Only left channel exports to MP3

[fredee]

I recorded a stereo track from my radio, duplicated the track, processed the duplicate a little, selected it as “Solo”, played it and confirmed that I have left and right channels, then exported it to an MP3 file. Upon playback (via Windows Media Player), the right channel is missing. How do I get it to export in stereo?

For what it's worth, I examined the Audio Track drop down menu for the duplicate stereo track and saw that the “Left Channel” is selected but grayed out (so I can’t change it), and the “Split Stereo Track” is not grayed out.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

[steve]

For what it's worth, I examined the Audio Track drop down menu for the duplicate stereo track and saw that the “Left Channel” is selected but grayed out

For a stereo track that is normal (stereo is by definition left+right, so selecting left or right is not available).

If you export as a .wav file does it play in stereo?

[fredee]

The .wav file has the same results, no right channel.

[steve]

And how about the Audacity project, does that play in stereo or mono?

[fredee]

It plays in stereo from within the Audacity project.

The MP3 file plays only the left channel. I've tried it on two separate computers that have sound cards that function correctly.

[steve]

Try this as a diagnostic test:

Close down all other programs (you should be OK leaving your browser open, unless you want to print out these instructions, but shut down anything else that is running).

Make a note of any changes that you make in this bit:

Open Audacity v.1.3.4
Click on "Edit->Preferences->Audio I/O"
Set "Recording - Channels=2(stereo)"
Click on the "Quality" tab
Set "Default Sample Rate = 44100 Hz"
Set "Default Sample Format = 16 bit"
Set "Conversion - Real Time=Fast, Dither=none"
Set "Conversion - High Quality=High, Dither=Shaped"
Click on "Audio Files" tab
Set "make a copy...(safer)"
Set "Ask User"
Set "Always mix all tracks down..."
Check that "Lame library version: = LAME 3.97"
Click on "OK"
Shut down Audacity ("File->Exit")

Now restart Audacity
There should be no error messages - if there are, make a note of them and post in this topic, then change your settings back to how they were and post here what the changes were.

Assuming no errors:
Click on "Tracks->Add New->Stereo Track"
Click on "Generate Chirp"
Set the parameters to:
Waveform=Sine
Frequency Start=220
Frequency End=440
Amplitude Start=0.8
Amplitude End=0.4
Length=30 seconds
Click "OK"

You should now have some audio data in a stereo track (track name = "Audio Track")
Click on the "Play" button
You should hear a tone that gradually rises in pitch and lasts for 30 seconds from both speakers (headphones) - allow it to play to the end and stop.

Click on "File->Export"
In the "Save In" box select "Desktop"
In the "File Name" box, type "test" (without the quotes)
In the "Save as Type" box, select "MP3 Files"
Click on "Options"
Set the options as follows:
Bit Rate Mode: = Preset
Quality = Standard, 170-210 kbps
Variable Speed = Fast
Click on "OK"
Now Click the "Save" button
On the "Id Tag Editor" window that pops up, Click "OK"
Wait while the file is saved.

Exit Audacity ("File->Exit"). When prompted to "Save changes before closing?" select "No
Restart Audacity v.1.3.4
Click on "File->Open"
Set "File of Type" to "MP3 Files"
Browse to the Desktop and select "test.mp3"
Click "Open"
Your test.mp3 file should now open as a stereo audio track. (it will look a bit "rougher" than the original)
Click the "Play" button
You should hear a tone that gradually rises in pitch and lasts for 30 seconds from both speakers (headphones)
If it sounds OK, you may press the "Stop" button rather than listening to all 30 seconds again.
Exit Audacity as before.

Now play the test.mp3 file with Windows Media Player.
What happens?

[fredee]

I performed all of the steps and the MP3 played fine (both left and right channels) in Windows Media Player. So I then performed additional steps (witin Audacity) similar to what had created the original problem, as follows:

Reopen Audacity and import test.mps.
Highlight the track, click Edit Duplicate.
Highlight second track (deselect first track), and time shift it right 10 seconds.
Click the Solo button on the second track. Note that the Mute button on the first track is depressed, the second track is selected, and the first track is deselected or grayed out (I'm not sure if there is a difference).
Export and Save as test2.mp3. Close out note about mixing down to two tracks.
Play test2.mp3 in Windows Media Player. First 10 seconds are silent. Then sound starts, left channel only.

Apparently it has something to do with the Solo and Mute buttons. My intent is to mute the original stereo track (as in have it contribute nothing to the exported file) and have the second stereo track contribute fully to the exported file (which is what I thought Solo would do). I haven't figured out the combination that exports both the left and right channel of the second stereo track.

Any suggestions?

[steve]

Congratulations, you have discovered a bug.
I thought this had been fixed in 1.3.4, but apparently not, at least not for Windows.

There is an easy work around:

Instead of making the track that you want to export "solo",
Select the track that you want to export and use "Export Selection..."

[fredee]

Gee, do I get to name it?

Thank you for all of your help. My problem is solved and I am happy.

[old_coot]

I just installed 1.3.5 (I've been using 1.2.6) and came up with a similar issue. Is it also a bug in 1.3.5?

I have a stereo music track and a mono narration track. I want to export only the narration. So I mute the music track. The exported MP3 contains both the right stereo channel and the narration.

I tried changing the order of the tracks (moved the narration track above the stereo music track). It didn't make any difference. I got the same result. I could not suppress the right music channel.

If I mute the narrative and not the music, the two tracks of the music export correctly.