Need Help But don't know how to ask the question

[NickHedge]

Let me try to explain...if I can

I am trying to take an audio file (MP3) which is 2:50 long. It plays fine in any player I choose. I want to take this audio clip and upload it to YouTube. I understand that in order to do this you have to take the audio clip and inmport pictures into it to make it a quasi video.

I have used Movie Maker and UMusic. Both programs work for all intents and purposes. But they will not let me utilize the full length of the audio clip. One goes only 2:30 and the other 2:29. This is frustrating since I have no idea how to correct the problem or where the problem begins. UMusic has nothing to set on it. Movie Maker is too complicated for someone who has never done this before.

Can someone please explain why this would happen and what can be done about it? Or maybe a video editing program that actually works or has settings where you can adjust things so the full clip can be utilized instead of cutting it off abruptly.

Sorry for not being more concise but it's not easy trying to describe, google was absolutely no help because of this.

Thanks.

[Baldrick]

Try convert the mp3 to wav with audacity. Then import in movie maker.

[NickHedge]

You know I was wondering about the mp3 or wav option, but didn't know what the real difference would be. But I will try this.

Thanks

[creamyhorror]

I wonder if there's some problem with the MP3 file that prevents proper detection of its length?

Anyway, I recommend making a 2:50 movie in your editor without audio, exporting it, using YAMB or MKVmergeGUI to mux the video and the MP3 together, then uploading that to Youtube. (This avoids any recompression that may occur in the WAV method.)

[Ai Haibara]

Does the original MP3 use VBR encoding? I believe that still causes problems for some editors (wouldn't surprise me if WMM was one of them).

[NickHedge]

I had wondered whether the encoding was right, but I knew in the back of my mind that it was because I had used Audio Studio Gold to make the audio clip and I have never had a problem with that software before. It's very easy to use (once you get the hang of what you are trying to do, that is).

I suspected wav being the issue but I couldn't give myself a legitimate argument for why it would be. Sometimes you just know something but can't say how or why you know it.

I went back and converted it over with Format Factory into wav and then did what I needed to in Movie Maker and it worked. So problem solved. Glad it wasn't any more complicated than that. This was the first time I had ever tried something like this. It's simple once you know what you are doing and how to do it.

Thanks again for the prompt replies and help.