Software to combine MP3's

[Dogdaysdude]

Can anyone recommend software to combine or append MP3 files?
Thanks.

[Sylvander]

I've never tried this, but I think you could use AUDACITY (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) to do the following...

1. Make a new empty MP3 file.

2. Open an existing MP3 file | "Select All" or part of the trace | copy that.

3. Make the empty file the focus and paste in the copied trace.

4. Repeat step 2 above for the 2nd MP3 file and repeat step 3 to paste that onto the end [or beginning] of the existing trace.

5. Save the result.

[ErnieK]

List of FREEWARE MP3 software. You will have to check through the list to find what you want
http://www.nonags.com/nonags/mp3misc.html

[pangea33]

I've never tried this, but I think you could use AUDACITY (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/)
I used Audacity for the first time about a week ago, and it's fantastic. In addition to being free, it found the elusive happy medium. It's sophisticated enough to be extremely useful, and it's intuitive enough to be usable.

As Sylvander said, you can simply open the first audio file you want to use in Audacity. Select the entire thing by pressing Ctrl-A, then copy it with Ctrl-C. Press Ctrl-N to create a new track, which will open in another window. Press Ctrl-V in the new blank window, and it will paste the first track.

Now open the next track you want to use in the same instance of Audacity you opened the first track. Repeat the select all and copy process. Return to the second Audacity window where you're assembling your custom file. From the Edit menu go down to the item marked "Move Cursor..." and choose "to Track End." Now you can paste the second song by pressing Ctrl-V again.

Repeat this process as many times as necessary. I recommend you now choose the "Save Project As..." selection from the File menu, so you can retain the highest quality original as possible. Next choose "Export as mp3" from the File menu and tell the system where you want to save.

You can set the mp3 encoding quality settings from the File Formats tab in the Preferences menu. I don't recall if Audacity was preconfigured to point at the LAME mp3 encoding filter or not. I believe I first had to point at the "lame_enc.dll" file manually.

Since you're working with mp3 files, you most likely already have this codec installed. If not, Google will help you track that down. Yes there are a number of steps, but just reread them a couple times and you'll be assembling tracks flawlessly in no time.

Incidently, you can assemble any file types that Audacity will open. Including wavs and the like.