MP3 conversion glitches

Paul-Fegan wrote on 8/8/2025, 9:03 AM

I've been using various version of SF to convert to MP3 for years without issue. Usually, I was batch converting files for elearning to 128 kbps MP3s. But recently, I had to batch convert some WAVs for an audiobook. The WAVs all meet the ACX specifications (as tested in SF18), but this time, I need to convert to 192 kbps. The problem is that it's introducing random audio glitches. You could batch the same file twice and the glitches wouldn't necessarily be in the same place. Has anyone else encountered this? I could export to a higher bitrate like 320, but Audible says it's unnecessary and I'd rather just meet the spec. I'll do it, though, if the files are glitch free and I've no other option.

So does anyone know if conversion from 44 kHz, 16 bit, mono WAV to 192 kbps MP3 should cause a problem?

Many thanks.

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Comments

Paul-Fegan wrote on 8/15/2025, 1:04 PM

It's so strange, isn't it. Anyway, I've ordered a Focusrite 2i2 4th Gen for home, so fingers crossed. If any files come back with glitches, I'll just try to repair them and hope that pressing SAVE (in SF18 or RX11) doesn't cause glitches elsewhere in the files.

Rick, thanks a million for sticking with me to the end on this. If anything else sheds light on this, I'll drop it here. Cheers.

rraud wrote on 8/16/2025, 8:57 AM

I would still like to encode one of your PCM files and see what happens on my system. In an case, I hope the new interface resolves the issue.

Paul-Fegan wrote on 8/16/2025, 10:58 AM

Please do, Rick. It'd be very useful to know if the WAVs are somehow inherently flawed and causing the glitches during the MP3 encoding process. Then I'll have to wonder at what stage the flaws occurred: during initial clean up in SF18, or later during export with live effects in Reaper. Can't wait to get the new interface now and hopefully that will be the end of the trouble. Cheers.