mp3 encoding problem

[aznlstar]

Sorry to repeat this...saw it a month ago I think, but couldn't find topic again.

I have audio files, which are like 70 mins of continuos mixed music. I break these tracks up using cool edit so its not just 1 large track on a CD. These wav files are fine, I just remove the 2 second gap in Nero..and it plays continuous.

Here's the problem, When I convert the wav files to mp3...cool edit adds a small gap(about 0.02 sec) to the end/beginning of file. So if/when I extract these mp3 back to wav...they arent' the same. There will be gaps between tracks, and sound as if the record skips.

What program does everyone use to encode?!?

thx in advance

[burninfool]

I use CDex(freeware)
www.cdex.n3.net

[MikeTR]

check this forum for all MP3-related questions:http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?
I use Lame 3.92/Razorlame for all my encoding.

[tazdevl]

check this forum for all MP3-related questions:http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?
I use Lame 3.92/Razorlame for all my encoding.

I do as well.

[cfitz]

Are you converting from wav to mp3 for decreased storage requirements, and then later converting back to wav (and then to CDA) to burn a CD Audio disc? I think you would be better off converting the original audio file to one large mp3 file. That way you don't have to worry about artifacts caused by mp3 compression at the sharp boundaries at the beginning and ends of the selections. That could be part of what you are hearing.

Then, when you want to reconstitute the file and burn to CD, burn it as one track with indexes, or if you really want multiple tracks, split it after you have converted back to wav. Does cool edit split wav files on CD sector boundaries? That could be another issue. Have you tried Feurio? I think it has a feature named "linked tracks" which is specifically designed to get around the gaps problem.

cfitz

[cfitz]

I just checked Nero's capabilities, and it can also properly split tracks without introducing gaps. In the audio compilation window right-click the track you want to split and select "Properties". Then pick the "Indexes, Limits, Split" tab, click the waveform displayed in the "Oscilloscope" window where you want to split the track, then press "Split". Continue for as many splits as you want to make, then press "OK". Nero will ask if you really want to split the track - click "Yes". Then, back in the audio compilation window, select all tracks but the first track (you can use shift-click or ctrl-click), right click to select "Properties...", and then on the "Track Properties" tab check the "Cross fade with previous track" box and set the fade period to 0 frames. That's it. Now burn your CD.

One additional thing I found that might be relevant is that many software CD players don't seem to do a good job with tracks that have no silence between them. On my computer Windows Media Player 7 and Nero's own Media Player both hiccupped a bit at each track transition. But when I played the CD with WinAmp it worked fine. It also worked fine on my stereo's stand-alone CD player.

cfitz