PLAY START on MPC versus opening MP3

Hello,

I like to adjust the levels and panning of each track, add some effects, put together a few sequences in SONG MODE and press PLAY START on the MPC to enjoy what I have created. If I want to turn what I hear into an MP3, I do the following:

FILE>EXPORT>AS AUDIO MIX DOWN
Render option: Stereo output / Out 1,2
File format: mp3
Bit depth: 16
Sample rate: 44.1 kHz

Now, how come when I open that MP3, it just does not sound the same as when I play the 'song' right from MPC? Are my settings wrong? Is this just the way it is? Does anyone else notice this? To someone who is not listening for it, they may not notice, but for people like us, there is definitely a difference between the MP3 version of my songs and playing them directly from the MPC. Also, I have the MP3 playing out the laptop which is hooked up to the same monitors as the MPC.

Am I doing something wrong?

I appreciate the feedback.

MP3 is a compressed lower quality file format. It is lossy to if i remember correctly. ie MP3 is not good quality for anything but the net. It is not a file format I would use for your Ren output. Try wave for better quality. Also you have to consider what happens to commercial music when it is mastered, if you are comparing to commercial music that is.

I should try audio mix down as a WAV instead and see how that sounds. Thank you.

I am not comparing to mastered commercial music, I can just tell the same song that I 'export' into an mp3 does not sound the same as when I play it from the MPC hardware.