Audacity Forum

Thanks stevefiddle
Not yet given up, but....
Obediently uninstalled 1.2.6, installed 1.3.7, and deleted all existing LAME traces (including any poss ref in an audacity.cfg etc.) - but have now spent hours (almost literally by now) trying all the 4,700 different sites and approaches recommended on the "Downloading problems" forum to download "the latest LAME" and get it recognised by 1.3.7 .

BUT - no matter how I try it - (I am very careful in following instructions!),
I can't get 1.3.7 to accept the "lame_enc.dll" however carefully I've told it where to find it. That's both by trying export MP3 and answering the question "Where is it" , or by using Edit>Preferences>Locate. Or, both, 100 times...

I either get:-
-- "Cannot open MP3 encoding library" or
-- "you are linking to lame_enc.dll v4.0 (or 3.98.2 0r 3.99 or whatever version I'm trying). This version is not compatible with Audacity 1.3.7. Please download the latest version of the LAME MP3 library."

AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH........

Any way of saving my sanity? Or what's left of it....

With Audacity 1.3.7 the only version to use is the "Lame for Audacity" version available from here: http://lame.buanzo.com.ar/
The file that you need to download is "Lame_v3.98.2_for_Audacity_on_Windows.exe" Do you have that?
When you run that file it creates a folder in the Programs folder called "Lame for Audacity" and the lame_enc.dll is in that folder.

Delete or move all other versions of Lame out of the way before you start.

In a VERY FEW cases there have been small number of people that need a slightly different version of Lame. If you are absolutely sure that you are using the correct version and still have the problem try this version: http://www.gaclrecords.org.uk/nf_lame_enc.dll (this is an unofficial release that has been made specifically to address these rare occurrences and should possibly not be used in other cases). If you end up using this version, you will need to download the file and rename it as "lame_enc.dll"

Stevethefiddle, yes, yes,yes.....

Finally, finally, made it.
with your
"In a VERY FEW cases there have been small number of people that need a slightly different version of Lame. If you are absolutely sure that you are using the correct version and still have the problem try this version: http://www.gaclrecords.org.uk/nf_lame_enc.dll (this is an unofficial release that has been made specifically to address these rare occurrences and should possibly not be used in other cases). If you end up using this version, you will need to download the file and rename it as "lame_enc.dll"

This one works with 1.3.7. Thank you, I can get on with life now...

[As a comment, there is a lot of conflicting and sometimes actually wrong info about Lame inclusion on the Wiki/Forums (Fora?) etc. There must be an easier way, surely - I've probably spent literally 3 hours just trying to make a valid dll available.... Any takers for putting it all right?]

Cheers, good luck with Audacity, and any other shared software ventures. Another worthwhile one is Harmony Assistant if interested...)

Dave Thomas, Findhorn, near Inverness.. farflung N. of Scotland.