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Recording roadblock

I recently bought some recording equipment and all finally got some songs down then when I tried to convert them to useable files it said it could not be done.

I am using Cubase LE that I got with my interface. And because it is a watered down version I cannot export files to mp3s.

I really dont want to spend more money on this and buy a full version, but it is looking like it might be the only way.

Does anyone know any other ways of converting the files to mp3s?

Thanks,
Sam.
 
Don't spend any money. There are quite a few free format converters out there. Type free MP3 converter, or free (whatever format Cubass records in) to MP3, into goggle and you'll find some. Download one and you'll be set.

I'd tell you which one I used, but I somehow deleted it and can't remember what it was called. Not all of 'em work great, but if you look around a little bit you'll find one that does.

Edit: Actually why don't you check the free software thread here. I bet it has the name of some program you could use.
 
Exporting to mp3 gets me "You have either reached the maximun amount of encodings of 20. or exceeded the 30-day free trial period. To get unlimited encoding you have to buy the MP3 Updater!" I havent encoded 20 files, but I did install cubase on my computer when I got my laptop(late may), but my interface did not work, so I promptly uninstalled it. I think that may have screwed me over.

A conversion to any other format gets me "An error occured during the export!"
 
I cannot convert to any format. And I cannot find any software that can convert .cpr files.

Regardless of what DAW software you are using, you need to create an audio file from your mix. This is different from a project file (I believe that .CPR is a Cubase PRoject file). Some packages call it a "bounce" and some call it an export. What you probably want is to bounce the master outputs to a WAV/AIFF file. I have never been a Cubase user, but have Audiodesk/DP, Logic, PT and Live experience and each one of them does it a little bit differently. Some require you to select the tracks that you want to send, some make you select the outputs you want incorporated into the output.

Don't worry about trying to create an MP3 directly. You need to output a mix in a standard format first.
 
I cannot convert to any format. And I cannot find any software that can convert .cpr files.

.cpr files don't contain audio -- they contain information about the project.

In Cubase LE you create an audio file by choosing > File > Export > Audio Mixdown...

As others have suggested, you can export your audio mixdown as a WAV file (Stereo Interleaved, 16 Bit, 44.100 kHz is CD quality) and then use other software to convert that WAV to an MP3.

Personally, I use iTunes for the WAV to MP3 conversion.
 

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