Problems converting wav to mp3

[Tordal]

Hey guys,

it's not tht a noobish question as the title suggests, at least i hope so

My wav-file sounds as it should mixing-wise, so the kick and the bass and the vocals are all set to my taste, but when i convert it to a 320 mp3 using audacity the whole mixdown sounds like shit to me.
No kick at all anymore, the vocals are drowned out and almost not noticeable, whereas pads and melodies are far too much in the foreground.

As stated above i use audacity and wanna convert it from wav to 320 mp3.

hope u can help, thx a lot,

Tordal.

[Tordal]

noone ever had a problem regarding dynamics like this??

[wormcode]

No but I wouldn't use Audacity for that, it's slow as hell. I'd recommend Razorlame with LAME 3.99 www.dors.de/razorlame/

[Tordal]

thx mate, gonna give this a try. its weird as hell as i never encountered this problem with other songs i did...

[Towany]

Am I the only one who does it in Itunes? or is that just not how you do it?!

[wormcode]

I don't have itunes, but it's not uncommon for people to use it. I just find it way too bulky for something like that (and altogether bulky), but if it's software you usually have open anyway, go for it. I would highly highly suggest you get the LAME encoder itunes mod though. Just google 'LAME iTunes' and you'll find the info. LAME is the standard encoder for MP3, besides Fraunhofer which is very expensive. As far as I know, itunes uses a proprietary encoder by default.

[InternetSlaveMaster]

OP, why not just use your DAW to do it?

[Terpit]

Adobe Audition works well for me

[Electric_Head]

I generally use Wavosaur with Lame mp3 encoder.

[deadly_habit]

No but I wouldn't use Audacity for that, it's slow as hell. I'd recommend Razorlame with LAME 3.99 http://www.dors.de/razorlame/

this
best frontend for the LAME codec

[SamEyes]

Can't imagine a .WAV to 320kbps mp3 conversion doing THAT much damage to a track, are you sure you've not changed anything else? If the mix is THAT far off is it a possibility that you've exported in mono instead of stereo? That would explain the things that are traditionally quieter and at the sides suddenly taking the foreground. Make sure you've looked through all your settings carefully and that nothing like that is happening.

[Terpit]

Upload the wav to youtube then rip it off youtube as an mp3 mate

[Tordal]

OP, why not just use your DAW to do it?

because in ableton i only find the options to export either in in wav or aiff or am i blind??

[InternetSlaveMaster]

OP, why not just use your DAW to do it?

because in ableton i only find the options to export either in in wav or aiff or am i blind??

Whaaaaat you're right Never exported in Ableton, just used it for live stuff.. wow.