Hi everyone,
I’m a new user of Audacity. I use DSS/DS2 and WAV sound files and I want to be able to delete the first 3 seconds of each file before I use them. How can I do this?
Further, I want to be able to save them as they were originally, i.e. as WAV or DSS/DS2 files. If not possible at least MP3?
Does anyone know a solution to this? I may need the step-by-step idiot’s guide, being new and all!
Many thanks in advance,
Pootle
Saving an audio file for your computer is called “exporting” in Audacity. The Export command is in the File menu.
Audacity does not import or export DSS or DS2, but it can import WAV. Try Switch to convert DSS or DS2 to WAV: http://www.nch.com.au/switch/index.html. Switch cannot convert back to DSS/DS2 because DSS/DS2 are patented formats.
DS2 files are sometimes encrypted and if so, cannot be converted unless your recorder can save them as WAV. You can still play such a file on the recorder, then record it into Audacity, by connecting the recorder’s headphones or audio out to the computer’s audio input. If the computer has a blue line-in, try that instead of the microphone input.
Exporting as MP3 will degrade the quality of the files somewhat because MP3 is lossy. To export as MP3 you must add LAME to your computer, following these instructions: http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/faq_installation_and_plug_ins.html#lame.
To delete audio, drag-select it with your mouse then press Delete on your computer keyboard.
You can also try the Trim Silence or Trim / Extend Nyquist Plugins. These effects could be run in a Chain (batch process). See Chains - for batch processing and effects automation.
To install Nyquist plugins, please see http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Download_Nyquist_Plug-ins#install.
Gale
Hi Gale,
Thanks ever so much, I will give it a try. I balked a little bit at the price of WavePad (NCH) just for what I need it for doesn’t really justify it, but I have a licence for Switch so that’s useful to get the instruction 
Best wishes,
Pootle
If you have DSS Player Pro, you should be able to convert your DSS/DS2 files directly to WAV format with the DSS Player Pro.
(It seems that DSS Player Pro has now been discontinued by Olympus)
Fortunately the free version of Switch does support conversion from DSS and unencrypted DS2 (on Windows) so there is always that fallback.
Gale