It's unbelievable that Cakewalk continues to charge customers for an MP3 encoder even after that customer pays $400+ for a piece of software (Sonar 8 producer edition, in this case).

It's not the $19. I'd gladly pay an extra $19 for Sonar if it just included the MP3 encoder. It's the TIME wasted dealing with Cakewalk's lousy shopping cart system, lousy software delivery system, multiple layers of passwords, save files, running the encoder and then finding out it doesn't even work on x64 systems anyway!

Cakewalk, get a clue! MP3 should just be part of the package. What are you gonna do next, charge us for the RECORD button? Charge us for exporting WAV files? Charge us for every virtual effect?

Ridiculous. MP3 is part of music production today. Just put it in the software from the get-go. Don't make your customers jump through all these hoops, wasting their time trying to activate your silly MP3 encoder.

Cakewalk apparently continues to remain absolutely clueless about how to treat customers with dignity. We're all just little squirrels running around the Cakewalk Cages, folks. Tomorrow we'll have to jump through yet more hoops and waste yet more time to perform some basic software function.

- Mike

Mp3 encoders are ubiquitous. Some are even free and work with Sonar.

It's not the $19. I'd gladly pay an extra $19 for Sonar if it just included the MP3 encoder.

There's free MP3 converters available so this is a totally moot point. Just pay the 20 bucks and get on with your life. This topic is soooooooooooo old.

ORIGINAL: webseed

It's unbelievable that Cakewalk continues to charge customers for an MP3 encoder even after that customer pays $400+ for a piece of software (Sonar 8 producer edition, in this case).

It's not the $19. I'd gladly pay an extra $19 for Sonar if it just included the MP3 encoder. It's the TIME wasted dealing with Cakewalk's lousy shopping cart system, lousy software delivery system, multiple layers of passwords, save files, running the encoder and then finding out it doesn't even work on x64 systems anyway!

Cakewalk, get a clue! MP3 should just be part of the package. What are you gonna do next, charge us for the RECORD button? Charge us for exporting WAV files? Charge us for every virtual effect?

Ridiculous. MP3 is part of music production today. Just put it in the software from the get-go. Don't make your customers jump through all these hoops, wasting their time trying to activate your silly MP3 encoder.

Cakewalk apparently continues to remain absolutely clueless about how to treat customers with dignity. We're all just little squirrels running around the Cakewalk Cages, folks. Tomorrow we'll have to jump through yet more hoops and waste yet more time to perform some basic software function.

- Mike

Your sister is kinda cute. Please pass the bagels, my lord.

ORIGINAL: daveny5

It's not the $19. I'd gladly pay an extra $19 for Sonar if it just included the MP3 encoder.

OK, so stop whining and move on. There's free MP3 converters available so this is a totally moot point. We're really sick of this topic.

Jeez you're arrogant! The guy's a new user, and doesn't know or give a rat's arse what you're sick of your excellency. And he's right. I've had three DAW hosts, and though Sonar ended up being my choice, it is the only one that doesn't include MP3 export by default, and it's about the only thing about Sonar I find cheesy. Does that bother you? Yes? Then write a letter to Dear Abby. Sheesh!

Edit: Webseed, don't pay for the MP3 encoder...use the free LAME encoder. Yeah, it's a pain that you have to go through the process of setting it up, but at least it is free. Or you can just export as a wave file, and use pretty much any other piece of music software to convert it. If you search this forum, you'll be able to find instructions. And don't sweat the negative responses you get in here, there are a few in here who take complaints about Sonar as seriously as insults to their mothers. While some people do bash Sonar for problems that are clearly not Sonar-related (ie. people who can't be bothered to read the manual for the most basic of things), yours, in my opinion, is a valid complaint. To some, the fact that you phrase your complaints differently than they would makes you unsavory. Just ignore them, since they don't have the common sense to ignore you if they don't like how you phrase your Sonar complaints.

And just so you know (in case you haven't made up your mind), Sonar 8 positively rocks, and the lack of MP3 export, as lame (no pun intended)as that is, doesn't change the fact that you've got the most smokin DAW host out there. You won't regret it.

I wonder if mine works, I don't think I ever used it.

One of the first things I did was to set one up. Are you suggesting I may have missed out on some hoop jumping?

he doesnt know its an old topic -- hes new -- chill

Depends on the encoder used... i.e if they license a Fraunhofer encoder (which is the industry standard) then there will be a license fee for the user to pay in order to encode to mp3. However some applications will base there encoder on the an open source encoder such as FFMPEG or LAME - these encoders are free to use and in most cases more than acceptable. However they are not always truly *FREE*

FFMPEG...

"FFmpeg's legal status varies by country. Some included codecs, such as Sorenson 3, are claimed by patent holders. Such claims may be enforceable in countries like the United States which have implemented software patents, but are considered unenforceable or void in countries that have not implemented software patents. Furthermore, many of these codecs are only released under terms that forbid reverse engineering, even for purposes of interoperability. However, these terms of use are forbidden in certain countries. For example, some European Union nations have not implemented software patents and/or have laws expressly allowing reverse engineering for purposes of interoperability.[12] In any case, many Linux distributions do not include FFmpeg to avoid legal complications."

LAME...

Like all MP3 encoders, LAME implements some technology covered by patents owned by the Fraunhofer Society and other entities.[1] The developers of LAME do not license themselves the technology described by these patents. Distributing compiled binaries of LAME, its libraries, or programs which are derivative works of LAME in countries which recognize those patents, may be considered infringing on the relevant patents.

"The LAME developers state that since their code is only released in source code form, it should only be considered as a description of an MP3 encoder, and thus does not infringe any patent by itself when released as source code only. At the same time, they advise obtaining a patent license for any relevant technologies that LAME may implement before including a compiled version of the encoder into a product.[2] Some software is released using this strategy; companies use the LAME library, but obtain patent licenses."

Ahhh the joys of product licensing. In the end a small fee to use a high quality license encoder ain't so bad ;-)

Chris

I think its the way Mp3 is patented. They are not allowed to sell it bundled. Try LAME its free.

http://www.rarewares.org/mp3-lame-bundle.php

Grab the bundle with the .exe binary - learn the command lines and boom simple free codec.

You can also grab an ACM version here....

http://www.rarewares.org/mp3-lame-dshow-acm.php

An ACM version allows you to use the mp3 in other applications when rendering/saving files - keep in mind that some applications may not work - i.e I had no problems using this ACM in Virtual Dub for video files, however could not use it from Vegas.

Chris