A - B Comparison

Special Interest Groups Audio Processing
1

I’m starting to use Audacity to "master CD’s…or should I say I’m trying to learn how to…

I have made small modifications to my originaly recorded audio track…equalization, normalize, reverb etc…
I have a final product that I like…at least I think I like it…

But I’m trying to come up with some way to compare my “A” UN-modified to my “B” modified track…

I don;t see anyway to do this in Audacity…

Googling around has not shown me much except maybe Foobar2000…

I would like some kind of software where I can load up my A and my B and just switch between them more or
less instantly to hear the results of my “mastering technique” compared to my original unaltered audio…

Any suggestions…???

thanks in advance…

BTW I use Audacity 2.1.2 and M-Audio Delta Audiophile card…

2

Import A into Audacity then import B into Audacity - thi sshould give you the two tracks one above the other.

Then use the Solo button in each track’s Track Control Panel at the left of the waveform to solo each track in turn.

WC

3

Man…That’s beautiful…
EXACTLY what I was hoping for…

Many thanks…!!!

4

With the “standard” solo button configuration …
Audacity Preferences showing ''Standard'' toggle button configuration selected.png
you can toggle between two tracks just using the one solo button, so without moving the cursor back & forth …
Toggling between tracks (A-B style).gif
That’s easier than using the “Solo button in each track” : can toggle with eyes closed.

5

No you need the “Simple” setting.

Standard makes it behave like a mixing desk - to complicated for a lot of users (me included).

In 2.1.2 the default setting is Standard - for the upcoming 2.1.3 the default has ben changed to Simple

See the 2.1.2 Manual: Tracks Preferences - Audacity Manual

And the unreleased 2.1.3 alpha Manual: http://alphamanual.audacityteam.org/man/Tracks_Preferences

to compare the upcoming nomenclature changes and default settings.

WC