trying to to send file as mp3

[annieigma]

Hi,
I am playing a tape into audacity, then exporting it as mp3, but get message " codecs missing" from media player. tried download codecs from micro soft, have spent hours deleting everything and reloading,including windows media player, which has now developed its own problem, now existing files that used to play won't, codecs missing again. Should I give up, or does anyone know anything else I can try?
Thanks everyone
annie.

[rojash]

This is a confusing post.
Media player should be able to play mp3s without the need for additional codecs.
Audacity itself cannot produce mp3 files, but relies on an external dll called LAME.
The first thing to do would be to make sure that you have the latest version of Audacity. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

And then make sure that you've correctly installed the Lame encoder for Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq_i18n?s=install&i=lame-mp3

[rojash]

Once you've installed them, reload your original Audacity file, and re-export it to MP3.

[rojash]

..sorry for multiple answers - problem with accidentally hitting Submit!

When I say reload the original Audacity file, I mean the file that audacity created when you first transferred from tape.

If you can't get Media Player to work, VLC is a much better option, and you can download it from here: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html
It's free.

[annieigma]

Thank you rojash,
The audacity file came witha tape player from ALDI, but when I followed instructions, and it does mention that the first time yousave a file you have to do something to get it into mp3 format, don't know what, but I have tried deleting audacity from the C" and from registry, and fom add remove programmes, and from any where else search fouind it, but it still exists when I relaod from the net, a message says" audacity is already installed etc, or sords to that effect, so I am stumped. I am not very good at computers, but have a general sort of idea.
thank you for your time and input,
annie.

[Buenchico]

Here are the instructions for getting Audacity to be able to export MP3 files:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq_i18n?s=install&i=lame-mp3

Don't worry! It's (a lot) easier than it looks when you first read it and you only need to do it once!

[rojash]

..though repeating the link from my first reply won't make it any easier.

[annieigma]

Hi Rojash and chris,

thanks for all the input, but things are now getting suicidal. I just pinched the o.h.;s laptop, loaded the audacity disc with the drivers for my tape player thing, and although the audacity programme recorded the input, I then tried to save it to mp3, as per instructions with disc, box came up, gave the file a name, but then got into aloop of " do you want to save alterations etc" click "yes" back to save file, click no, back to audacity. i then searched everywhere for the file, but not there. only in audacity recent. I then tried main computer, deleting all audacity files again, but add remove programmes returns message unable to remove as something or the other is missing. I tried loading the vlc, it loaded but was unable to play the saved mp3 file. I realise that I am doing something wrong along the way. I have Lame intalled, but message is still about dll missing codecs. I have just realised lap top is running windows 7, so i don't think the audacity programmes is compatable. the desk top is running XP pro. I really don't understand this, as i have transferred tapes before, piece of cake. Only other comment I can make, is that the computer, on startup, has, three times this month reverted back to june 1996, so had to reset the clock and date, and some updates came in.
Annie

[rojash]

The problem with dates on the desktop would indicate that you need a new Motherboard battery. The latest versions of audacity are 100% compatible with Windows7. I don't know why you loaded it from a disk of indeterminate age when you could have installed the latest version from the link I posted. Both Chris and I posted links to the instructions and download files for the Lame encoder, but you seem to have chosen to ignore that. On the main computer you say you deleted the audacity files and then were unable to remove it using Add/Remove. Well, that's not surprising really. The whole point of Add/remove is to remove the files in a tidy fashion. If you've already deleted some of them it's not going to work properly. There seems to be some confusion on your post regarding saving and exporting. When you record in Audacity you are creating an Audacity project file which you can save for future use - when the program asks ";do you want to save alterations..." it's referring to the project file. In order to produce a file that's playable by an external application such as WMP or VLC, you need to EXPORT the file. You can choose to export it as a wav (which is playable in most media players, but quite large). Audacity can do this without any external help. Alternatively you can export it as an MP3 for which you need to have correctly installed the Lame encoder.

[annieigma]

Hi Rojash,
thanks for all the help.
The disc with audacity on came with a dedicated tape to computer player, and the drivers for the device are also on the mini disc. I have also tried downloading from your links, but have the same problem each time. I will have one more attempt this evening.

regards,
Annie.