How can I highlight the audio between two point labels without manually expanding the one label over to the other? I know I can drag the arrow of one over to meet the other (roughly), and thereby select the audio, but I would rather not potentially introduce human error into the equation by not getting the lines matched up exactly–not to mention the annoyance factor of having to zoom way in to make the sure the lines are matched up. Is there a more foolproof way to do this?
If you click and drag on the waveform, there is a weak “snapping” of the selection to label positions. When the selection is exactly lined up with a label, a yellow vertical line appears.
Try this (it looks long and complicated because I’ve written in great detail, but it is actually very quick and easy):
Click (left mouse button) between the two labels on the audio track.
While holding down the left mouse button, drag to the right until the selection is lined up with the right hand label. When the yellow line appears, release the left mouse button.
Mover the mouse pointer close to the left edge of the selection.
Press the Shift key. The mouse pointer turns into a left pointing arrow.
While while holding down the shift key, press the left mouse button. The left edge of the selection is grabbed by the mouse. You can now release the Shift key, but keep the left mouse button pressed.
While holding down the left mouse button, drag the left edge of the selection to the left until the selection is lined up with the left hand label. When the yellow line appears, release the left mouse button.
An easier way is to not make the selection in the label track but in the audio track.
Click in the audio track near the first label (holding the left mouse button down) until the yellow weak-snap line appears on the waveform.
Still holding the left mouse button down drag over to the second label until the yellow weak-snap line appears there.
you will now have audio selected with the yellow weak-snap lines at either end to confirm the exact selection
release the left mouse button - without moving the mouse
accurate selection is made
This is the method I use all the time
WC
Update: ac_tually you can make the selection in the label track too - but you have to be careful to avoid the label tool and only click on the thin black vertical line in the label track at the label position - you still get the two yellow weak-snap lines._
Why does moving point labels cause them to lose their snapping function? The only solution I found was to delete the label and replace it with another to regain its snap-to ability.
Are you referring to the yellow boundary snap guide (vertical line)? You could fail to snap the selection to the label if you have turned Snap-To on in Selection Toolbar at the bottom of Audacity.
If you update to 2.1.0 from Audacity download latest version the Snap To is a dropdown menu that is harder to turn on by accident.
