Cubase SX3 - export to MP3 - iPod Trouble!!!

[Rossmar01]

Hi everyone, first post here, and a newbie, so be kind!

I've been writing and recording now for a few weeks, and loving every second. However, there's just one major challenge I'm coming up against...

The sequence of events...

I record my audio using a single SM58 and my M-Audio Fast Track Ultra over USB into my laptop.

I manually write MIDI drums and bass.

Mixer is set to <C> for everything, slight track volume adjustments.

I set the left and right locators and go to File > Export > Audio Mixdown.

I select stereo 128kbps mp3 format and export.

The mp3 plays correctlly on my laptop using Media Player, coming out of my normal £100 part of external speakers, mix is fine.

I load onto my iPod using iTunes, and every single time, I end up with Audio on the left and MIDI on the right in my headphones. When I play the same file in iTunes, this does not happen - it works correctly.

I'm sure this is really simple - can anyone offer some advice?

Thanks!

Ross

[Tony Ramone]

Originally Posted by Rossmar01

Hi everyone, first post here, and a newbie, so be kind!

Hey dude, welcome to the forum

Originally Posted by Rossmar01

I select stereo 128kbps mp3 format and export.

Hmm... have you tried exporting a 16bit 44.1KHz Stereo interleaved WAV file? That's pretty standard, maybe there's something weird with the mp3 converter in Cubase.
The way I normally do it is to export wav files then convert to mp3 in iTunes - works fine for me.
Hope that helps - if not, come on back and we cant try something else

[Rossmar01]

OK thanks, I'll check your first point tonight, but failing that, I'll try using iTunes to convert as you said!

Thanks for your help :-)

[brandondrury]

I end up with Audio on the left and MIDI on the right in my headphones.

This is a red flag. MIDI makes no sound. MIDI is just data. It triggers synths and samples (which are audio). So are you saying that your synths / samples are on the left and your other stuff (what ever that may be) is on the right?

My gut says you are using the Windows Wavetable synth. If so, make sure you are using the synths available under the F11 menu.

I'd also recommend rendering to wav and then converting to mp3 with Razorlame. It's a long shot, but something screwy may be going on.

Once in wav / mp3 format I can't think of a reason why the mix would play differently in any player (other than using a weird sample rate).

Brandon

[Rossmar01]

Hi guys,

OK so I took the first bit of advice... I exported as a stereo interleaved wav file and then imported into iTunes. All was well. I then used the 'Create ACC Version' function to create an iTunes mp3 and that worked correctly, and playing out of iTunes the mix was fine.
I connected my iPod and they transfered across ok.
Low and behold, I've still got the same problem!!!

To be clear, and apologies for the confusion... when I said MIDI i meant the LM7 drums and the VB Bass that I used to write the drums and bass in Cubase (i.e. the MIDI tracks). That's what's coming out of the right headphone. Out of the left, I've got everything I've recorded with my mic - all my guitar and vocals (i.e. the audio tracks).

[Rossmar01]

OK I just tried one other thing...

I put the WAV files in iTunes and then synch'd the iPod so to put the WAV files on the iPod. It synch'd successfully but the songs sounded exactly the same as the mp3's. Makes me wonder if there's something wrong in the mix.... but still weird how I wouldn't hear it in the 'monitors'...

[Tony Ramone]

Have you tried listening to your computer through headphones instead of the monitors?