Audacity Export Settings: MP3, FLAC, WAV, and the Hidden LAME Trap

Why Audacity Exports Sound Wrong By Default

Audacity is free, open source, and has been the default audio editor for amateurs and indie podcasters since 2000. It does most things well. The export dialog is not one of them.

The default settings produce files that work but aren't optimal:

• 44.1 kHz when the project is 48 kHz (sample rate mismatch)
• Stereo when the source is mono (file size doubled, no quality gain)
• 128 kbps MP3 by default (audibly compressed for music)
• No proper LUFS targeting (loudness varies wildly between exports)

This post covers the right export settings for common use cases (podcast, music, archival, broadcast), the LAME plugin setup that's still mandatory in 2026, and the pitfalls that cost quality.

For the audio-track side of video work, see our extract audio tool.

The LAME Plugin Situation

Audacity ships without an MP3 encoder. To export MP3, you need the LAME library, which Audacity points you to download separately.

In 2026, the install paths:

Windows:

1. Download lame_enc.dll from buanzo.org (the de facto distribution)
2. Place in Audacity's installation directory
3. Restart Audacity

Mac:

1. Download libmp3lame.dylib from buanzo.org
2. In Audacity: Edit > Preferences > Libraries > LAME MP3 Library > Locate
3. Point to the downloaded file

Linux:

1. sudo apt install liblame0 (or distribution equivalent)
2. Audacity finds it automatically

Without LAME, the MP3 export option is greyed out. You can export to FLAC, WAV, OGG, AIFF without LAME, but MP3 specifically needs the patent-licensed encoder (Audacity can't ship it due to historical patent issues).

Project Sample Rate Matters

Set the project sample rate before recording:

In Audacity: bottom-left status bar shows project sample rate. Click to change.

If your project is 48 kHz and you export to 44.1 kHz, Audacity resamples. Resampling adds a small amount of artifacting; not audible in casual listening but compounds over multiple resamples. Match project rate to delivery rate when possible.

MP3 Export Settings

For MP3 export (after LAME install):

File > Export > Export As MP3 > Options

Settings to use:

VBR (Variable Bitrate) mode adapts bitrate to content complexity. The "V" numbers map to quality presets; V0 is highest, V9 lowest.

CBR (Constant Bitrate) mode uses a fixed bitrate regardless of content. CBR 320 is the highest legal MP3 quality. Use VBR V0 instead for similar quality at smaller file size.

FLAC Export

FLAC is lossless. Use it for archival or master delivery.

File > Export > Export Audio > Format: FLAC

Settings:

• Bit Depth: 24-bit (matches typical project bit depth)
• Compression Level: 5 (default) or 8 (slightly smaller, slightly slower)

FLAC compression is lossless regardless of level. Higher level = smaller file but slower encoding. Level 8 is the production default; encoding time difference vs level 5 is small.

For 24-bit 48 kHz 10-minute mono file:

• WAV: ~70 MB
• FLAC level 5: ~35 MB
• FLAC level 8: ~33 MB

FLAC plays natively in modern browsers, VLC, foobar2000, and most modern audio players. iTunes does not play FLAC; convert to ALAC (Apple Lossless) for the Apple ecosystem.

WAV Export

WAV is uncompressed. Use it as an interim format between tools or as a master.

File > Export > Export Audio > Format: WAV (Microsoft) signed 16-bit / 24-bit / 32-bit float

Settings:

For finished delivery: 16-bit WAV. For master archival or further editing: 24-bit. For exports passing back through other audio software: 32-bit float (no precision loss).

WAV is the lingua franca of audio interchange. Every editor and DAW reads it. Premiere imports WAV cleanly. Conversion to MP3 or AAC happens at delivery time.

OGG Vorbis and Opus

Audacity also exports to Ogg Vorbis (older lossy codec) and Opus (newer lossy codec, used by AV1, Discord, WhatsApp).

For Opus:

File > Export > Export Audio > Format: Opus Files

Opus produces audibly transparent audio at much lower bitrate than MP3. For modern delivery (browsers, mobile apps), Opus at 96 kbps matches MP3 at 192 kbps.

Compatibility note: Opus plays in modern browsers, VLC, mobile apps, and most modern audio players. Older players may not. For broad compatibility: MP3 still wins; for modern delivery: Opus.

AAC Export

Audacity does not export AAC by default. Workaround:

1. Export to WAV
2. Convert to AAC with FFmpeg or our audio converter

ffmpeg -i input.wav -c:a aac -b:a 192k output.m4a

For quality reference, see Audio Bitrate Quality Guide.

Loudness Targeting

Audacity has Effect > Loudness Normalization for setting integrated LUFS:

For podcast delivery: -16 LUFS integrated, -1 dBTP true peak. Apply Loudness Normalization before export. Audacity's normalization is reasonable but not as precise as professional tools (Logic Pro, Reaper, or specialist plugins). For commercial podcasts, use a specialized tool.

Multi-Track Export

For multi-track projects (podcast with separate tracks for host and guest), Audacity has Export Multiple:

File > Export > Export Multiple

Options:

• Split by Label: each labeled region becomes a separate file
• Split by Track: each track becomes a separate file

Useful for:

• Splitting a long recording into episodes
• Exporting individual stems from a music project
• Generating a separate file per chapter

Common Issues

Clipped audio on export: peaks above 0 dBFS distort. Apply Limiter or reduce gain before export. Audacity shows clipping as red bars in the waveform.

Audacity says "Cannot find LAME": re-download lame_enc.dll and place in Audacity's directory. On Mac, point to the dylib in Preferences.

Exported MP3 sounds different than the project: MP3 is lossy. The conversion from project (32-bit float WAV underneath) to 192-256 kbps MP3 introduces audible compression artifacts, especially in cymbals and string instruments.

File size too large: for voice content, reduce sample rate (22 kHz is fine for voice), use mono, and pick higher MP3 compression (V4 instead of V0).

For background on choosing audio formats by use case, see Best Audio Format for Podcasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Audacity export to 32-bit float by default?

Audacity's internal processing is 32-bit float. Exporting to 32-bit float WAV preserves all precision. For final delivery, 16 or 24-bit is sufficient and produces smaller files.

Should I dither when exporting to 16-bit?

Yes. Audacity has dithering options in Preferences > Quality. Triangle dither is the safe default. Dithering adds a tiny amount of noise to mask quantization artifacts when reducing bit depth.

What's the highest-quality MP3 setting?

VBR V0 (around 245 kbps average) or CBR 320 kbps. Quality is similar; V0 produces smaller files. Above V0 / 320, MP3 hits its specification limit.

Can I export MP3 directly without LAME?

In 2026, Audacity's MP3 export still requires LAME. The LAME library is freely available; the install is a one-time annoyance. There's no built-in MP3 encoder.

Is FLAC always better than MP3?

For archival and editing: yes. For delivery to general audiences: not necessarily. FLAC files are 5-10x larger than 192 kbps MP3 of the same source. For most casual listening, the difference is undetectable.

How do I export to multiple formats at once?

File > Export > Export Audio twice (once per format), or use the Macros feature: Tools > Macros > New > Add steps for each export. Run the macro to export all formats in one click.

Related Reading

• Audio Bitrate Quality Guide
• Best Audio Format for Podcasts
• Audio Format for Streaming Services

Bottom Line

For Audacity exports: install LAME for MP3 (one-time setup), match project sample rate to delivery target, use VBR V0 for high-quality MP3, FLAC for lossless, 16-bit WAV for masters. Apply Loudness Normalization to -14 or -16 LUFS before export depending on platform. Our audio converter and extract audio tool handle the formats Audacity doesn't (AAC, M4A) directly.