It is Cubase LE AI Elements 6, so I guess it being “lite” is the reason I couldn’t export as .mp3. But, there is NO reason for them to encode the exportation of .wav files with some kind of encryption to keep them from being converted to other file types. So, yes, I HAD to buy the .mp3 encoder. Otherwise, I would have to record all of my music in mono, or sacrifice 4 tracks of 8 to record only 4 instruments in stereo to have .mp3s. I couldn’t use Cubase to master anything recorded with my R8, because of the file conversion problem, and I wouldn’t be able to make other tracks solely with Cubase because of the problem. So, I would just be stuck with a bunch of music I couldn’t use.