Preparing audio for distribution

The File > Export Audio command exports your project as a new file or files that you can burn to a CD, or distribute via the Web or email. The following export formats are supported:

Table 134.  

Format	Definition
Wave	The standard digital audio format used under Windows for burning CDs, with a file extension of .wav.
Windows Media Advanced Streaming Format (includes Windows Media Pro)	Compressed digital audio for streaming over the Internet, with the file extension .wma.
MP3	Highly compressed digital audio designed for quick downloads via the Internet, with the file extension .mp3. The MP3 encoder that comes with Music Creator is a trial version which will time-out. The full version is available for download at www.cakewalk.com.
FLAC	FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec, which is somewhat similar to MP3, but lossless. Audio in a FLAC file is compressed without any loss in quality. The file extension is .flac.

If your audio hardware is configured for stereo playback, Wave files are created in stereo; if your audio hardware is configured for monophonic playback, the Wave file is created in mono.

To export audio to Wave file format

1.	Set all volume, pan, effects, and automation settings just as you want them.

2.	If you only want to mix down parts of tracks, select those clips now. If you don’t select anything, everything is selected.

3.	If you are using effects on the tracks and want to mix the effects down at this time, select the whole length of the longest track or clip plus extra time for the reverb or effects “tail.”

4.	Choose File > Export > Audio to open the Export Audio dialog box.

5.	Select a destination folder using the Look In field.

6.	Enter a file name.

7.	Click the Preset drop-down list and select CD Quality.

8.	Click Export.

The audio is exported to a Wave file.

To export a project in Windows Media format

1.	Set all volume, pan, effects, and automation settings just as you want them.

2.	If you only want to mix down parts of tracks, select those clips now.

3.	If you are using effects on the tracks and want to mix the effects down at this time, select the whole length of the longest track or clip plus extra time for the reverb or effects “tail.”

4.	Choose File > Export > Audio to open the Export Audio dialog box.

5.	Select a destination folder using the Look In field.

6.	Enter a file name.

7.	Click the Preset drop-down list and select Windows Media.

8.	Click Export.

The Windows Media Format Encode Options dialog box appears.

9.	Select options and click OK.

The audio is compacted and exported to a file or files with the extension .wma.

To export a project in MP3 format

1.	Set all volume, pan, effects, and automation settings just as you want them.

2.	If you only want to mix down parts of tracks, select those clips now.

3.	If you are using effects on the tracks and want to mix the effects down at this time, select the whole length of the longest track or clip plus an extra measure for the reverb or effects “tail.”

4.	Choose File > Export > Audio to open the Export Audio dialog box.

5.	Select a destination folder using the Look In field.

6.	Enter a file name.

7.	Click the Preset drop-down list and select MP3.

8.	Click Export.

The Cakewalk MP3 Encoder dialog box appears.

9.	Choose options and click OK.

The audio is compacted and exported to a file or files with the extension .mp3.