Exporting to mp3 or wav produces silent files

[lgarvin]

When I export a project or selection to either mp3 or wav format and then play back the resulting file, there is no sound, even though the music plays normally before I export it. What am I failing to do? (I am totally new to this Audacity software.)

[steve]

Do your Audacity projects still play OK?

Are you using a USB device for recording? If so, try disconnecting the device, then reboot your computer. Do the files play now?

[lgarvin]

I have no problem recording via USB or playing the Audacity project directly. The problem seems to be with converting it (exporting) to an mp3 or wav file. The resulting mp3 and wav files are silent. This has nothing to do with the recording/downloading process, only the export process.

[lgarvin]

I found the answer myself. After I installed the software my default output sound device was set to the MP3 codec. As soon as I changed it to my regular sound device everything played fine. The exports worked, I just didn't realize it until I tried playing other MP3 and WAV files I already had on my system and couldn't hear them either. Thanks anyway for trying to help.