Sound Forge 16 - latest updates, mp3 encoding issues

TripleXL wrote on 2/28/2023, 4:49 AM

Good morning, forum!

I've been a user of Sound Forge since v5 but, since v14, I've had constant issues with the Yamaha Steinberg ASIO and compatibility with the software.

I assumed the latest issue I'm having (after approx. the last 3 updates) was to do with the same thing but, apparently not. I have SF installed on both my Studio PC and my PC at the office one using Yamaha Steinberg ASIO and the other using Windows Classic Wave Driver. I have tried to change the ASIO drivers but they all have the same outcome.

When converting files to a .mp3, no matter the source format, it seems to introduce artefacts (like tiny, almost-inaudible clicks and sometimes just a millisecond of silence). Usually this wouldn't be an issue but I run a record label and also DJ. I NEED these .mp3's to be the very best of quality that they can be and being able to mix them into other tracks is imperative, it's just not acceptable to be drifting out of sync.

In fact, there seems to be clicks all over the place when simply playing back any file (or recording) within SF anyway.

Is there a known issue or something that can be done?

Comments

rraud wrote on 2/28/2023, 11:50 AM

Hi @TripleXL,
Do you have "Always proxy compressed formats" enabled? This setting is in "Options> Preferences> General".
FWIW, the best quality setting for encoding MP3 files is 320kbs, constant bit rate (CBR) with the 'quality' parameter set to 'max'.. however, if one encodes a MP3 using the mono parameter, the kbs quality is doubled.. close to a kbs of a 44.1kHz PCM file. Of course any spacial content would be lost, so it is not recommend for music.

Your soundcard or interface would have nothing to do with encoding an MP3.. assuming the data is in the computer already. If you 'record what you hear' from a streaming source, then the interface could be a factor.

craig-d wrote on 3/2/2023, 1:21 AM

hi @TripleXL, and welcome. @rraud is correct, you just need to make this change in your settings to always proxy compressed formats. that should get you up and running properly.

TripleXL wrote on 3/2/2023, 3:31 AM

Hi @TripleXL,
Do you have "Always proxy compressed formats" enabled? This setting is in "Options> Preferences> General".
FWIW, the best quality setting for encoding MP3 files is 320kbs, constant bit rate (CBR) with the 'quality' parameter set to 'max'.. however, if one encodes a MP3 using the mono parameter, the kbs quality is doubled.. close to a kbs of a 44.1kHz PCM file. Of course any spacial content would be lost, so it is not recommend for music.

Your soundcard or interface would have nothing to do with encoding an MP3.. assuming the data is in the computer already. If you 'record what you hear' from a streaming source, then the interface could be a factor.

hi @TripleXL, and welcome. @rraud is correct, you just need to make this change in your settings to always proxy compressed formats. that should get you up and running properly.

Thanks, chaps. I'll give this a go right away.

TripleXL wrote on 3/2/2023, 9:05 AM

OK, that solved that issue, so it seems. Thank you very much.
It has introduced a new problem, though.

When opening multiple audio files using the 'append to current data window', it no longer opens in just the one window. Is there a way around this as I really don't want to lose this feature?

rraud wrote on 3/2/2023, 10:24 AM

it no longer opens in just the one window.

Hi @TripleXL, this is likely the 'Multi-instance' behavior, which can be set to 'Single-instance' in the "Internal" menu (which is hidden). See this thread from Aug, 2020 when the mode was intro'd in SFP-14 (build 111) and is set as the default.
The behavior confused a number of folks and was not particularly well documented in the release notes or had any instructions to revert it back to what folks were accustomed to.

TripleXL wrote on 3/3/2023, 4:49 AM

it no longer opens in just the one window.

Hi @TripleXL, this is likely the 'Multi-instance' behavior, which can be set to 'Single-instance' in the "Internal" menu (which is hidden). See this thread from Aug, 2020 when the mode was intro'd in SFP-14 (build 111) and is set as the default.
The behavior confused a number of folks and was not particularly well documented in the release notes or had any instructions to revert it back to what folks were accustomed to.

Brilliant @rraud, that's done it!

What a pain in the ar*e this has been. Thank you very much

TripleXL wrote on 6/14/2023, 4:58 AM

it no longer opens in just the one window.

Hi @TripleXL, this is likely the 'Multi-instance' behavior, which can be set to 'Single-instance' in the "Internal" menu (which is hidden). See this thread from Aug, 2020 when the mode was intro'd in SFP-14 (build 111) and is set as the default.
The behavior confused a number of folks and was not particularly well documented in the release notes or had any instructions to revert it back to what folks were accustomed to.

Well, after a few days of working correctly, it just reverts back to the programs normal behaviour.

The settings on the 'Internal' menu remain changed but the behaviour doesn't reflect it.

I've gone back to Sound Forge 14 for the time being but it isn't ideal as it doesn't perform well with the Yamaha/Steinberg asio