I purchased the mp3 converter from sonar. when I make mp3 files, the time (length) of the mp3 shows to be like 15 minutes when the song is only 3 minutes.  The song plays from beginning to end in 3 minutes. So I know there is not any silence attached to the end. the display is just wrong.  anyone know what is happening or has anyone seen this before?

Assuming the length of the MP3 file you are exporting from Sonar is 3 minutes and it is being reported as 15 minutes by another MP3 player, then I suspect there is some issue with the MP3 player. Try another one. I don't think the length of the MP3 is contained within metadata.

a bit more info. When I create waves, i do not have this issue. The display is wrong on all devices I play the mp3 with. Andriod phone, iphone, windows media player and when I email to friends, they always ask why the display time is not accurate. So they are seeing this too. FYI
 

Please point us to an MP3 to download.

Not sure which MP3 Lame encoder used, some of versions are having VBR (Variable Bit Rate) issue to play on certain of Players such as MS Windows Media Player!
Quick workaround: From MP3 Export Options (Dialog) -> Unchecked "Variable Bit Rate Encoding". Then try it again! Hope this helps!
 
Good luck!
 
 
 
 

I believe the problem is related to using Variable Bit Rate and LAME failing to write the mp3 runtime in the file header. This has been the subject of occasional posts before. The only resolution is to either avoid using VBR encoding or fix the header by using a utility like mp3diags or Foobar 2000.

So timing is in the metadata? Wow learn something new every day.....

What is the result of using or not using VBR ? I don't know what it does.

VBR will produce a smaller file than CBR with the same settings.