I am LAME

I assume you're on a Windows machine, so here's their download page:

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/windows

Download the LAME MP3 Encoder.

Then once it's downloaded, I think you go to preferences, the File Format tab, and at the bottom there's the MP3 Export Setup, and you use the Find Library, and click around till you find the folder you just downloaded. Click on the LAME thing and it should link up for you.

If you right-click and choose "save as" or "save target as", you'll get to choose where to download it to - I did this and just slapped it in the Audacity directory so it won't get lost :)

thanks. I will give it a try.
happy holidays.

yes, Im using Windows Xp.
oh oh. still being lamo here.
I downloaded lame-3.96.1
found the lame-enc.dll file
and tried to file it on the desktop.
and then other places.
didnt work. apparently that is where I am going wrong. I cannot seem the correct place for this.

I did check out
edit>preferences.file formats.
clicked the Find Library and there hit more dead ends.
feel like a dork. this isnt rocket science.

I put mine in my c:windows directory with my other .dll files

Jim

how does one place that file? dragging?
when the folder shows I open it and then I see that file. but no where on the screen do I see a place to send it, file it, or designate it to save...
I sure am missing something obvious huh?

Hi Dogbite,

The MP3 file format is a proprietary format, it means that programs which use the file format as output have to pay to the copyright owners. Commercial programs as for example Cubase, iTunes, etc. pay per use but freeware or open source programs as Audacity can not pay since they aren't distributed for money.

Then all these open source programs use third-party libraries as for example LAME, assuming that the people who created paid the right. These libraries, normally, can not be distributed from some countries or sites and neither as a part of the main program (as the Audacity). For this reason, final users like you and me must be downloading and installing the libraries...

Ok, remember that I use Mac but I think it is quite similar (I also used Audacity on Linux and was similar too).

- Put the lame-enc.dll in a directory, in c:windows as Jim said, in the Audacity one, or wherever you like. And, yes, put it dragging the file. Did you select for downloading the Windows version? Did you unzip the file? The distribution sites have lame-3.96.1.zip!

(The Windows directory is a good and bad location. Good because if you use a different program, the Windows directory is a "neutral" site. Bad because if you reinstall your computer normally don't remember to save the files on that directory, for the worst case, you can download it again.)

- Use the "Preferences|File Formats" dialog to set the path to the library. Set also the default bit rate. Press the Ok button.

This procedure makes you can export to MP3, if not, there is another problem. Can you export to OGG Vorbis?

Good luck and keep us informed! :)

nuno. this info should help. now I am not sure if I unzipped. and I am not sure where to find c:/windows...as Jim said.
I did download the Windows version. it showed up on my screen and that is where I opened it and found all the folders; and the one lame-3.96.1...but not zip.
maybe that is one part of the problem.
I did find lame-enc.dll and tried to move that through Library and hit a dead end.
but thanks. I will contimue to try a figue this out.

Ok, then you got the lame-enc.dll (you always can use the Explorer Search option... sorry, I didn't use an English XP version, could be called in a different way).

To find the c:windows directory, try to open the c: unit (the hard disk icon) and there must be the windows directory... if it is not hidden for your configuration :?

Ok, easier, since it is not mandatory the use of that directory, create a new folder in the root directory and called it "lame" (for example) and put it the dll (dragging as a normal file).

Then use the preferences or try to export a file (Audacity should ask for the dll). Use the dialog to select the new folder and select also the dll.

Mmm... An idea, probably your systems is not showing the dll... they are system files according to Bill Gates and the users don't must touch them... Try to review the options in the control panel looking for something like "view dll". (Please, any Windows user available for guiding on the procedure? I don't put my hands on a Windows some years ago...)

Dogbite, anyway, try this and tell us :)

EDIT: Some mispelling and added:

It's correct, the file that you see as "lame-3.96.1" is the .zip. Your system is configurated to not show the file extensions. The icon must be a yellow folder with a "zipper".

I think it might be in Tools / Folder Options / View / Files and Folders / Hidden Files and Folders, and you select "Show hidden files and folders"

Great DemoEtc! This was the option! :D

Thanks!

Yah, like you mentioned, they purposefully make it hard to find :?

I prefer Macs, but at work I have to use both

I knew I was in for it when I went PC and not Mac. once I get things figured out my Dell works great. I have it set with a huge memory so I can record etc.
tonight I will try again with your new info.( I am at work and away from home computer).

For me at least, I do find more frustration with PCs, but once you get either of them up and running, especially with the newer OSX and XP, they're pretty much the same. At home I use PCs; my work machine is a Mac but we have PCs here and there - they all work fine basically.

Now I'm just waiting for Vista to see what sort of bumps will be in that road. :roll: