I keep running into this problem. Everytime in Sonar that I go to mixdown/export directly to MP3 - I get an error msg that says MP3 encoder is locked. So then I have to mix to WAV and then convert to MP3 there. How can I unlock and use the MP3 encoder? -ryan

SONAR only comes with a trial version of their MP3 encoder. After 30 days you have to buy it from them, unless you have previously purchased an earlier version, or won Pro Audio 9.

You have to buy the mp3 encoder for Sonar. Or do it externally as you're doing.

  Is there a 3rd party encoder like LAME that Sonar would recognize?

Yes.  It has been covered in the Sonar forum before.  Check this out:

http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=1255631

  I have followed the LAME MP3 encoder instructions to a T for sonar, including the encoder configuration. But now when I attempt a mix down I get two error screens: First says "Unable to launch LAME MP3" encoder" Second says "Warning: the external encoder returned an error code. The File may not have been encoded properly" help? :)

Did you try and export  at 32bit?  That's the error message associated with that.  It needs to be 16.

  yeah I thought that might be the problem too, so I tried 16 bit. same problem.

In Sonar go to the menu and open Utilities/External Encoder Configuration Utility.
Here's what mine looks like, check it with yours.
---sod it.  This crap Forum software won't show the image.---
 
Ok. Try this link to a Word DOC of mine.  It's my detailed notes on configuring the free Lame encoder and includes the image I was trying to show here.
 
---sod it.  This crap forum won't let me show a link without a pseudonym for the link.
 
Cakewalk PLEASE update this totally shi**y forum software.
 
You can't PM me because that's broken as well.
 
Last route: go to my site at johnsongs.com and use the contact form. When I hear from you I will send the notes.