I'd be finished with a song were it not for a strange new problem. When I export to MP3, one track that sounds fine pre-mixdown becomes slightly "choppy". This seems to happen only after adding chorus or a z3ta+ effect (which it desperately needs). 

The chain of treatments on the track is:

Raw track: Synth flute sound --> FX bin: chorus, or z3ta+ --> master bus: boost11 + reverb

Is there some phenomenon with cross-effect interference that might be causing this? Or perhaps MP3 export settings? Phase? 

Try exporting it as a wav first

Then reimport the wav back into the same project, bypass the Master Buss Fx and see if it sounds the same.

If it does, then use the wav for Mp3 conversion, if it doesn't, you need to check what's going on with your routing.

I'll try that, thanks!

I soloed the track, bypassed the master effects, and exported to both wav and mp3. Turns out, the WAV sounds fine but the MP3 sounds choppy. So there must be something inherent in the track's recording that doesn't lend itself to MP3-ization. Does anyone know what that might be? 

What bit rate are you using for the MP3? 128 is the minimum acceptable for decent sound, 192 is CD quality, 256 is better and 320 is best. 

I soloed the track, bypassed the master effects, and exported to both wav and mp3. Turns out, the WAV sounds fine but the MP3 sounds choppy. So there must be something inherent in the track's recording that doesn't lend itself to MP3-ization. Does anyone know what that might be? 

No, you have not determined that the problem is with conversion to MP3. That would be an extremely unlikely phenomenon. You have not determined that there is not some problem with routing from Sonar into Sonar's MP3 converter i. e you have not eliminated problems within Sonar. In order to do that, you need to do as you were previously advised. Take the  wave that you have (which sounds fine) and use another program to convert it to MP3. That will eliminate Sonar from the test. If that MP3 sounds fine, there is nothing wrong with the mix per se that makes it problematic with MP3 conversion. Then re-import a good wave into Sonar, and export it as an MP3. If that MP3 is good then you can assume there is nothing wrong with the Sonar MP3 encoder.


It is conceivable that there is something unique about the frequency of the effect that is captured on MP3 conversion, at a specific bit rate. It could be that the high point of an echo for example is caught on sucessive samples in the MP3 conversion effectively "strobing" the effect. But daveny5 has suggested a test for that. If the MP3 only sounds choppy at one conversion rate, but not at a higher conversion rate, that would be highly suggestive that you have a problem with the wave itself.

Holy smokes it worked (raising the bit rate). I never knew about the bit rate, totally enlightening, thank you!