You can also download the free Wave editor from NCH called Wavepad and use it.

http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/index.html

I have this editor and love it. I export all my songs as waves and open them in Wavepad. There, I trim the silence and count in, as well as convert it to MP3. It has all the major bit rates topping out at 320kbs on down.

I reduce from 320kbs only if the file is too large for the server I plan to upload it to. I often use box.com when the file won't fit into the other server I use that has a 10mb file limit.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.