Problem with exporting to audio files

  Hi. I have MC4 running on a Dell inspiron 1520 and am having a problem with exporting projects to mp3. I get an error message saying that the mp3 encoder is locked. I don't know how that happened as I haven't made any changes unless it was done by other software that was installed. I have contacted customer support more than 2 weeks ago by email and have gotten no response from them. I'm looking at two options, first is if there is a way to fix the mp3 encoder, or to upgrade to a later version of MC. The catch is that I had downloaded the software from the internet and I don't think I have the software installation file(s) as I am also changing computers. If I can't find the original install files, is there one or two files from the program that would convince an upgrade version that the program is there? BTW, I'm fine with MC4 as it more than meets my needs, but if I have to buy the program again, I might as well upgrade.

yes... the MP3 encoder is "unlocked" to let you try it for 30 days. After that, you must buy the license key to use it. 

I use WAVEPAD, and some folks use AUDACITY. Both are free, both allow conversion from WAVE to MP3 (and more) and both allow many other functions that are useful such as trimming the file and normalizing and level adjustments as well as compression and other things. 

google search them and you will be able to DL them. 

 I just looked up wave pad it's NCH software and they don't give anything away free. There's nothing on the the cakewalk site for mp3 converter. Supposedly, it's included in the software, as although I haven't used it that often, I've had it on the computer for several years and this is only the 2nd time that I've run into this problem.

sounddude


 I just looked up wave pad it's NCH software and they don't give anything away free. There's nothing on the the cakewalk site for mp3 converter. Supposedly, it's included in the software, as although I haven't used it that often, I've had it on the computer for several years and this is only the 2nd time that I've run into this problem.

no, it's not free - it's shareware.  you have to pay $19 to unlock it.  go to the cakewalk e-store, pay the $19 and they will send you the unlock code.
 
or, you can download free mp3 converters.
 
BTW - audacity itself does not have a free converter included - you have to download LAME and then tell audacity where to find LAME to use.

sounddude


 Now, the one thing that I do not know is whether any mp3 encoder will work with MC4? Will I be able to integrate it into the program or will I have to convert from wav to mp3 separately?

This is the catch, and this is why Cakewalk has to charge the $19.99 fee. If the encoder is integrated into the program, Cakewalk is subject to the fee, so they pass it on to the end user.
The encoders I, and others, use, are not integrated.
These do the conversion from an exported wav file. It's an extra step, but I actually prefer it, as I have the original saved as a higher quality 24 bit wav file.
Most of the converters you will find, such as CDex, are stand alone products.

  I think I might try that. I've looked at a couple of NCH programs before, and my experience was that when the trial period is up, it's up and there's no more you can do. (Maybe I missed something.) If you try to download it again, it's no go. BTW, I tried downloading the "Lame" and tried to install it, but it seems that nothing happened.

  Well all, several things. First, I tried downloading Lame, but I don't see the file anywhere, well I see a file, but it doesn't seem to be the program, but just an "I don't know what" file, and when I click/double click on it, nothing happens. Second, it seems, unless I'm not seeing something, that Wavepad is good only for converting to mp3. Last but not least, I think I screwed up big time, and I'm hoping there is a fix for it. All of the audio files got separated from their respective project folders due to a dumb move I made. I was copying data files from one computer to an external drive by a "global" search using a whole list of file extentions, and then highlighting and moving them to the ED. Most of the files that I was concerned about seemed to be in the same folder, but not in the individual project folder. If I have all the files together somewhere in the Cakewalk folder, will each individual project find it's files? BTW, I plan to just get the mp3 encoder from CW, it will be the same as upgrading to MC6 cost wise, and I'm fine with what I have now with MC4. The only thing I'm finding curious about it is that when trying to find it on the CW site, I've found it in two different places, on saying that doesn't work for MC3-MC5. The other says that it works for either MC3 or MC4, through MC6.

Yes... with a new install on a new machine the 30 day trial is again valid.

As far as what you did by copying out the files..... yeah... than might not be a very fun thing trying to get the files back to the correct folders. 

In MC... be sure you have the option to save audio files to their own folder but in the same project folder.... I think that is how I have mine set up. This should automatically create a project folder which will have the machine data file and the audio files each in their own folders..... to move a song....you simply copy/cut the main folder and everything connected to that project gets moved together. 

Doing a search for file extensions is not a good idea for moving files. 

I'm really guessing here, but it seems if this is what you did, it would be salvageable only if there were a small handful of song projects. You would have to listen to each and manually put it back where it's supposed to be. It's been so long since I looked at the actual files in the audio folders but there is a chance that they are also tagged with the project name.... if so, that would make it a bit easier to find them and move them back. Good luck.

When I move files from drive to drive I use copy/cut and paste.... on entire files and folders....... not a file extension tool.