Have you set the default sample rate in Audacity Preferences? (Edit menu > Preferences > Quality)
I did now. At first all I saw was the Mouse Properties but then I saw the arrows. I set the defaults to 44100Hz and 16-bit. And I set File Formats to Wav (Microsoft 16-bit PCM) and the Bit Rate is at 128. The FFT size is 250. Maybe now I won’t have to buy the other program. That will save a few steps, (and dollars). Thanks for the tip. I’ll start working on it and see if I can straighten things out.
John B.
EDIT I can change a .wav to 16 bit only after I go through the .aup file. Not so with a mp3 version.
I just discovered that WAV MP3 Converter does not allow the option of making your own frequency. I can’t 41Khz and must decide between 44Khz and 32Khz.
John B.
Lame will automatically adjust the sample rate to the optimum according to the bit rate that you set.
If you use a low bit rate (kbps) the available frequency bandwidth of the audio goes down and the encoder can compress the data more efficiently (better sound quality for given file size) if it downsamples the audio to a lower sample rate.
MP3s don’t work with “sample rates” directly, it is a “bit stream” that is designed to carry the maximum amount of audio data at a specified bit rate. Sound quality of MP3s can be improved (at the expense of file size) by increasing the bit rate. Conversely, file size can be reduced (at the expense of sound quality) by reducing the bit rate. It is generally considered that 128kbps is the lowest acceptable bit rate for reasonable quality stereo music.
“VBR” (Variable Bit rate) MP3s will usually give better sound quality than “CBR” (Constant Bit Rate) because the encoder can dynamically adjust the number of bits allocated to a particular section of the audio depending on the complexity of the sound - It can use more bits for complex sound (where it will have most benefit) and less bits on simple sounds (where less bits are needed). The disadvantage of VBR is that it is a little less compatible with MP3 players than CBR - modern MP3 players should be able to play VBR, but they may display the track length incorrectly.
If I’m just Exporting the odd file from Audacity and want it in MP3 I’ll usually just use the MP3 Export option in Audacity (In Audacity 1.3 you can set the MP3 options by clicking on the Options button in the Export dialogue screen - no need to dig around in Preferences any more). If I’ve got a load of files to convert, I’ll use a program called “LamedropXPd”. It’s free and available here: http://www.rarewares.org/mp3-lamedrop.php Very easy to use - just right click on the program and select your options, then drag and drop the WAV files onto it. It can also decode MP3 files to WAV (though you don’t regain the sound quality that is lost through the MP3 compression).
196kbps VBR will give pretty good sound quality for stereo music.
That’s saying a lot. I found in other programs that the main hz is 44100. I can only manually input my own hz in Audacity but It won’t stick so I’ll live with it. I’ll go with 16-bit as well. I’m just a little confused about 196kbps vs 16-bit.
I like Audacity’s format and I need it to capture audio off the web but I might get a second program to make changes if necessary.
Thanks again for all your help,
John B.
Your “41100” "manual "sample rate to correct the speedy 44100Hz original is -8%. This is same as the slowdown from 48000 to 44100. To make your slowdown “stick” resample your 44100Hz to 48000Hz, (resample is on the “Tracks” menu in Audacity). Then play back this 48000Hz at 44100Hz, it will slow down by the required 8% and it will be in the standard 44100Hz format rather than your bespoke “41100”.
It looks like your 8% speed up is due to an unintentional conversion between 44100 and 48000,
44100/48000 = 0.918, “41100”/44100 = 0.932, the ratios are virtually the same, (you have a good ear for pitch).
16/24/32bit are bit depths,
192/224/256 Kbs (kilo bits per second) are encoding bitrates.
22050/44100/48000Hz are sampling rates.
These are all seperate parameters.
From WAV MP3 Conversion I learned that MP’'s will not play 41100hz. I’ll go through Audacity and make sure all the changes are made to 16-bit and 44100Hz. I’ll make Audacity work because I’m finding my favorite songs from the 60’s and 70’s and so on. I’ve come along way from trying to get dvd-audio. I really learned a lot and it helps make listening better.
Thanks,
John B.
I downloaded a couple of songs tonight after making sure the settings were correct. They are at 44100Hz and 16-bit. So far so good. Nothing like knowing what you’re doing.
Thanks all,
John B.
EDIT I changed all my .WAV and MP3 songs in My Music to 44100Hz and 16-bit. The Bit Rate for the MP3’s is 192kbps and 0-bits. The .WAV’s are 1411kbps and 16-bits. It is best if I go to File/Save Project As and get a .AUP then make the .WAV’s and MP3’s. Can I delete the data files?
John B.
11:49 PM
John,
yes once you’ve got your WAVs and MP3s, and backed them up, you can delete the project files (the .aup and the associated folder tha contains all the .au files - odd that there is no Delete Project in Audacity) - in fact you should delete them otherwise they will eat your disk space
In fact you don’t really need to save Audacity projects at all - just go capture=>Edit=>Export (you may want to Export a safety copy WAV after capture - and maybe also at key points in the edit). I am currently working on my wife’s singles and these are going straight to WAV with no Audacity Project in sight (apart from the temp project that Audacity uses as its workfiles - deleted automatically on graceful exit from Audacity).
The only need to Save Projects ereally is if you are working with mult-track projects - you most likely only ever have a single stero-pair track in you projects for LP conversion.
WC
As WC says, but just to stress, once you delete the data folder the Audacity Project is gone forever (so check that the Exported files are right before you zap the project).
WC,
I checked and my .WAV files are 5.94GB, MP3’s are 215MB, .AUP are 61.2MB and DATA are 2.05GB. I have a 250GB external hard drive that I can copy files to and delete the DATA, .AUP and .WAV files from my 80GB main hard drive. I also have a 250GB internal hard drive that I haven’t got hooked up yet. I bought the extra hard drives with music and photos in mind. I think I’m on the right track now and I won’t have to buy another conversion software.
John B.