Converting to MP3?

[Tarekith]

Max definitely has some issues now, the last stable version was released in 2009...

Thanks for the heads up, I'll stop recommending this one as a freebie alternative then.

[napakettu]

For quick conversion to mp3, I use Lame via Finder in OS X. Just right-clicking the wav-file and choosing the script under Services does the job, very handy. And it's free. http://music.digitalhobbit.com/post/136 ... on-mac-osx

Artist, album and genre settings can be included too (but haven't tried this myself): https://www.gearslutz.com/board/music-c ... kflow.html

[BoddAH]

Nevermind I posted something stupid.

[mekanism1200]

Some of us that use Ableton for more than just music creation like podcasts really do need a built in conversion export feature. Almost all podcasts are compressed due to their size as an hours or more worth of audio in .wav can take up a lot of space quickly. I made a feature request for mp3 export a few weeks ago, but not sure if Ableton will implement this due to licensing costs.

For now I have been using Audacity's built in mp3 export feature. Funny how a completely free program has mp3 export, but our $500+ one does not.

[chrk]

For now I have been using Audacity's built in mp3 export feature. Funny how a completely free program has mp3 export, but our $500+ one does not.

Audacity uses LAME, not the Fraunhofer codec, and commercial software vendors don't like using it because of patent/license insecurities (see that Wikipedia entry).

[mekanism1200]

For now I have been using Audacity's built in mp3 export feature. Funny how a completely free program has mp3 export, but our $500+ one does not.

Audacity uses LAME, not the Fraunhofer codec, and commercial software vendors don't like using it because of patent/license insecurities (see that Wikipedia entry).

Oh damn, good to know, thanks! How would anyone know if it was converted using LAME vs a licensed version?

[Tarekith]

LAME is a great codec, I actually used to prefer it over the Fraunhofer one myself.

[stringtapper]

LAME is a great codec, I actually used to prefer it over the Fraunhofer one myself.

…and then what happened…?

This is a bit OT but since everyone's here I might as well ask.

Are there any good reasons not to compress as AAC at this point? I mean beyond the freak out factor of people who don't work with audio not understanding what to do with it (which I have run into)? In other words have PCs and other non-Apple devices (e.g. phones, tablets) figured it out and are able to play them?

[Stromkraft]

I use XLD together with Hazel plus Automator in OS X for automatic conversions on my target folders. IMO Max 0.9.1 also still works very well under Mavericks and I use that for releases as it can make multiple formats at once. I haven't noticed any latency.

Encoding to MP3 is commonly free if you can live with LAME licensing limitations and quite easy to do once you learn the application. I wouldn't want this functionality in Live myself. Maybe in a separate product focused on releases.

[Tarekith]

LAME is a great codec, I actually used to prefer it over the Fraunhofer one myself.

…and then what happened…?

This is a bit OT but since everyone's here I might as well ask.

Are there any good reasons not to compress as AAC at this point? I mean beyond the freak out factor of people who don't work with audio not understanding what to do with it (which I have run into)? In other words have PCs and other non-Apple devices (e.g. phones, tablets) figured it out and are able to play them?

Unless the client specifically ask for it, I go with AAC every time now.

[mekanism1200]

AAC or Mp3, I just wish Ableton had those as export options.

[Stromkraft]

AAC or Mp3, I just wish Ableton had those as export options.

OK, but do you actually find it hard to convert? If you do it with a focused tool chances are the results will be more to your liking and more importantly reaching the standards set up by the receivers of the files, like labels or online services.
Fraunhofer licenses, if non-LAME encoded MP3s are required, weren't cheap last time I asked and everyone would have to pay extra for it. AAC licenses aren't free either and this comes free with OS X. I'm not sure about Windows.

[kitekrazy]

Why convert to mp3? Doesn’t just about everything support higher quality files now?

I hear you. HATE mp3's, but they are easier to share with collaborators, etc.

Ohh that's bad when it comes to collaborations. They should settle for a wav at 44.1k. MP3s are for portable listening. Crank a MP3 on a hifi system and suck is the only way to describe it.

[kitekrazy]

AAC or Mp3, I just wish Ableton had those as export options.

I prefer to export outside of a DAW. I use dbPoweramp. Most audio editors do it too.