Exporting MP3

yeah its something i'm not happy with either, makes no sense at all, sonar lets you export and import most file types, but you have to pay eztra for a mp3 encoder?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

This must be the most common thread topic on these forums!!!

There is a method to get LAME mp3 encoder working for free:

http://www.thirdtake.com/2007/11/15/sonar-mp3-encoding-with-lame/

If you go to the Orchestral Shootout thread, on the first or second page there is info on replacing the cakewalk mp3 encoder.

Honestly, while I'm sure snarky answers make a few old-timers feel good about themselves or whatever, I'd actually appreciate a sincere answer to this OP.

I'm not here to **** about how lame Cakewalk is for not including an MP3 encoder in the Producer version of Sonar, but I would like a link to find the rip-off extra encoder. While I indeed found an MP3 encoder through searching, like the OP, the resulting software never mentioned Sonar Producer 8.5. I'd like to get the correct encoder.

Thanks to those willing to help.

It's a never ending drama, this MP3 issue - and Twigman is right that this is probably the most common thread topic.  It comes up all the time because new users discover this odd situation where Sonar doesn't provide a free encoder, it's a bad surprise, and the post about it without doing a search for previous threads.

There are posts that explain sometimes in detail, sometimes with short sarcasm, that the whole thing has to do with licensing-- And that Is the bottom line issue, but it really makes no sense, and is no justification for charging for the encoder. With a not-inexpensive program like Sonar, the company could obviously include $20 of profit, or whatever it would come to, to cover the licensing.  No matter how the situation is explained it's still like buying a car and being told, "Ah, but now you need to buy the motor.  It's a complicated situation you see, where the people making the motor need to also be paid--and we don't care to do that, so you have the honor."

I still have and use the encoder that was included free with Cakewalk before it became Sonar.  It's the Lame encoder - And I've been able to upgrade it for free.  I've never paid for an encoder.  It's absurd that Sonar doesn't include in the package what is freely available on the web.--But at least there's that--It just takes a tiny bit of self motivation to go out and get the encoder yourself.

So, Raijer, whenyou say, "...I'd like to get the correct encoder..."  it sounds like you think there would be something magical about the encoder you can buy through Sonar, and that it will somehow be better than Lame.  I assure you - Lame is the top encoder, it Is the "correct encoder."  Just go get it, follow the instructions as pointed out by Dave Elson.  That's all there is to it.

Randy B.