Okay, so let me back it up and give you the missing info…
I have over 500 images (varying quality and sizes) that all have the same transition effect applied (fade in/out) with 33 songs that fade in/out throughout the 17 sections.
Below export settings are below (hope this goes through)

Sounds like I’d do well with the CBR=8 (I did trying this at some point, but the quality wasn’t great).
I think I might try to do the audio & video as separate exports (as I’d seen in one of the tutorials) next — see if that could fix the gaps (’cause my last attempt did not).
What else might you need to help troubleshoot?
(and THANK YOU again) : )