Mp3 exports don't play

[Cobus Prinsloo]

Hi, I recently upgraded to Sonar and am very happy with its performance (far better than Cakewalk).

However, exported MP3s suddenly won't play in WMP (Windows Media Player). It worked fine when I was still using Cakewalk. (see screen grab of the message when I try to play). I suspect that it may be because Sonar uses another/newer codec, which Media Player doesn't have. If so, I can't see any options in WMP to update its codecs.

[Andi Rock]

My mp3 exports work properly on the latest version.  

[orcmid]

6 hours ago, Cobus Prinsloo said:

However, exported MP3s suddenly won't play in WMP (Windows Media Player). I suspect that it may be because Sonar uses another/newer codec, which Media Player doesn't have. If so, I can't see any options in WMP to update its codecs.

I suspect WMP is a legacy product and not currently maintained.   To confirm that there are newer codecs required, try playing a troublesome MP3 in an alternative product such as Winamp and VLC media players.  If they all stumble, the error messages might be more informative.   The issue might have nothing to do with codecs.

 

[David Baay]

9 hours ago, Cobus Prinsloo said:

I suspect that it may be because Sonar uses another/newer codec, which Media Player doesn't have.

I'm not seeing a problem playing Sonar-exported MP3s with WMP on Win11, and the options dialog shows Sonar using the same old LAME 3.100 encoder.

[Cobus Prinsloo]

I installed the latest version of VLC Player, and although the mp3 opens, there is no sound. I now tried playing some of my older MP3s that worked, and none worked. This has to be a Windows 10 issue, and I suspect the audio issue is related to a recent Windows update. 

So, I tried to uninstall this update, but there is no uninstall option for any of the "Servicing Stack" updates (see screen grab).

It is in times like these that I wish I had a Mac!

Edited November 16 by Cobus Prinsloo

[Andi Rock]

1 hour ago, Cobus Prinsloo said:

I installed the latest version of VLC Player, and although the mp3 opens, there is no sound. I now tried playing some of my older MP3s that worked, and none worked. This has to be a Windows 10 issue, and I suspect the audio issue is related to a recent Windows update. 

So, I tried to uninstall this update, but there is no uninstall option for any of the "Servicing Stack" updates (see screen grab).

It is in times like these that I wish I had a Mac!

I'm on Windows 10 with the latest updates and it still works for me.

[Amberwolf]

Do other sound files play correctly in VLC?  Such as WAV sample files from any of your instruments, if you have any, or any of the built-in windows WAV sounds, etc.

If they don't, then it's more likely the volume is simply turned down in the Windows volume control, or muted, or the default audio device is set to something not connected to speakers, etc.  

[Cobus Prinsloo]

4 hours ago, Amberwolf said:

Do other sound files play correctly in VLC?

This has to be some sort of clash between my Focusrite and Windows audio drivers. Sporadically, all my audio works through my Scarlett4i4, other times its like the audio interface is non-existent and the audio only goes through my PC speaker.

When Cakewalk or Sonar are running -- the Scarlett4i4 is used correctly, and all audio (mp3. wav, or Internet) works fine, but when I close these apps, Windows reverts back to its pathetic built-in speaker.  Figure that out!