unzip files

[sparkync]

Hi, I'm new here, and just starting with the Audacity program. I am trying to get started by downloading the codec "lame", so I can export my music as a MP3. I've got down to the instructions to download it in a zipped file, but then it says to unzip it and save it under a new name. I've not done this before and do not know what they mean by unzipping it. Does that mean to "extract the files"? If someone could help me get this downloaded correctly, I would appreciate it. Thanks a lot....

[kozikowski]

In Windows, it's usually double click on the xxxxx.zip file and extract if it asks you. That should give you the (from memory now) lame.dll or something like that. In Windows, it's a Dynamic Link Library and I don't remember where it wants you to put it. There should be instructions.

Koz

[steve]

and do not know what they mean by unzipping it. Does that mean to "extract the files"?

Yes it does.

Here's some instruction taken from the Audacity wiki (which I've edited to show the relevant bits for Audacity 1.2.6) http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... stallation

...it is recommended to save it (the extracted lame_enc.dll file) into your Audacity installation folder. This is normally at C:Program FilesAudacity.

Once lame_enc.dll is saved to your computer:
Launch Audacity, click "Edit > Preferences" then the "File Formats tab". (it may be necessary to click the left-pointing arrow top right of the window to reveal the tab).

Look for the MP3 Export section.
Click on the "Find Library" button and it will ask if you want to locate the LAME encoder. Click "Yes".

In the dialogue box, go to the folder where you put lame_enc.dll earlier, and select it.

Click Open, then OK.

In the same "MP3 Export Setup" section, you can then set the bit rate of the exported MP3 by clicking on the downward pointing arrow in the "Bit Rate" dropdown.

The default bit rate is 128 kbps. A higher bit rate gives you higher quality at the expense of a larger filesize, and vice-versa.