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quality loss when exporting to MP3 or WAV
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 3:24 am
by mlavers
Hello,
I am experiencing severe audio quality loss when exporting, in either WAV or MP3 format. I'm using Windows 10. I record right into Audacity, using a good mic, and the playback sounds great. As soon as I export and listen to the subsequent file the sound is fuzzy/echoy/clippy. I've tried everything: all the various export formats. I'm recording straight into Audacity, not importing MP3 files, so I'm assuming my recordings start out good. What's happening? How can I get my MP3s or WAVs to have the same sound that the audio does when played directly in Audacity?
Thanks!
Re: quality loss when exporting to MP3 or WAV
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 4:22 am
by kozikowski
Does your recording screen look anything like this?
Blue waves taller? Shorter?
Koz
Re: quality loss when exporting to MP3 or WAV
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 4:24 am
by kozikowski
You can use Windows' Snipping Tool to draw a box around a part of your screen and save it as a picture file.
Scroll down from a forum text window > Attachments > Add Files.
Koz
Re: quality loss when exporting to MP3 or WAV
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:43 pm
by mlavers
I think my screen looks similar. I've attached a jpeg, and audio recordings, both in wav and mp3 format of my lousy exporting results.

- audacity.jpg (273.05 KiB) Viewed 293 times
The WAV file was exported in 32 bit encoding, and the mp3 with a "bit rate mode" of "constant", at 320 kbps, with the "force export to mono box clicked.
The sound clips are short as I couldn't upload larger files, but you can hear the clipping and the echo/scratchiness. My voice sounds about 2X clearer on the same clip in Audacity pre-export.
Re: quality loss when exporting to MP3 or WAV
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 1:51 am
by kozikowski
As soon as I export and listen to the subsequent file the sound is fuzzy/echoy/clippy.
Not in Los Angeles, it's not. It sounds just like you with little or no distortion. Maybe the tiniest amount of fan noise in the background.
How are you listening? Can you listen on something else?
I think 10 and 11 are the same sound file (except for the name).
I think your listening/evaluation system could use work.
Koz
Re: quality loss when exporting to MP3 or WAV
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 1:56 am
by kozikowski
I don't know that I would choose fancy file encoding, particularly if you're having trouble. Stick with absolutely plain 44100, 16-bit, Stereo (or Mono). Once you get that working, then you can get fancy.
The 32-bit thing is the reason you couldn't get a longer file on the forum. 16-bit, Mono will post over 20 seconds.
Koz
Re: quality loss when exporting to MP3 or WAV
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 1:57 am
by kozikowski
I like the voice. I think with a little buffing up, I could listen to a story in that voice.
Koz
Re: quality loss when exporting to MP3 or WAV
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 2:29 am
by mlavers
Wow, you're a life saver. I assumed that since I was hearing two different qualities from the same earphones, that the problem was the export, not the earphones. I had been using bluetooth earbuds, and when I pugged in a different set, I heard what I've been trying to hear for days: clear audio.
I feel like a dunce now, but thanks so much for your help!
Re: quality loss when exporting to MP3 or WAV
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 2:39 am
by kozikowski
I am not a fan of wireless headphones.
Koz