Invalid MP3 codec?

[neumap]

When attempting to create an MP3 file output from VSX3 I receive the following error message: "The codec is invalid".

I am able to successfully create audio files in WAV, WMA and MP4 (I haven't bothered trying OGG).
I've tried to output in MP3 format from several different videos and even from simply a WAV file, but no success.
Any ideas on why the MP3 output won't work?

I've also installed the Service Pack 1 and the Smartsound Performance Update, but still no luck.

Thanks,
neumap

[Ron P.]

I have no idea why Corel does not include MP3 as one of the audio/sound file formats. Could be that it is one of those standards that has so many variables that it poses more problems with video editors than it's worth. For example VS just plain does not like any MP3 file that uses the Lame compressor.

vsx3_prod_mp3.png (54.45 KiB) Viewed 2402 times

[mitchell65]

Hi neumap
I would take your WAV file and use the very good freebie "Audacity" to export it to an MP3 file. VS just does not like MP3's. It is after all principally a video editor!
EDIT
Here's the link to the Audacity download:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

[Black Lab]

But if the OP wants to use that MP3 in one of his videos, Audacity actually uses the LAME codec and, therefore, he might have problems with it.

I use iTunes to convert my WAV files to MP3 and VS never has problems with those.

[neumap]

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated!

I do have Audacity installed, and so I can try that (I'm sure it will work).

But I find it very strange that VSX3 would not export MP3 files when other video editors will readily do this. MP3 is such a common standard (although I realize there are different encoders involved) that to not have this feature functioning properly is really not acceptable IMO. Why even bother offering the MP3 export option in VSX3 if it won't work? I'm wondering if there's another explanation here -- perhaps a conflict of codecs in my computer? Any other thoughts on this?

Thanks,
neumap

[Black Lab]

Why even bother offering the MP3 export option in VSX3 if it won't work?

But it doesn't. See Ron's screen shot below. I have never seen it either. Where are you seeing it?

[neumap]

To Ron.P,

From your screenshot I see your version of VSX3 does not provide the MP3 option, but mine does.
Why might this be? See screenshot.

VSX3 MP3 option clip.JPG (55.19 KiB) Viewed 2278 times

neumap

[Ron P.]

Well here's mud on our faces Jeff...

See you beat me to this...
While working with VS X3 on my desktop (WinXP), I happened to read the replies since my post. So I decided to look once again, however since I had VS X3 open on my desktop, looked at it. The above screenshot was taken from VS X3 on my laptop (Vista). Guess what... it's there on my WinXP machine...

vsx3_mp3_winXP.png (62.63 KiB) Viewed 2396 times

This is curious, why does it install it or recognize it on a XP machine, but not on Vista or as I can see you're running Win7???

[Black Lab]

I'll have to check at home, as I do not have X3 on my machine here at work.

[Ron P.]

I get the same error when trying to create a soundfile, using MP3. However there is a way to produce a WAV file using the MP3 codec, that works. Instead of selecting MP3 from the Save as type, select Microsoft WAV files. Next click the options button, and go to the Compression tab. Select from the drop-down menu for Format, MPEG Layer-3. You can also set the attributes. VS seems to allow this, and accepts it once created...

EDITED

Well I decided to go back through all my previous versions of VS, which goes back to VS8. None of the other versions have the MP3 option. So I'm inclined to believe that it may be glitch that we have it appearing in VS X3 on our machines. I have a flash authoring program installed, that will install the "Lame" mp3 codec, as well as Audacity's Lame mp3. I wonder if VS is seeing one of those codecs, and presenting it, yet not allowing it to be used.