Audacity Forum

I'm using Windows Vista and have been trying for about 3 hours now to convert WMA files to MP3. I tried downloading both LAME (lame_enc.dll and Lame_v3.98.2 as I've seen in some places that the first should be used and others, the second) and FFmpeg as both were recommended on different help pages but I still have no option to "export" into Audacity (the option is greyed out). When I click the 'Locate' option in the MP3 Library Version finder I can see both the LAME and FFmpeg there but when I select them, the MP3 Library Version still shows: "MP3 export library not found."

I tried following the instructions but didn't get anywhere:

http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 34&p=81604

While I seemed to be able to download both a regular and a ZIP copy of LAME (though I've never used ZIP before so I'm not 100% sure I did it correctly), I couldn't enable "hidden files" in Microsoft Explorer as my computer gives me no "Tools" menu. I also have no Audacity folder only a shortcut right to the program so I can't use Notepad for the file called "audacity.cfg."

I am dreadful at tech speak so if you can provide me with step by step instructions on how to make the 'Export' option available to me in Audacity, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

Where did you put the Lame download after downloading it? Where is it right now?

You certainly should have an Audacity folder.

Use Windows Explorer and look in C:

Do you see a "program files" folder there?

If so, look inside it. You should see an Audacity folder of some type.

Don't you see a "tools" menu at the top of Windows Explorer, like shown below?

The location of audacity.cfg might vary, depending on what version of Windows you are using. Why do you need to get at it?


Notice that in the picture below from my PC, the Audacity folder is found under the Program Files directory, which is under C:

Notice the "tools" menu at the top.

Just to cover the obvious. You were able to open the Windows Media files and play them, right? It's only the export that's holding up the show?

You can Export the show as WAV files, right?

When you downloaded lame, did you get the one that came with the version of Audacity you have? They're not all the same and Audacity uses one that it likes.

http://audacityteam.org/download/beta_windows

Koz

Thank you for assisting me. I really appreciate it. I was finally able to at least download the WMA files in RAW format into Audacity and even got the "Export" button to show up - yay! Although I can now get into Export and click 'Save,' it tells me Audacity needs the lame_enc.dll file to create the MP3. It then shows the location of it in the Browse section:

C:Program Files (x86)Lame for Audacitylame_enc.dll

BUT, when I click "OK," I get this error message:

"Could not open MP3 encoding library!"

So I've listed a few questions below which might help make my issue(s) clearer:

1. I should be using lame and not Ffmpeg, right?
a. If so, can I delete ffmpeg? If not, can you provide me with instructions for using it?
b. If I am to use lame, should I use enc.dll or the 3.98.2 version?
NOTE: In reference to ignatz's questions, my Lame download/s is/are currently located in my Admin folder (and as you can see above, even Audacity seems to recognize it's there but for some reason still won't link it).

2. Accessing the audacity.cfg folder may not be necessary but the website I referenced in my first post (viewtopic.php?f=16&t=28834&p=81604) indicated I should try accessing it to fix the problem I'm having. I'm assuming this is b/c the lame download I have is hidden and thus Audacity isn't recognizing it. If I don't need to unhide files to get the Export option to work though, scratch the Windows Explorer problem I'm having. If I do need to get into it to enable the "hidden files," while I can get into the program files folder that contains Audacity, there's no "Tools" option - only Organize, Views, Play all and Burn. (I tried to copy/paste a screenshot but couldn't get that or an attachment to work in here - again, not technical enough to figure out anything w/o explicit instructions!)

Is there any problem with it being located in the Program Files (x86) vs just the Program Files? If you can let me know whatever I'm doing wrong here, that would be great.

3. As to Koz's question, I am able to play the files in Windows Media Player - I just can't seem to convert them to MP3 once I'm in Audacity. I read somewhere (wiki I think) that Audacity 1.3.12 Beta (the one I have) is the only one which will convert the files I currently have in WMA format to MP3. Is that not right? I had originally tried the 1.2 full version but had the same problem.

Thank you again. I'm making progress in that I at least have the Export button now and I owe it to you! Looking forward to getting this resolved completely!!!

rrjwriter wrote:Thank you for assisting me. I really appreciate it. I was finally able to at least download the WMA files in RAW format into Audacity and even got the "Export" button to show up - yay! Although I can now get into Export and click 'Save,' it tells me Audacity needs the lame_enc.dll file to create the MP3. It then shows the location of it in the Browse section:

C:Program Files (x86)Lame for Audacitylame_enc.dll

BUT, when I click "OK," I get this error message:

"Could not open MP3 encoding library!"

So I've listed a few questions below which might help make my issue(s) clearer:

1. I should be using lame and not Ffmpeg, right?
a. If so, can I delete ffmpeg? If not, can you provide me with instructions for using it?
b. If I am to use lame, should I use enc.dll or the 3.98.2 version?
NOTE: In reference to ignatz's questions, my Lame download/s is/are currently located in my Admin folder (and as you can see above, even Audacity seems to recognize it's there but for some reason still won't link it).

2. Accessing the audacity.cfg folder may not be necessary but the website I referenced in my first post (viewtopic.php?f=16&t=28834&p=81604) indicated I should try accessing it to fix the problem I'm having. I'm assuming this is b/c the lame download I have is hidden and thus Audacity isn't recognizing it. If I don't need to unhide files to get the Export option to work though, scratch the Windows Explorer problem I'm having. If I do need to get into it to enable the "hidden files," while I can get into the program files folder that contains Audacity, there's no "Tools" option - only Organize, Views, Play all and Burn. (I tried to copy/paste a screenshot but couldn't get that or an attachment to work in here - again, not technical enough to figure out anything w/o explicit instructions!)

Is there any problem with it being located in the Program Files (x86) vs just the Program Files? If you can let me know whatever I'm doing wrong here, that would be great.

3. As to Koz's question, I am able to play the files in Windows Media Player - I just can't seem to convert them to MP3 once I'm in Audacity. I read somewhere (wiki I think) that Audacity 1.3.12 Beta (the one I have) is the only one which will convert the files I currently have in WMA format to MP3. Is that not right? I had originally tried the 1.2 full version but had the same problem.

Thank you again. I'm making progress in that I at least have the Export button now and I owe it to you! Looking forward to getting this resolved completely!!!

A few specific points that you have yet to answer:

If you navigate to C:Program files (x86), do you see an Audacity folder?

If you navigate to C:Program files (x86), do you see a Lame for Audacity folder? Do you in fact see Lame_enc.dll inside the Lame for Audacity folder?

The fact that a folder is "hidden" doesn't mean Audacity or Windows can't find it. It means YOU can't find it--certain files are normally hidden from users UNLESS they turn on "show hidden files" through the "tools" menu that you say you don't have.


On your other points:

Lame_enc.dll is contained within Lame 3.98.2. If you installed the latter, you have the former.

I don't know if you need FFMPEG to use wma files. I'd leave it installed if it is installed now.

I am confused by your statement that "my Lame download/s is/are currently located in my Admin folder". That seems to contradict that it is in C:Program files (x86).

It appears you have a 64 bit version of Vista. I'm not sure how that affects your problem.

Windows generally recognizes whether you are trying to install a 32 bit program or a 64 bit program. It should install 64 bit programs in C:Program Files and it should install 32-bit programs in C:Program files (x86).

Do you acknowledge having a 64 bit version of Vista?

Look in C:Program files (NOT C:program files (x86). Do you see any Audacity or Lame for Audacity folders?

Going back to my first post: Do you or don't you see a "tools" menu as shown in the picture in my first post?

I wouldn't worry about audacity.cfg at the moment, but it is like located here:

C:UsersyourusernamewhateveritisappdataroamingAudacity.

You will not be able to see that location if you cannot see hidden files. And you can't see hidden files if you don't have a "tools" menu in Windows Explorer--I never heard of anyone not having that menu. If you are looking at the line that begins with "organize", you are looking in the wrong place.

Look higher--or are you looking in Windows Explorer at all?

Lastly: there are far simpler ways to convert wma files to another format than using Audacity. It can convert certain files to certain formats, but I don't know what it can or can't do with wma files. I'd use another program if that's all I wanted to do.

Re the tool menu choice:

Go to "organize" and pull down that menu from the little black triangle.

Go to layout.

Make sure "menu bar" is checked.

I'll bet it isn't checked now.

Do you see the "tools" menu now?

But to address the question right at the top of the pile. No, you shouldn't use Audacity to convert WMA to MP3. Audacity is a terrible converter. The fact that you could eventually, painfully force Audacity to open the WMA files as "raw" doesn't mean Audacity is going to be able to manage or convert them. Nowhere is it written that you're going to get successful music files even if you do find and load the lame software.

http://www.foobar2000.org/

Always convert music to one single, stable, uncompressed format before opening it in Audacity.

Koz

rrjwriter wrote:I was finally able to at least download the WMA files in RAW format into Audacity and even got the "Export" button to show up - yay!

Good - that means that you have FFMpeg installed and working correctly.

rrjwriter wrote:it tells me Audacity needs the lame_enc.dll file to create the MP3. It then shows the location of it in the Browse section:
C:Program Files (x86)Lame for Audacitylame_enc.dll
BUT, when I click "OK," I get this error message:
"Could not open MP3 encoding library!"

Not so good - that means that you have not got Lame installed and working correctly.
See the last post (by Gale Andrews) in this thread: http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 16&t=18426

FFMpeg allows the import and export in various file formats and is required for importing WMA files.
Lame is for exporting as MP3.

[quote="rrj I had originally tried the 1.2 full version but had the same problem. [/quote]
Audacity 1.2 does not support FFMPeg so the only supported file types are: WAV, AIFF, OGG, FLAC and MP3. (MP3 export requires Lame).

kozikowski wrote: http://www.foobar2000.org/

Excellent program - really good audio player, fast CD ripper, easy to use audio format converter (also does batch conversions).

Thanks Koz and stevethefiddle. I found another INCREDIBLY easy program (Xilisoft) that works like a charm. The company I'm freelancing for suggested Audacity so I really appreciate you letting me know that there were other simpler programs out there for the technically-challenged!

No export after message -'Could not open mp3 encoding library'

I fixed the problem ‘Could not open mp3 encoding library’ please read on. My story is :-

I decided reload windows xp. Before doing this I formatted the C: drive. Eventually after several hours of re-installation and finding drivers for network cards etc., I then ‘first time’ installed audacity.

With my previous PC build I had use audacity to export mp3 files. So after loading audacity version 1.2.6 in for the ‘first time’ on my new PC build I then clicked on the link http://lame.buanzo.com.ar/Lame_v3.98.3_ ... indows.exe . The installation apparently went ok until, while trying to export an mp3 for the first time and I then ‘pointed’ audacity to the file ‘lame_enc.dll’. I then got the message ‘Could not open mp3 encoding library’. Red herring -After reading different posts I searched and I couldn’t find the file audacity.cfg even though I configured explorer to see hidden files.

Out of desperation I tried random shots in the dark. I down loaded the zip file from http://lame.buanzo.com.ar/libmp3lame-win-3.98.2.zip and copied lame_enc.dll from the zip and replaced lame_enc.dll in C:Program FilesLame For Audacity folder. This resolved the error.

The lame_enc.dll file loaded via windows installer was size 248 KB (253,952 bytes) 19 March 2010, 12:25:44 (time modified). The file lame_enc.dll via the zip was 372 KB (380,928 bytes) 28 November 2008, 08:32:00 (time modified). I notice there was considerable difference in the sizes of these files and am wondering if there has been a slip up with the version control.