Home recording , burning MP3 to WAV....

[smalltowner]

Hi again all. I am in the process of taking your advice and researching and purchasing a MIC and Preamp. I have anoter question for you all.

When I finally get this set up on my PC and am able to record something, will the finished song be a WAV file or an MP3 file? Or neither? Or does this depend on which software I use? I was going to test the waters and play around with the Quartz Studio Free I downloaded.

If it is a WAV file, how would I convert it to an MP3 file? Sorry for such rudimentary questions, I am sure if I did enough research I could find the answer, but the baby is crying!

THANKS! Mike

[dachay2tnr]

Most recording software will record the individual tracks as .wav files (unless you're on a Mac). When you're done with the mix, you need to "export" these tracks to a single, stereo track.

Usually you will have several choices regarding the format you wish to export to - .wav, .mp3, wma, aiff, etc. (choices are dependant on the recording software).

I think the majority of people export to .wav - and then burn to CD or convert the .mp3 as needed. There are many commercial, shareware and/or freeware programs available to convert .wav's to .mp3's. Do a search for .mp3 encoders.

[Tom Hicks]

Try n-Track Studio software at http://fasoft.com
The demo is free.You can record multiple tracks,set the levels,add effects and mix down to .wav, .mp3 and .wma formats.Here are some examples I recorded this week.

.mp3
http://tom.artistcollaboration.com/sunrise.mp3

streaming .wma
http://home.att.net/~mhic/greens.wma

Good luck in whatever you choose to use!
Tom

[smalltowner]

Thanks for the replies. Tom -I checked out your links, it sounded great!

[SPINSTERWUN]

I use Sound Forge 5.0 for my editing.

http://www.sonicfoundry.com

spin

[SPINSTERWUN]

If you are strapped for cash. You could go to this site for some freeware/shareware.

http://www.hitsquad.com/smm

peace...

spin