Hi all,
This post is part question and part suggestion.
First, the background for context:
I import two audio clips (each around 10 min duration, 320KB/s MP3) on individual tracks.
These are then cut up and I’m left with 3 shorter clips (around 25 secs each) at different points on each track.
Then I record some audio onto a third track, approx. 30 seconds worth.
Now the question…
When I save the project (AUP3 format Audacity 3.1.3 64 bit on Win 8), it comes to just under 120MB.
(Even after Audacity has “COMPACTED” the data).
However, if I create a folder and export each of the 3 tracks as 32 bit wavs, it only comes to 10MB.
(Important to uncheck “ignore empty space” when exporting multiple, else the clips won’t line up afterwards).
Why the huge difference?
I can understand a bit of overhead for metadata, project specs, cut-points, etc.
But 12X the size?
I suspect I know what is going on, Audacity is saving audio data (in 32 bit PCM samples) before and after the cut-points.
All good and well, but what if I don’t need it?
Can there not be an option when creating a project, to decide as to whether this extra audio data is kept or not?
If kept, then one can “expand” on the cut-points anytime in the future.
However, there are often times when the extra audio will never be required, so why be forced to keep it?