A newbie asks why labels in my Audacity Project are not exporting (using Export command) to a .wav file.
The labels do reappear when the project is reopened. I assume I’m doing something wrong.
I’m using beta version 1.3.12 on a windows 7 laptop and capturing 33 1/3 rpm LPs.
Help… pls.
russg
I’m not sure if I understand what you’re trying to achieve… but labels are audacity specific, they only appear on audacity projects.
When you export to other audio formats, such as WAV, you’re only exporting the audio. WAV file cannot handle audacity labels.
See here for a typical use of labels: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Splitting_recordings_into_separate_tracks
You are using Export Multiple and not just the straight Export function??
WC
I was using Export not Export Multiple to move from “Project” to .wav files.
Labels were put in the “Project” as it was being recorded because I was listening for the gaps between songs on the LP.
The labels were planned to be used to facilitate “Export Multiple” as the last step of my process.
Plan was to “Export” to .wav files which would be edited to remove clicks, noise etc.
Once edited the files would be "Save"d AND "Export Multiple"d to an MP3 file on its way to an IPod.
So, am I right - the Labels have to be put in the .wav file as a part of the editing process to have them available for an “Export Multiple” step?
Or should the editing be done on the “Project” files while the labels are still available?
Suggestion: Tips on how to transfer LPs to digital would be better if it were clear which files were involved in each step of a process: .aup or .wav or .mp3 etc.
Thank you for your help.
russg
Ok I’m a little clearer on what you’re trying to do now 
Note that the label track and the labels are part of the Audacity project and are NOT part of a WAV file (In general WAV files do not carry metadata). In Export Multiple the labels are used to create the name of each WAV file.
I don’t’ use Audacity to remove clicks and pops - I prefer to use a piece of s/w called ClickRepair (it costs a little but is well worth the outlay IMHO). See this sticky thread: https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/click-pop-removal-clickrepair-software/1933/1
My outline workflow is:
- Record one side of an LP (aiming for a max level of c. -6.0 dB)
- I either mark the approximate track/song starts as I am recording by placing labels (CTRL+B will mark the current cursor position or CTRL+M will mark the current record/playback position). Or after the recording I zoom to fit the entire project and then I can usually visually spot the track/song start points and label them approximately.
- Export a single WAV file of the project
- Process the WAV file through ClickRepair
- Import the repaired WAV file back into the still open Audacity project
- Delete the originally recorded track in the project - this leaves the label track and the cleaned up audio (still in synch.)
- Edit the inter-track gaps: fade-out/proper silence/fade-in and possibly shorten the gap to clean off the LP surface noise
- Adjust labels to exact positioning
- Use the Amplify effect to bring the level up to -2.0 dB (0 dB can clip/distort in some players). I use Amplify versus Normalize as in Audacity Normalize works on each stereo channel separately and thus can alter/damage the stereo image.
- Export Multiple to create a set of WAV files (at 44.1kHz 16-bit PCM stereo)
- Exit Audacity
- Repeat for side-2 of the LP
- Back-up the set of WAV files (2 copies to 2 external USB disks)
Note that nowhere in this process do I bother to actually save an Audacity project. Also note that stages 2 and 3 give me temporary “backups” of the whole project that I can revert to if necessary. The only time I save the project is if I have to leave it part way through overnight.
WC
Like I said before, labels can’t be saved into a .wav file.
If you want to do clicks removal and other effects in other app, the best you can do to achieve what you want is to export your show to a .wav file. Open the wav in the other app. Apply the effect you want. Save it. Import the processed wav into your audacity project where you have the labels saved. If you didn’t change the length of the show you should still have the labels on the same places and can then use export multiple.
(and while I wrote this, wc wrote about the same too but in more detail, read his post for a more detailed workflow)
@russg: are you referring here to tips that are given in the forum threads - or the tutorials that are in the Audacity Wiki and the Manual?
Thanks,
WC
My main reference so far has been the
“Sample workflow for LP digitization” From Audacity Manual and it has been very helpful.
However, I’m not sure whether editing is being done in .aup files or .wav files. Based on answers you have kindly provided I’m thinking all editing is done on .aup files.
Right? Wrong?
As a new question, I don’t know how to use references to db levels. And where to set them in various effects.
Can you steer me to a link which explains same?
thank you
russg
Thanks for the clarification russg, that particular tutorial is one of my editorial responsibilities so I’ll take a further look at it when I get some time.
But yes, all recording and editing in Audacity is done in Audacity Projects. An Audacity project is a complex file strure, the aup is the top level file which is a bit like a set od directions to tell Audacity where to find the bits of the project and how to thread them together - there is also an associated folder for the project (store at the same level as the aup file) which contains lots and lots of litlle au files. The au files contain little snippets of sound from the project (and a couple of them manage the grahic wave display). You may also have references to external files if say you have imported an external WAV file to work on. This project structure was designed by the developers for speed of processing (digital audio is a very resource-hungry process).
WAV files are only produced on exprt, usually the final production step. Though you may create the occasional WAV file as an interim step for backup/processing (as per my workflow above).
So this means that Audacity is not a WAV or MP3 editor - rather it can import audio files in a format, on doing so it converts it to its own internal project structure. And then you can later export to the required format.
One thing to not carefully about import is taht Audacity has a somewhat dangerous default setting for the import of uncompressed files (like WAVs) whereby for the sake of speed the files are not actually but imported but an external reference (and thus a dependence) is made to the external file. So I urge you strongly to go to Edit > Preferences and select the Import/Export tab and select the option in the "When importing audio files" box that says “Make copy of uncompressed audio files before editing (safer)”
WC
If you mean with the Amplify and Normalize effects, then there are controls in tha dialog boxes for those effects that let you manage the dB level.
See: http://manual.audacityteam.org/index.php?title=Amplify
and: http://manual.audacityteam.org/index.php?title=Normalize
WC
BTW when starting a new question it is much better if you start a whole new thread for it - otherwise a thread can get somewhat confusing
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