osu!academy covered this in Episode 15: Audio Encoding (4:02). That episode also contains how to install and use Audacity with LAME's .mp3
export ability.
This article serves as guide to help you do minor edits to your audio files for beatmapping purposes. By expanding it, you can help fellow beatmappers to create suitable audio files for any need.
By no means is this the software that you can only use, rather this only lists from those who had added them here. If you know of other tools that could be used and can explain how to use them for the described sections below, please add them.
Note: This article uses Audacity 3.4.2.
Audacity is a free, open-source audio editing and recording software. It uses the LAME encoding library to be able to export audio in the MP3 audio format and is built into Audacity on Windows and macOS.
Linux users should refer to the Audacity Reference Manual for more information, as certain Linux distributions may not provide LAME when installing Audacity, but most do provide it.
For information on compression in general, see: Compressing files
Install and open Audacity, then follow these steps:
.mp3
file that you want to lower the bit rate on.Ctrl
+ Shift
+ E
, or click File
-> Export Audio...
.Format:
select MP3 Files
.Audio options
, change the following settings:
Bit Rate Mode
: Preset
Quality
: Medium, 145-185 kbps
File Name:
and Folder:
to determine the location and name you want to save the file as.
Browse...
button to navigate.Edit Metadata...
.OK
once done editing metadata.Export
to export the audio file.Install and open Audacity then follow these steps:
.mp3
file that you want to loop.Ctrl
+ C
, or click Edit
-> Copy
.Ctrl
+ V
, or click Edit
-> Paste
.Install and open Audacity, then follow these steps:
.mp3
file that you want to crop.Delete
or Ctrl
+ K
, or click Edit
-> Delete
.Effect
-> Fading
-> Fade Out
.Note: This article uses mp3DirectCut 2.36.
mp3DirectCut is a free-to-use audio editing software that can directly edit MP3 files without re-encoding, often preventing loss of quality. It is recommended when needing to raise/lower the volume or crop the audio.
Note: A 32-bit library file is needed to use this feature.
.mp3
file that you want to lower the bit rate on.Settings
-> Configuration
, or press F11
.Encoder
tab.System
: ACM encoding libraryLame
: The Lame_enc.dll
file under the installation directory128 kbit/s
, and the maximum to 192 kbit/s
.Close
.Ctrl
+ W
, or click File
-> Save complete audio...
.Save
.Install and open mp3DirectCut, then follow these steps:
.mp3
file that you want to loop.Ctrl
+ C
, or click Edit
-> Copy
.Ctrl
+ V
, or click Edit
-> Paste
.Ctrl
+ W
, or click File
-> Save complete audio...
.Save
.Install and open mp3DirectCut, then follow these steps:
.mp3
file that you want to crop.Delete
.Ctrl
+ F
, or click Edit
-> Simple fade
.Ctrl
+ W
, or click File
-> Save complete audio...
.Save
.Install and open mp3DirectCut, then follow these steps:
.mp3
file that you want to adjust.Ctrl
+ A
to select all.Ctrl
+ G
, or click Edit
-> Level...
.Lock Sliders
checkbox.OK
.Ctrl
+ W
, or click File
-> Save complete audio...
.Save
.