Exporting as MP3 with existing bitrate

[pomozki]

Hi, I'm new here - please forgive me if this is already covered.
I constantly edit my music, then export as an MP3 over the existing file.
I'd like to export with the highest bitrate possible - 320 ? - but I gather there's no point using a high bitrate for a file with a low bitrate, say, 128
With my previous version (1.2.6) I could choose my export bitrate in Preferences.
So far I can't find the same option in the latest version I have (1.3.13-beta (Unicode)

question: is there a default option that allows me to export as an MP3 with the file's existing bitrate?
thanks very much

[kozikowski]

an MP3 with the file's existing bitrate?

Yes, but you wouldn't want to. Every time Audacity makes a new MP3, it adds compression damage to the sound and you can't stop it. You can export as 320 quality MP3 and that helps a lot, but the file sizes go way up. Obviously, you can export as WAV and there is no further damage no matter how much editing you do.

So you were intended to create a master music file in WAV, AIFF or other uncompressed format, edit your brains out, export a new, different WAV and only then export your MP3. On the second pass, go back to either the master WAV or the edited WAV and make a new WAV -- a third one. Then export a new MP3. Never go back over old MP3s and never edit right over your old work -- or your master files. People who do that post here: "The lights went out while I was editing my two-hour podcast and it won't open any more. Please help, it's really important!"

We warn people never to do production in MP3 because MP3 causes sound damage and it's cumulative. The more you edit, the more damage.

You can set the MP3 export quality at the Export step -Options. You can make it anything you want, but you're not going to like staying at the same quality you started.

If you're doing very simple cuts and trims, you might want to look at a real MP3 editing program like MP3Split. The editing tools are limited, but they don't cause additional compression damage.

Koz

[pomozki]

thanks very much for your reply - I'll read it fully and digest later today!

[steve]

Koz has covered about everything except for where the MP3 settings are located in Audacity 1.3.x. They are in the Export dialogue screen -> click on the "Options" button. More details: http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/File_Export_Dialog

[pomozki]

ok I thought he'd mentioned that but thanks Steve!

[pomozki]

thanks very much to the previous posters. I've downloaded MP3splt but it seems rather geeky and I don't even know if it'll do what I want

as a general rule that others also find useful, I'd like to ask:
editing my MP3s is very important to me and storage disks are getting cheaper all the time, so I'm happy to buy a bigger hard disk.

I want music files that
1) are high-quality
2) work in iTunes (unlike FLAC),
3) won't lose quality when I do my simple edits (cutting out sections and amplifying the sound in low-volume files) and
4) offers a default setting for retaining the current bitrate without having to change it for every track according to its current bitrate. (e.g. 128 or 320)

what's the best format to work with - AIFF? - or can I do everything I want with an MP3 editor?
I'm willing to pay for professional software if necessary to get the best outcome.

thanks again - I really appreciate all and any advice

[kozikowski]

AIFF and WAV are sisters of each other. Both are uncompressed formats. AIFF happens mostly in Apple-Land, but WAV files are accepted all over earth, which is why Audacity default is WAV. AIFF handles metadata (author, dates, style) better than WAV. Both work perfectly well in iTunes.

iTunes has the ability to keep the uncompressed WAV and an iPod friendly MP3 or AAC music version at the same time. Highly recommended.

You can always go down to MP3 from uncompressed, perfect WAV format, but you can never come back up. MP3 compression sound damage is permanent. MP3 is a delivery format, the last step in the process before you email the music to your mom, not the first. MP3 compression only works exactly correctly when it starts with perfect, uncompressed music files, not another MP3.

We don't speak of data rates in connection with WAV files because that's a compression measurement and WAVs aren't compressed. My 44100, 16-bit Stereo WAV files travel at 1411, quite a step up from 128. That 44100 thing is the technical standard for Music CDs. Another standard is 48000, 16-bit, Stereo which is the standard for broadcast television.

If you're going to have an archive of all your music, transfer it at 44100, 16-bit, Stereo and then make backups. If you know you're going to need extraordinary editing, filtering and effects, then you should Save a Project (32 bit Floating, 44100, Stereo) in addition to the regular WAV. Projects are a little brittle and more difficult to work with, but the quality is better under the stress of editing.

Under all circumstances, you should be able to go back to your pristine WAV music copies for other production work or in case of damage.

Koz

[steve]

I've downloaded MP3splt but it seems rather geeky and I don't even know if it'll do what I want

An alternative (free) program that can do lossless MP3 editing is mp3DirectCut. Again it is limited to basic editing operations, but it may be enough for your needs. More complex editing requires that MP3s are decoded, and when the audio data is re-encoded there will be some sound quality loss.

[pomozki]

An alternative (free) program that can do lossless MP3 editing is mp3DirectCut. Again it is limited to basic editing operations, but it may be enough for your needs.

thanks again Steve, I'll check it out asap

[pomozki]

AIFF and WAV are sisters of each other. Both are uncompressed formats. AIFF happens mostly in Apple-Land, but WAV files are accepted all over earth, which is why Audacity default is WAV. AIFF handles metadata (author, dates, style) better than WAV. Both work perfectly well in iTunes.

wow, that's terrific, thanks very much - I'm not audio-savvy but I'll make sure I digest all of that answer.
actually, to be honest, I'm working on a business project and it'll be vital to get this sorted out in the best possible way
rather than bore the pants off everyone in the forum, would it be possible to pm you somewhere and see if I'm on the right lines?
clue: I've so far compiled a database of 10,500 files (100+ GB) - it's going to rise much, much further
cheers again!