The reason something like VLC can read and play it is because VLC does not depend on LAME, and uses other libraries to do MP3 stuff (ffmpeg and libavcodec, I think.) If you've got something that was created with an earlier version of LAME, something could be amiss with how the audio data is being encapsulated in the container file. this may be part of the problem in your case, Archie.) (Ironic, isn't it? I should probably mention that LAME is a very strict MP3 encoder. The LAME name stands for 'LAME Ain't an MP3 Encoder', which was true enough when the project started, but the code has been completely rewritten at least twice since then, and the LAME library is now a fully functional MP3 encoding library. The latest version in Synaptic's repositories is 3.100-1pclos-2019) (Incidentally, that version number is 'three one hundred', which would be later than 3.9x anything. This project is fairly mature, so don't let the libraries being three years old slow you down any. The LAME project's website is at: and mentions 'up front' that the latest edition of the LAME library is 3.100, and dates from October of 2017.

wmv (Windows Media) files, but I've never exported to this format, as I made a serious effort to get out of that business a while back. I know from experience that Audacity can import. wav, and other formats depending on what libraries are installed with Audacity).

Once any editing is done, the user exports the project file to any of several supported formats (.mp3. It does this by pushing the file through the LAME library. mp3 file in Audacity is that it imports it to an Audacity project file (much larger in size, but more amenable to being edited). That said, what usually happens when one 'opens' an.

Now, if you're converting from one format to another and need to do some cleanup (things like pop/click removal from sources originating from vinyl records, and other noise sources), then Audacity is a great tool for this, but it is so much more, too. Using Audacity to play music is like using a sledge hammer to kill a gnat.

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