not active

Audacity 3 Help Forum Windows
1

(my) filename: 4Plug-Ins _ Audacity notes2 1A

LAME MP3 and FFmpeg Plug-Ins

PROBLEM:
After installation of Lame mp3 and FFmpeg plug-ins
I exited Audacity and started it again.
The plug-ins were still found by Audacity BUT were NOT active in File > Export or File > Import

SYSTEM:
PC Computer: Win7 64b
Audacity: 2.2.2
LAME MP3: 3.99.3;
loc: C:\Program Files (x86)\Lame For Audacity\lame_enc.dll
FFmpeg: F(55.33.100),C(55.52.102),U(52.66.100)
loc: C:\Program Files (x86)\FFmpeg for Audacity\avformat-55.dll

DOWNLOAD and INSTALL Lame mp3 and FFmpeg plug-ins:
Run Audacity > Edit > Preferences >
see: Pref window (no minimization possible)

Import/Export > Libraries
Mp3 Export Library > Download
connects to the internet; find and download the LAME MP3 exe file;
run the file and install (Accept default installation location)
FFmpeg Import/Export Library > Download
connects to the internet; find and download the FFmpeg exe file;
run the file and install (Accept default installation location).

Mp3 Export Library > Locate > (the default computer location should be displayed)
(after Accept default installation location, if the window says “not located”, then
Download, reinstall, re Locate).
FFmpeg Import/Export Library > Locate (the default computer location should be displayed)
(after Accept default installation location, if the window says “not located”, then
Download, reinstall, re Locate).
Ok

2

Did you download and run [u]Lame v3.99.3 for Windows.exe[/u] and [u]ffmpeg-win-2.2.2.exe[/u]?

3

Yes, both are installed.
and Preferences>Libraries>window clearly indicates “LAME 3.993” and FFmpeg Library Version (as you describe)

By the way, if it is any help,
I started-up Audacity
Started a youtube music video
The music was playing in my earphones.
Hit the Audacity microphone recording level icon
The music was showing in the recording level bar.

File>Export> choices were all greyed out except for “save compressed project”. {{since there was no project, that should have been greyed out -BUG alert}}

Then I tried:
File>SaveProject> produced a .aup file of 518 bytes and an empty foldername_data
The .aup file was not playable by Audacity, therefore I believe no music was captured.

Question:
Is there a special way to start Audacity’s Recording function??
-Nino

4

I am having more or less the exact same problem. It seems so stupid. If you follow the directions and download, then why can’t Audacity find the files it needs?