Audacity doesn't complete conversion to MP3

[Gale Andrews]

I'd guess that most of the problems on this forum are not really Audacity problems.

True.

But an average person skim reading this topic would probably think this was an Audacity crash bug, so I think it's important to point out that this isn't such.

It's very unlikely the developers would want to fail safe Audacity against some other program or codec crashing out lame_enc.dll, even if it could be done.


Gale

[Paulinee43]

"The next time you go to export, FFmpeg will already be set up. You don't need to set it up each time, just check that "Custom FFmpeg Export" is selected and remember to add ".mp3" to the file name."

I would like to try this, but should it not work at all, is it quite easy to reverse the whole process?

[Gale Andrews]

"The next time you go to export, FFmpeg will already be set up. You don't need to set it up each time, just check that "Custom FFmpeg Export" is selected and remember to add ".mp3" to the file name."

I would like to try this, but should it not work at all, is it quite easy to reverse the whole process?

Yes, Pauline. Just change the "Save as type" choice back to MP3, OGG or what you choose.


Gale

[Paulinee43]

It worked! I can't see my list of MP3 files already there in the folder to overwrite them with the latest episodes, but I can copy the names beforehand to put into the window when I name the file. It was only a 15 minute recording this time, but I'll record a longer one tomorrow and let you know how it goes.

This is just a thought, but some time ago I disabled Java in my browser and then quite recently, I needed to access a website that used Java and they advised me to enable Scripting in Internet Explorer. When I did that, it could have been around the time that I experienced trouble with exporting to MP3 with my old version of Audacity. This morning, I disabled scripting in IE and exported to MP3 successfully. It could have been a coincidence, because this does happen on occasion, but it made me wonder. I've been having trouble this evening with having to 'Allow Scripting' over and over again every time I accessed a web page, which was a pain, so I've changed my security settings again and updated Java to the latest version. I'm going to try and export normally to MP3 tomorrow, just to see if updating Java has made any difference, or I shall always wonder. I don't hold out much hope though. Could Java or allowing scripting be causing the trouble? It obviously wasn't VDownloader! Anyway, whatever happens, hopefully FFmpeg will continue to be a very good workaround. It is certainly fast!

[Gale Andrews]

I can't see my list of MP3 files already there in the folder to overwrite them with the latest episodes

I don't quite understand. You should be working in the same "Export File" window as you do when using lame_enc.dll to export.

This is just a thought, but some time ago I disabled Java in my browser and then quite recently, I needed to access a website that used Java and they advised me to enable Scripting in Internet Explorer.

Java (which operates as a browser plug-in) and Javascript (which I assume is what you disabled) are (confusingly) two different things.

Javascript is reasonably safe to turn on but Java is considered a security risk by many computer experts. If you want Java it is very important to keep it updated. See http://java.com/en/download/help/disable_browser.xml for how to disable or enable Java in your web browser using the latest Java plug-in .

When I did that, it could have been around the time that I experienced trouble with exporting to MP3 with my old version of Audacity. This morning, I disabled scripting in IE and exported to MP3 successfully. It could have been a coincidence, because this does happen on occasion, but it made me wonder. I've been having trouble this evening with having to 'Allow Scripting' over and over again every time I accessed a web page, which was a pain, so I've changed my security settings again and updated Java to the latest version. I'm going to try and export normally to MP3 tomorrow, just to see if updating Java has made any difference, or I shall always wonder. I don't hold out much hope though. Could Java or allowing scripting be causing the trouble? It obviously wasn't VDownloader!

Javascript would not affect whatever codec or program interferes with lame_enc.dll. Java might do so if a program is responsible for the problem and uses Java.


Gale

[Paulinee43]

I can't see my list of MP3 files already there in the folder to overwrite them with the latest episodes

I don't quite undunderstand. You should be working in the same "Export File" window as you do when using lame_enc.dll to export.

It's hard to explain, but because it is a different MP3 and being created by a different method, although I am exporting to the same folder, the other MP3 files in there do not appear. I was surprised myself. I have yet to try and save a file with the same name as one already in there. I haven't dared do that yet, in case I rock the boat. Because, I succeeded in exporting a 45 minute drama this morning using ffMpeg with no trouble whatsoever.

This is just a thought, but some time ago I disabled Java in my browser and then quite recently, I needed to access a website that used Java and they advised me to enable Scripting in Internet Explorer.

Java (which operates as a browser plug-in) and Javascript (which I assume is what you disabled) are (confusingly) two different things.

I'll say! Anyway, I had to update it in order to follow the instructions to disable it in my browser again. I had an old version that looked different to the one in the instructons. But anyway, now it's updated, I was able to follow the instructions to disable it once more.

Javascript is reasonably safe to turn on but Java is considered a security risk by many computer experts. If you want Java it is very important to keep it updated. See http://java.com/en/download/help/disable_browser.xml for how to disable or enable Java in your web browser using the latest Java plug-in . A/A

When I did that, it could have been around the time that I experienced trouble with exporting to MP3 with my old version of Audacity. This morning, I disabled scripting in IE and exported to MP3 successfully. It could have been a coincidence, because this does happen on occasion, but it made me wonder. I've been having trouble this evening with having to 'Allow Scripting' over and over again every time I accessed a web page, which was a pain, so I've changed my security settings again and updated Java to the latest version. I'm going to try and export normally to MP3 tomorrow, just to see if updating Java has made any difference, or I shall always wonder. I don't hold out much hope though. Could Java or allowing scripting be causing the trouble? It obviously wasn't VDownloader!

Javascript would not affect whatever codec or program interferes with lame_enc.dll. Java might do so if a program is responsible for the problem and uses Java. Gale

Yes I know that now, because when after using the ffMeg method to successfully export to MP3 this morning, I attempted to export in the old way and experienced the same problem. So, I'll stick to that method from now on. It's fine.

Many thanks for sticking with it and what's more, staying with me, when I was ready to give up and settle for a dodgy solution!

All the best,
Pauline

[Gale Andrews]

It's hard to explain, but because it is a different MP3 and being created by a different method, although I am exporting to the same folder, the other MP3 files in there do not appear. I was surprised myself. I have yet to try and save a file with the same name as one already in there. I haven't dared do that yet, in case I rock the boat. Because, I succeeded in exporting a 45 minute drama this morning using ffMpeg with no trouble whatsoever.

I do understand this now. When you select "MP3 Files" in the file export window, this acts as a "filter" for the files that display in the list in the window. So, as well as folders, only MP3 files are displayed. Similarly if you chose to export as OGG, only OGG files would be listed in the window (as well as folders).

When you choose "Custom FFmpeg Export" or "(external program)", no files are listed at all. I think that's probably a bug and we should display all FFmpeg-compatible files when "Custom FFmpeg Export" is chosen and all files when "(external program)" is chosen.

If you want to overwrite an existing MP3, try typing the first few letters of its name, then any matches for those characters should be listed and you can select the file you want to overwrite. That works on Windows Vista and later. It may not work on XP, but please try it.

You can use javascript in your browser even if you uninstall Java.


Gale

[Paulinee43]

It's hard to explain, but because it is a different MP3 and being created by a different method, although I am exporting to the same folder, the other MP3 files in there do not appear. I was surprised myself. I have yet to try and save a file with the same name as one already in there. I haven't dared do that yet, in case I rock the boat. Because, I succeeded in exporting a 45 minute drama this morning using ffMpeg with no trouble whatsoever.

I do understand this now. When you select "MP3 Files" in the file export window, this acts as a "filter" for the files that display in the list in the window. So, as well as folders, only MP3 files are displayed. Similarly if you chose to export as OGG, only OGG files would be listed in the window (as well as folders).

When you choose "Custom FFmpeg Export" or "(external program)", no files are listed at all. I think that's probably a bug and we should display all FFmpeg-compatible files when "Custom FFmpeg Export" is chosen and all files when "(external program)" is chosen.

If you want to overwrite an existing MP3, try typing the first few letters of its name, then any matches for those characters should be listed and you can select the file you want to overwrite. That works on Windows Vista and later. It may not work on XP, but please try it. Well, I typed a name that was already in the MP3 folder last evening, and it asked if I wanted to overwrite it. I did and it was fine. I shall do as you suggest next time and see what happens. Then I'll let you know. (By the way, the folders still show in the main folder.)

You can use javascript in your browser even if you uninstall Java. I have checked in Internet Options under Security and noted that both active scripting and Javascript is enabled, even though I've disabled Java in my browser, so that's OK.

Regards, Pauline.

Gale

[Paulinee43]

Hi Gale,

This is just to let you know that when exporting with "Custom FFmpeg Export", whether I type just a few letters of the title or the whole title, it will come up with the right file, or offer to over-write it if it is exactly the same title as in the file, but it does not show any of the MP3 files. This is fine. Everything I have exported using this method has been successful each time and I am very pleased.

I can't thank you enough for all your help and suggestions.

Very kind regards,
Pauline.

[Gale Andrews]

This is just to let you know that when exporting with "Custom FFmpeg Export", whether I type just a few letters of the title or the whole title, it will come up with the right file, or offer to over-write it if it is exactly the same title as in the file, but it does not show any of the MP3 files. This is fine. Everything I have exported using this method has been successful each time and I am very pleased.

Good. If you do find the cause of the conflict with LAME, please let us know, but certainly no need to worry about if you are running OK now using FFmpeg.


Gale