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This is the most common question we get, so I've decided to make a Sticky. It is also covered in the Cubase LE Operation Manual under "Export Audio Mixdown". Cubase does not burn to CD directly, so you must first export your project so that you can burn from iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. First, you must set the locators so that Cubase knows where to begin and end the export--usually you will want them to encompass the entire project, but there may be times when you only want to export a portion of your project, like just the intro. The locators are located in the Ruler bar, just above the project window. They are little triangles, and when you drag them apart with the mouse, they are connected with a Blue line between them with the arrows pointing inward (note: if the arrows are pointing outward, then they are inverted--the end is at the beginning and vice-versa--and they must be reversed or you will receive an error message and you will not be able to export). A short cut for setting the locators is selecting a track or all tracks (Ctl or Opt + A) and then hitting the letter "P", which automatically sets the locators around the selected file or files. Remember that the project will export exactly as it plays back--in other words all automation, muting, effects, panning, etc. will be included in the export, so make sure you haven't accidentally muted or unmuted any tracks, etc. Now, all you have to do is go to File -> Export -> Audio Mixdown, and choose the file type you would like to export and where you want it to go (your desktop, a specific folder, etc.). For internet use, MP3 players, or anything else that requires a small, compressed file, choose MP3. For an audio CD, or to give your project to a Mastering engineer or the duplicators, etc., you will want a Wave file. The mastering engineer will want the file in the same bit rate and sample rate you recorded in for best quality, but if you are ready to go straight to CD it must be 44.1 kHz and 16 bit, which is the Red Book standard for all CD players. Also, for .wav and .aiff, you will most likely want to choose "Stereo Interleaved" in the Channels box as this will create one stereo file with all your panning. Have fun! Edit, June 2007: The MP3 encoder for all versions of Cubase (except Cubase 4 and Cubase Studio 4) is no longer available from Steinberg. If you have already exported the allotted 20 MP3 exports from Cubase and are no longer able to export as MP3, export instead as a .wav or .aiff from Cubase and bring the file into iTunes (which is a free download from Apple). Once in iTunes, you can convert the file to MP3. |
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Yeah i got a question about audio mixdowns. I am using a Cubase LE. I bought the MP3 update since i had run out of MP3 exports from this website. After loading it no problem, i recorded a song. But now, I can't export. Cubase just tells me that "an error occured during export." I went back and tried to export every other song that I have already created and i'm getting the same error. Even a brand new project won't export with nothing recorded. Have you ever seen this?
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I would try exporting in another file format--wav or aiff--just to make sure it is the MP3 encoder and not something else. Assuming it is the encoder, it may not have been installed properly? Can you try running the .exe again? I am assuming you are on a PC running XP. |
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Ok i tried recording a blank project and it works. So after messing around a bunch, I realized that one of the recordings must have been corrupted. i just re-recorded and can make MP3s. i dunno what happened, but im glad it's working now. Thanks for the support |
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thanks for this great info! another question: what's the best settings for mp3 files? i want to do two things with mp3 files: 1) put samples of my music on my website for people to check it out, 2) make high quality mp3 files available for people to download if they like. thanks! |
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There is a direct trade off between file size and audio quality, so you may want to experiment with a few different sizes and see how they do. You generally want to go with the highest file size that you can get away with--128 kBit/s is fairly standard for internet use, and that is the highest rate that Cubase will go for MP3. Another thing to try would be export from Cubase as an uncompressed .wav or .aiff into iTunes and convert to MP3 in iTunes, which can go all the way from 16 kBit/s up to 320 kBit/s so you would have more options. You can also set iTunes to show the file size and bit rate next to the song title (right click in the info bar), so you can convert your song say 5 times, each at a different rate, and have them all showing with their file size--it's a very easy way to see the correlation between bit rate and file size. |
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dear wbright: thanks for the info on mp3 files. is 128kBit standard for downloading files on the internet? or 320kBit/s? |
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I don't know that there is a true standard. Somewhere in the 100s is common--128, 160, 192, etc., and I have seen as high as 320. Try going to myspace and downloading people's music and see what sizes they are using and how long they take to download and how they sound (again, you can put the file into iTunes and it can tell you the rate and file size). |
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ok, so after i hit ctrl+A then P, it brings up this pool screen. what do i do then? i've played around w/ it for a long time and i just cant figure it out. |
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You are hitting "Control + P" to bring up the Pool. Just hit "P" by itself and the Locators will automatically set around the selected file. |
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I was in the middle of exporting some files to my desktop to later convert onto a CD and then in the middle of the process my Cubase just stopped responding to my command. I would click on export, and then audio mixdown. The cursor on my screen would change into an hourglass for a second, then back to the arrow and that was it. The menu for exporting files never comes up. |
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Hello, What operating system are you on? Have you made any changes at all to your system in the time between when this worked and when it stopped working? Is it only happening in this one project (open a new project, import an audio file and then export it)? |
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Quote: I'm having this same problem now and I've tried exporting as different types of files with no success. It was all working fine and then all of a sudden I'm not able to export anything. |
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And just to add on...I was trying again to get the project exported and then it said something about the MP3 encoder when I tried to export it as an MP3 file, saying that I've exceeded my use of 20 or that my 30-day trial period has expired. (Something to that affect, at least.) P.S. My previous entry from 5-17-07 was the result of the type of windows I was using. So I switched everything over to a different computer which is when this new issue starting occuring. Thanks for any help you can provide. |
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Hey Everyone, Sorry, here's the update on LE mp3's. http://knowledgebase.steinberg.de/113_1.html |
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Hi, We recently purchased Cubase LE and the Lexicon Omega for our Church. I’m having some trouble with the mixdown. At this point, I’m not using any automation, but I have Ctrl-A P to set the end points. When I mix down in WAV or mp3, the length of the track seen by roxio is 122 minutes. When I mixdown to a WAV, the file size is about 630MB (and 122 min) for a 20 minute 1 channel talk or a 1 hour 4 channel song service. I’m using 16 bit, 44K. As a result, I can’t get anything on a CD. Also, when I try to mix down to a WMA, I get “An error occurred during export.” Thoughts? Thanks, dale |
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Hello, Usually 122 mins is too long for a CD. Most CDs are limited to 80 mins. Are you sure that it is not registering in Roxio as 1:22:00 (1 hour, 22 mins). Are you exporting to .wav, stereo interleaved, 44.1 khz, 16 bit? You probably need to cut down at least 2 mins to fit these tracks all on one CD. |
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i got the export part but when i try to export it it wont let me select the cpr file what am i doing wrong. i just open cubse using the default template record and then try to export PLEASE HELP |
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Hello, You do not want to select the cpr file. When you select Export Audio Mixdown, you are creating a new file, that you can save anywhere. You can save it to the same folder as your cpr file, but you cannot save it as the cpr file because it is not a cpr file (its a .wav). |
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Hello, When I export my songs from Cubase LE, only 2 minutes actually get exported to my PC. I have all the normal settings I'm aware of, 44.100 kHz sample rate, 16 bit resolution, Stereo Interleaved. Any idea what would cause this? Thanks |
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What is your L locater set to on the transport bar? What is the R locater set to on the transport bar? |
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The dreaded..."An Error occured during the Export" for me, too. I have followed the instructions listed here, yet nothing. Any other common things that would cause this error? |
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From the transport bar, what is your L locater set to? What is the R locater set to on the transport bar? |
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THat was it exactly. I had the L & R switched. Thanks for the help! |
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Okay...so during the exporting process, can I actively mix tracks, ie. adjust vocal volumes, etc.? |
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I am having trouble exporting with LE. About half of my projects export fine, but some of them only export one track. I can hear everything in playback, but not everything comes out in the export. Any idea why this is happening? |
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Hello, During export you cannot actively change the mix. It will follow automation though, so automate any changes and then export. In reference to the question on only one track being exported...do you use multiple outputs? Is anything soloed or muted in the project? |
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Nope, nothing is muted and everything is using the same output. These tracks do something else that the working ones do not. If I hit play to playback the track, it only plays the one track that exports. To get all of them to playback I have to double click the black bar above the tracks. |
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Hello, What operating system are you on? |
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XP Pro. |
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This is odd. What black bar are you having to double click to get playback? Can you post a screen shot? Thank you. |
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It seems to be the same instructions for SX but when I say ok the box just closes. I'm not sure what Im missing. any suggestions |
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Hello, I'm sorry, but what box are you referring to? |
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I have to ask why would Steinberg discontinue or eliminate the process of converting to mp3 in the first place. |
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Hello Darren, I'm not sure why Steinberg Germany discontinued it, but it may have something to do with the licensing agreement with Frauenhoffer. Sorry this does not shed more light on the subject. You can always export as a .wav and convert that to an mp3. There are many free programs that do this. Thank you. |
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HOW DO I EXPORT MIDI TRACKS TO BECOME A WAVE OR MP3 FILE? |
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Hello Darren, Well, the way that I usually do this personally, is this: 1. Solo the midi tracks you want to export to audio. 2. Set L and R locators to start and end of the project. 3. Go to File, Export, Audio Mixdown. 4. In the export dialog, choose the same file type as your project, select the project folder to save it to, and then choose the option "Import to Audio Track." This will automatically check the pool button, and that is ok. 5. Hit export and then you will have a new track with the audio file. Mute the midi track after this, so you don't get doubled notes. Hope this helps. |
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Quote: Hello! I am having the same issue (Record Now reads the .wav file length at 82mins) however, I have gone back and cut off at least 5mins of the audio file and when I export the shortened .wav file, it still reads at 82mins.
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Hello, The key during the export is to set the l and r locators to the proper locations for the export to be under 80 minutes. What are your l and r locators set to. Thank you. |
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you helped answer my issue i was having, thanks!! |
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I've just started using Cubase LE. Seems like a great product. As a test I recorded a rehersal. It plays back fine in Cubase, but I can not seem to mixdown & export. The file is only audio (no MIDI) I've confirmed the markers are set the right direction. I've tried .wav, wma & .aiff Each time it appears that the file is converting. There is a % complete window showing the progress. Upon completion I look at the file size and it is only 1 kg. Any ideas??? |
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Hello, Are you using external midi devices? If so, you need to connect the audio cables from the midi sound module to your audio card, to record on an audio track. |
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No MIDI Just one mic. |
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Hello, Sorry, I misread your post and thought you were getting the audio but no midi. What is your L locator set to? Your R? Are you exporting an a 44.1 khz 16 bit stereo interleaved .wav? Thank you. |
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hey guru i am having that problem whenever i try to export audio with midi (The midi file is imported into cubase) but i only get audio, what is it that i do to fix this? |
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What is the output of your midi channel set to? Are you triggering an internal VSTi or an external sound module? Thank you. |
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I recorded audio in 44.1/16bit. I toggled on stereo and I saw instead of one line of audio (with mono) there were two lines. After recording, I did what I normally do: audio->process->normalize. I noticed the normalize didn't take as long as it usually does. And when I went to file->export->audio mixdown, I got an error msg that read "unable to find specified file" |
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Please forgive my limited knowledge of terminology. The left locator (blue triangle pointing at 9:00) is at the far left of the file and the right locator (blue triangle pointing at 3:00) is at the end of the file with the blue connecting line between. |
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When I go to bounce down my finnished project I get an export error can anyone help!? Thanks KARMWUD |
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Hello, It sounds like your left and right locators are backwards, switch them and you should be just fine. Thank you. |
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Good day! When I export to a .wav file I apparently have no trouble, but when I open the file in 'acoustica' there isn't anything but silence. What am I doing wrong? I have already checked that muting was not enabled. Thanks! |
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Hello, What bit size and sample rate are you exporting to? I would use 16 bit and 44.1 Thank You, |
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That is the setting I am using. Again it appears to export fine. A five minute test track equals about a 4 meg wave file. But opening the file yields a blank file. Does the output bus matter for exporting? We have the input and outputs set as mono. Thanks for your reply! Dave |
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If you import the mixed down audio file back into Cubase, is it blank? |
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Brad: Thanks for your reply. The import file size is 5.1 megs, but comes into Cubase as a blank file. I cannot be certain if I selected to make it available for import back into Cubase though. |
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Thanks to all who replied. I have discovered my issues in the above. My overall project size was too large. The total record time was over 5 hours. When I broke that time into fourths, it exported to a wav file with no issues. Unless someone has a recommendation of how to export large projects, I'll just going in this direction. Again, thanks to all! Dave |