I am using Scott Garrigus' book and following the step-by-step process he gives to export several tracks to an MP3 file.  Everything was going fine until I hit "export".  A pop-up ruined the plan stating, "The MP3 encoder must be unlocked before use.  Please visit (cakewalk site) to upgrade a previous encoder, or to purchase a new encoder."
 
Well, it seems to me, I've exported MP3 in the past but it has been a long, long time.  So, I can't swear I did.  However, as the  pop-up says, I need to "unlock" the encoder before I can use it.  So, in that case, my question is, how do I unlock my MP3 encoder?

SONAR ships with a 30 day trial license of their mp3 encoder. The license is sold separately at the Cakewalk store. If you elect not to purchase the license, you can export wave files and use a third-party encoder or integrate a third-party encoder into SONAR using the External Encoder Configuration Utility on the Utilities menu

You may well have exported to MP3 directly from Sonar in the past, but unless you have added one of the free ones, or purchased a license for the one that Sonar installs with, you would have run past the 15-day trial version that was enabled when you installed X2.
 
There are free ones out there you could use, and you can find instructions for adding one to Sonar, by searching the forum (I use Google, with terms like: 'site:cakewalk.com forum mp3 encoder free', and follow the instructions).
 
Another choice is to pay I think it is $20 for a license for the same one that installed with Sonar.  You would get that one from the Cakewalk Store and follow their directions.
 
Another choice is to simply export in perhaps Wave or WMA format, and then use any of the countless media conversion freeware programs to convert your exported songs to MP3 format, or whatever you want to use.  Just remember that you want to drop the Sample Rate to 44.1k and the bit-depth to 16 if you want to create CD's for your music.  That would be stuff you specify in the export process dialog box.
 
So, any of the above work - also plenty of helpful doc out there on all aspects of doing it.
 
Post back with any questions or concerns, and me or someone else will assist you.
 
Bob Bone
 

Thanks.  I was just on Cakewalk.com and found an activation for an MP3 encoder.  I guess, I didn't realize I needed to purchase one.  The thing says:
 
'Your Cakewalk product includes a 30 day trial version of the industry’s leading MP3 encoding technology. For unlimited MP3 export in your product, you must purchase this Cakewalk MP3 activator for SONAR X1-X2, SONAR 4-8.5, SONAR Home Studio 4-7, Project5 Version 2, Music Creator 3-6, Guitar Tracks Pro 4, Kinetic , SONAR LE, Music Creator LE, and Project5 LE.

Purchase of this product is not required to convert your files to MP3. This software integrated encoder is intended to improve file export workflow.'
 

I first read the last sentence stating the purchase of the product is not required.  So, I thought, "that must mean I have an encoder already with Sonar albeit a lesser (in quality) version."  But, now reading this in context with what you wrote, I am thinking Sonar does NOT come with a FREE MP3 encoder.  This sentence must mean other available non-Cakewalk MP3 encoders could be used.  I think I am understanding Sonar (or Cakewalk) allows me to use this encoder for 30 days and then, to keep it, I will have to buy it.
 
Is this a correct interpretation?

Thanks Bob Bone
 
I was typing my response to Scook when you were posting you response.  I think you answered my question as I was typing.
 

Yes, buy the license to use the integrated encoder or use a third party encoder. If you elect to pay for the license, it will unlock the encoder in all future versions of SONAR too.

I just went ahead and bought the license.
 
You CAN find instructions out there to add one of the free encoders out there to Sonar, if you don't feel like spending the $20.
 
I just splurged on that in celebration of my 2nd divorce (also partially due to music/relationship conflicts - just like marriage number 1).
 
I may have by now kept the license longer than either one of the wives - I AM in a happy place. :)
 
Bob Bone
 

I went ahead an paid the $19 for the encoder.  It seems to be working just fine EXCEPT when it comes to making the MP3 file.  I am wondering if I have to mark the end of the song?????   It was process of converting the selected tracks to MP3 on a song which is about 3:30 long.  The transport/cursor past the end of the song, it just kept going, and going, and going, and going.  I finally hit Escape after the timer hit 7 minutes.  I did not record anything at the end of these tracks so I don't know what is happening.  "Back in the day" when using my VS2480, I could insert markers for the end of a song (or the beginning of a new one) so this got me wondering if I needed to do that.

You would setup the export just like exporting a wave. For me that usually includes selecting the tracks and time range to export. Here is a thread about setting up the time range for export http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/2509499

I must be doing something incorrectly.  When the so-called MP3 is saved, it is a mere 1Kb.   Of course, the file would be much larger and it should play.  Media Player doesn't play probably because the music data didn't get transferred.  I've done this several times with the same result.  Hmmmmmmmm.