I just recently upgraded to Sonar X2.  I've been a Cake user since Pro Audio 8 and therefore got the encoder keys from Cakewalk to start using the MP3 encoder that comes with it. Every MP3 I've made with it so far sounds as if it's gone through a chorus effect- sounds all warbly. I tried removing all FX from the project - still sounds warbly.  I tried making an MP3 from older projects that I'd made MP3s successfully with before and still have the problem. Any ideas? Ann 

Hi,
A couple things to consider - have you exported to a .WAV and see how that sounds?
Many times, this is due to something in your audio export settings or the way you have tracks being routed.
 
1. First - make sure all your tracks output to the master bus & the master bus outputs to your audio interface.
2. Within the export settings, ensure you select audio output as your source.    Sometimes this is set to 'full mix' (or something like that), which winds up summing your busses, making some FX busses much louder in the resulting export.
3. Another (potentially unrelated issue) are you using 64 bit Sonar with an older 32 bit MP3 encoder?  I recall when upgrading to X1 (and 64 bit), the older mp3 cakewalk encoder I previously had wouldn't work - Cakewalk support sent me a new 64 bit one. 
 
Hope that helps.
Russ
 
 
 

There is a simlar thread here with additional info in case what I wrote above doesn't resolve your issue.
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Exporting-Mixdown-thru-Master-bus-m2749797.aspx#2749900
 

Thank you Karma for answering.  Alright I was able to get a nice WAV but the MP3 is still warbly. It has weird artifacts. I amusing the MP3 exporter that came with X2.  I don't know what to think. It's just weird.  I'm going to try exporting it as a soundcloud MP3 and see how that sounds. I haven't had a chance yet to fully read the above thread. IF all else fails I will probably be calling Cake on Monday.  Again thanks for the help  

I just uploaded to Soundcloud. It sounds better as a Soundcloud MP3 but still has some weird funkiness/distortion.
I made it private so I'm not sure if you will be able to play it. 

 

Did you check the first two things I highlighted above?  Are all your tracks routed to a master bus and is the master bus routed to your audio card?
 
Have you checked your audio export settings?  What are they currently set to?
 
I'd confirm both of those are set correctly before worrying about different MP3 encoders.
Russ
 

Yes I did check. To get the good wav that I did get, I used the mains as the source and all my tracks are routed to it.  But the MP3 sounds bad.
 

So you're exporting directly to MP3 when it sounds weird, right?  You're not exporting to WAV, then converting to MP3, correct?  It would probably be quickest if you tell me what your audio export settings are (all of them) when exporting to MP3.
 
For instance, what bit rate are you using?  Are you using variable bit encoding, etc.
 
Let's remove the settings as a possible cause, then you could always try using a different MP3 encoder if all else fails, but I would be surprised if that's the cause.
 
Russ
 

I'm exporting directly to MP3. Heres a screen shot of how I have it set
 

ok.. that's helpful - and what does the screen after this look like? (e.g. is variable bit encoding enabled?  what are you selecting for the quality horizontal slider bar?)