expand single track to 2 track

[GooRoo]

Audacity 2.0.6 with current LAME and FFMPEG on Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit.

Is it possible to export as 2 track what is input as 1 track? Essentially, just copy the left (or right) track as synchronized right (or left) track so that both speakers of a stereo system provide sound.

I suppose that it may involve copying the original file slightly renamed, inverting one, then doing a merge. I can certainly try that the next time I come across a 1-track recording … but I am hoping for a simpler solution that involves one step, as an “Effect” plug-in.

[steve]

@GooRoo

Is it possible to export as 2 track what is input as 1 track? Essentially, just copy the left (or right) track as synchronized right (or left) track so that both speakers of a stereo system provide sound.

A 1 track (mono) recording will play through both left and right speakers.

I assume that you have a file that only plays through the left (or right) speaker?
If so, and assuming that your equipment is working correctly, then the file in question must be a 2 channel file with sound in one channel and silence in the other.
It should be very easy to see if this is the case. When opened in Audacity there will be a wiggly waveform in one channel and a flat line in the other, like this (below). Is that what you have?

[GooRoo]

@steve

@GooRoo

Is it possible to export as 2 track what is input as 1 track? Essentially, just copy the left (or right) track as synchronized right (or left) track so that both speakers of a stereo system provide sound.

A 1 track (mono) recording will play through both left and right speakers.

I assume that you have a file that only plays through the left (or right) speaker?
If so, and assuming that your equipment is working correctly, then the file in question must be a 2 channel file with sound in one channel and silence in the other.
It should be very easy to see if this is the case. When opened in Audacity there will be a wiggly waveform in one channel and a flat line in the other, like this (below). Is that what you have?

Precisely! And I want equal representation left and right.

[steve]

In that case, split the track into (two) mono tracks using the track drop-down menu (http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/track_drop_down_menu.html).
Then delete the silent track by clicking on the [X] in the top left corner of the track.

[kozikowski]

And if you’re completely obsessive, Duplicate the one remaining track (Control-D?) and using the dropdown menu on the left > Make Stereo Track.

But one Mono track should play to both speakers as well as a fully-formed Stereo track.

Koz

[steve]

@kozikowski

But one Mono track should play to both speakers

Not “should”. A single mono track will always play through both speakers (so long as the playback equipment isn’t broken).