Questions about using custom mp3's vs unity's automatic wav to mp3 compression

How do I use my own custom mp3 files for an iphone app rather than unity’s wav to mp3 automatic conversion system. I have voice audio custom converted to mp3’s with adobe audition. If I load them into unity is unity going to try and compress them again?

What inspector settings would I use in this situation?

Also how do I make these mono files play in stereo? (by unchecking 3d sound?)

Unity does not compress mp3 files.

I came across this recently when I noticed my sound files weren’t compressed in build. Unity shows a compression slider setting in the Import Settings for an mp3, but adjusting this value has no affect. It also gives you an estimated new files size, which is miss-leading because it WONT actually change the bit rate or file size when you build the project. I’m not sure if this is a bug in compression or a mistake in Unity’s editor in showing the compression setting for an mp3.

If you have .wav versions of the files I recommend sticking with them because it gives you flexibility to change the compression at any time in Unity. If you only have mp3s you need to use an external program to change the bit rate.

3D sound means that it’s volume will be adjusted depending on how close an audio listener is to the sound in your scene. You probably want this on for environment sounds, so they sound quieter when further away, but off for music and UI sounds.