How to Download LAME to Export MP3s in Audacity

Audacity is a powerful audio editing tool that can create and edit MP3 files.

Audacity is a very popular open-source audio program that allows users to create, edit and save music and other audio files in a variety of formats. While Audacity does support the MP3 file format, it must be modified first. Downloading and installing the LAME MP3 codec makes it easy to save any project created or edited in Audacity to the MP3 format.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Audacity

Instructions

In Windows

1. Download and install the LAME MP3 encoder (see Resources). When installing the file, do not change the destination folder.

2. Launch Audacity and go to "File" then "Open" and open the file or project you want to export to MP3.

3. Go to "File," then "Export as MP3." You will be prompted to locate the "lame_enc.dll." Go to the "Program Files" directory, then "Lame for Audacity." Select the file, click "Open" and then "OK." You will now be able to export the file as an MP3.

In Mac OS X

1. Download the Lame Library v3.98.2 for Audacity on OSX.dmg (see Resources).

2. Double-click on the file to extract it to the Finder. If you are using Safari as your Web browser, this will be done automatically.

3. Double-click on "Lame Library v3.89.2 for Audacity.pkg."

4. Launch Audacity and go to the "MP3 Export" section and click on the "Find Library" button.

5. Click "Yes" and in the dialog box go to "/usr/local/lib/audacity." Click on "libmp3lame.dylib" and then click "Open" and "OK." You can now export files as MP3s.

Tips & Warnings

• You will only need to do this the first time you want to export to MP3.

References

• Audacity: How Do I Download and Install the LAME MP3 encoder?

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• LAME for Audacity