I'm using audacity to record streaming audio.

I want to record 128-bit mp3 streaming audio and save it bit for bit.

If I save it as a wav and then export to 128 bit mp3 will I be loosing data form the original recoding?

Should I just export the saved wav (or will it be greatly expanded from the original recorded mp3?)

Thanks,
Drew

You need a stream ripper to capture the stream as-is.
What you're doing now is basically transcoding.

Excellent for that purpose:
http://streamripper.sourceforge.net/