When it comes to sharing audio files online, MP3 is the go-to format. If you have a file in a different format, such as WAV, you may need to convert it to MP3 before sharing it. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to convert WAV files to MP3 using Audacity, a free and open-source audio editing software.
First, open Audacity and go to the “File” menu. Click on “Open” and locate the WAV file you want to convert. WAV files are generally higher quality, but they are also larger in size, which may not be ideal for sharing online.
Next, go to the “File” menu again and click on “Export Audio”. Choose a file name for your MP3 file and select “MP3 Files” as the file type. You’ll see a variety of options here, including some presets for variable speed. However, if you want to maintain control over the quality of your audio, select “Constant Bitrate” instead. This will allow you to choose the bitrate at which your audio is encoded.
We recommend using a bitrate of 320 kbps for the highest quality compression. However, if you’re sharing a podcast or speech-only recording, 192 kbps will suffice. If you’re really trying to save on file size, you can go as low as 128 kbps or lower.
Finally, choose the channel mode you want to use. For most recordings, a straightforward stereo mode will work just fine. Click “Save” and your WAV file will be converted to MP3.
In conclusion, Audacity makes it easy to convert audio files to MP3. With just a few clicks, you can transform a high-quality WAV file into a smaller, shareable MP3 file.