I haven’t been able to correlate AAC exports and the export settings. For example, I’ll use the slider to export at 98 kpbs, but the export reads 330 kbps, and if I set the slider over to the right at 320 kbps, the export will show up as 459 kbps. If I export a .mp3, the file info kbps will match the export setting. I’m using v3.1.3. Any insight into this?
I almost never use AAC but I think this is a long-term “known issue”. I’m getting slightly different results. I’m getting 474kbps (checked with MediaInfo) no matter where I set the quality slider. (I’m also running version 3.1.3, on Windows 10 - 64-bit.)
However, you can get better results by choosing Custom FFmpeg Export with Format = MP4 and Codec = AAC.
When I make AAC files - for my iTunes/Ipod(s) - I:
- export the audio from Audacity as 16-bit WAV
- Import the WAS file into iTunes
- use iTunes to make the AAC conversion
This sidesteps the know issue that you are talking about here. Fot my use case I also need the WAV file anyway as I have a “jukebox” device with a 2TB device (a sort of mains-powered hi-fi iPod) and on there I use uncompressed audio - i.e. WAV files.
Plus I retain the WAV files as backups on 3 further 2TB USB disks (2 at home and one offsite, in another country) as I don’t want to lose all the valuable work.
Peter.
Thank you Peter and DVDdoug for your insights, both of these tips are super helpful!!! 