Cakewalk Audio Finder - locate audio files that are used in your SONAR projects (source)
External Encoder Configuration Utility - lets you configure external audio encoders (like LAME) so that you can use them seamlessly in SONAR's Export Audio dialog box (source)
 

I notice a problem with the integrated MP3.  It seem to me that when I create an MP3 directly with SONAR, it always appears to Media Player as if the recording is about 4 times longer than it is.  In other words, if the song is actually 3:30, Media Player may say it is 14 minutes long.  it plays correctly, but the progress bar is misleading in that case. 
 
If I generate to WAV, then convert to MP3 using Winlame, everything comes out correctly.  This is surprising because I believe it is LAME 3.97 in either case.

The integrated mp3 encoder, just like every other export format will only generate a file as long as specified. By default the entire length of the project will be exported. I always specify a time range to export and have never had an export exceed the time range specified. But I guess there could always be a first time.

cparmerlee
I notice a problem with the integrated MP3.  It seem to me that when I create an MP3 directly with SONAR, it always appears to Media Player as if the recording is about 4 times longer than it is.  In other words, if the song is actually 3:30, Media Player may say it is 14 minutes long.  it plays correctly, but the progress bar is misleading in that case. 
 
If I generate to WAV, then convert to MP3 using Winlame, everything comes out correctly.  This is surprising because I believe it is LAME 3.97 in either case.

In some versions of media player this is a problem if the MP3 is encoded as variable bit rate (VBR). Make sure your encoder is set for a fixed bit rate if this is a problem.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306507
 
I am pretty sure that the encoder built in to Sonar is not LAME, but rather a licensed proprietary encoder from Fraunhofer, who claim to hold the patent on MP3. Lame is an attempt to circumvent this patent using a different algorithm, hence the writers of Lame do not themselves distribute a compiled version in hopes of avoiding infringement action.

slartabartfast
 
I am pretty sure that the encoder built in to Sonar is not LAME....

FWIW, there is a notation at the bottom of the mp3 encoder dialog: "Lame Encoder Version 3.97"

scook
The integrated mp3 encoder, just like every other export format will only generate a file as long as specified. By default the entire length of the project will be exported. I always specify a time range to export and have never had an export exceed the time range specified. But I guess there could always be a first time.

That's not what I am saying.  The MP is in fact the correct length.  But it apparently includes some bad metadata that makes the Media Player think it is much longer than it is.  That throws off the progress bar.  When Media Player gets to the end of the song, the progress bar may be only 25% of the way across.  As far as I can tell, this is happening on all MP3s I generate inside SONAR, but does not happen when I go to WAV and then convert to MP3 using WinLAME.

And for those that bought the mp3 license for SONAR, a forum member compiled TTSlame.dll (the integrated mp3 encoder) using a newer version of LAME a few years ago. And it works in X2a on Win7 64bit. I have not bothered to test any other platforms. Again the encoder must already be unlocked for the dll to work. http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/1772420

cparmerlee

scook
The integrated mp3 encoder, just like every other export format will only generate a file as long as specified. By default the entire length of the project will be exported. I always specify a time range to export and have never had an export exceed the time range specified. But I guess there could always be a first time.

That's not what I am saying.  The MP is in fact the correct length.  But it apparently includes some bad metadata that makes the Media Player think it is much longer than it is.  That throws off the progress bar.  When Media Player gets to the end of the song, the progress bar may be only 25% of the way across.  As far as I can tell, this is happening on all MP3s I generate inside SONAR, but does not happen when I go to WAV and then convert to MP3 using WinLAME.

Never seen that either but I did replace the 3.97 version with the 3.98 version when I installed X2. Maybe it addresses that issue.

I bought the Cake version. It is alright- did the job. (I will miss my 20$, but the thread about LAME was intimidating to me- I have no time to figure it out). Thank you for your help!
 
I did not pay attention on bar, but some time it would happen if you have some data far away in the song. The file I just converted used to have a tail- I got rid of it before encoding. If you have even small midi dot, it will make a tail.

vladasyn
Wrues, thanks for the link, but it has 3 download buttons. I am sorry- I am slow- which one is the right one? Also I am on Win. 8, wondering if it would work- trying to avoid any drama. Thanks.

First of all, donno if it's Win 8 compatible (doesn't claim to be).  If you want to try it, just click on the link that say's "Aaron's mp3 Patch 5.6.3.0"  (i.e. the top one on the page).  If it works with Win 8, this is a slick little program that embeds itself into Sonar so that all its options come up whenever you hit the 'Export' button.