Lousy MP3 export, crashes on Ubunbtu Karmic

[erippy]

I'm having all sorts of problems w/ Audacity. Running 32-bit Karmic on AMD 64-bit dual-core PC clone (I've read that the 64-bit version of Ubuntu has unresolved "compatability issues" so I stuck w/ 32 bits). I installed the 'lame' mp3 plugin, but when I saved a file it sounded HORRIBLE!!! Tried both 96K & 128K bitrates, same deal. However I was able to export to .WAV & convert to MP3 using lame in command line. But then I tried to edit the file (using the .WAV version), Audacity crashed. I tried again, got one successful save (.wav format), but then it crashed again. Tried again, saved in .wav format, but when I reopened that file, I found that Audacity had saved only the first few minutes! Tried *again* & Audacity went grey & locked up; System Monitor showed CPU core usage @ abt 95% for one & 20% for the other, switching back & forth btwn cores every few seconds. Finally able to kill Audacity using System Monitor.

I see in the FAQs that I should be using 64-bit drivers for sound; haven't been able to explore that, but no other app seems to be having trouble w/ sound (system sounds play OK, RhythmBox plays OK, Movie Player plays sound OK (but not DVDs -- a separate issue), ChocDoom plays OK).

Any help greatly appreciated! I'd hate to have to go back to SoundForge under Windows. . .

Thanks,
Ed

[erippy]

PS -- sorry I fergot this -- I'm just using sound editing software for radio news, thus need only basic capabilities: record, delete region, cut/paste, normalize vol, export to MP3. Mix under wd be nice, but not crucial. Both SoundForge & Audacity are way overpowered for my needs; an alternative may be to get a simpler app. Any suggestions?

Ed

[steve]

Hi erippy, Audacity is an ideal program for doing what you are after, if you can get it working correctly. I'm still on Jaunty but I use the latest version of Audacity (1.3.10 compiled from the cvs source code) and it works splendidly. I've had problems with almost all of the Ubuntu builds, which I guess is largely down to Audacity being a rapidly developing project, while Ubuntu has also been developing rapidly, so it's like trying to hit a moving target from a moving vehicle. If you know how to, or would like to have a go at building Audacity from the source code you will probably get a much more stable build (it's rock solid here, but I'm on 32bit hardware). If not, the new Audacity 2.0 is due to be released in December, which will hopefully be made available in Karmic.

Alternative audio editors include: GNUsound, Jokosher and Sweep.

[erippy]

If you know how to, or would like to have a go at building Audacity from the source code you will probably get a much more stable build
<Snip>
Alternative audio editors include: GNUsound, Jokosher and Sweep.

-- Thanks, Steve, I'm up for learning to build; have programming experience, tho' only small projects that I've written myself. Will need some handholding. Will poke around "src" directories & let you know how it goes. Will also chk out the alternatives. Thanks again,

Ed