Wish I saw Gale’s warning FIRST. A friend has been recording me using Audacity (on Windows? comp). I downloaded au. files to drive/transferred them to my MacMini OS X10.8.5 planning to listen to them (this should give you some idea of how sophisticated I am in these matters 
I figured that I needed to convert them to mp3-listen on computer and in car…figured I could use Audacity down the road and convert files as well…
I downloaded Aud 2.05 dmg(!). That actually appeared to go swimmingly: Audacity and its various components are settled into my Applications folder and I haven’t touched them. My first problem comes in that when I “play” the files they track (proceed for the duration but no sound (?) {Windows an issue?!}).
Next I downloaded Lame (.dmg) but can’t for the life of me figure out WHERE it went on my computer—on my Macs of old (and according to the Aud info) I expected that I would be able to save the downloaded files but that seems to be taken care of automatically…The Audacity program itself worked out since it’s simply in Applications. I initially downloaded Lame.dmg (a couple of times after I couldn’t locate it) but struggled to find it or indeed even follow the hierarchy that described its location “/usr/local/lib…” ?!? in the Aud dialogue box.
Once again I was confused that I didn’t have the option to save it to…At that point, I read up and figured I’d be better off w/ the zip version (still talkin Lame here). I downloaded and was once more dismayed that I wasn’t given the option to save to… BUT I WAS able to follow THAT path: unfortunately when I went from Library to Application Support-there was no sign of Audacity listed among the other apps. Consequently I’m unable to import/convert the .au files…
Don’t know if this is clear enough for anyone to offer any guidance but if possible it would be much apppreciated.
Befuddled,
Kevin
Please see here for how to transfer projects between computers: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Sending_your_work_to_others . You need the AUP file and the complete _data folder. The AUP file will open the AU files in the correct order.
If there were any imported WAV or AIFF files in the Windows project, they must be copied in before you transfer the project to Mac.
If the project was just one track, then you could simply export the recording from Audacity on Windows as a WAV. You lose some information specific to Audacity projects such as labels or envelope points. Then import the WAV into Audacity on Mac.
To make sure you have sound in Audacity 2.0.5 on Mac, Generate > Tone. Play the tone. If you cannot hear the tone, set the output device in Device Toolbar to the correct device.
Mac hides system files from the user just like Windows does, so you won’t be able to see /usr/local/lib in the Mac Finder unless you set it show hidden files and folders. See here for how to do that: http://www.mikesel.info/show-hidden-files-mac-os-x-10-7-lion/ . Alternatively you can navigate to a hidden folder by using Go > Go to Folder in Finder.
LAME is only for exporting as MP3. You don’t need LAME to open Audacity projects (AUP). To check if Audacity can see LAME, open Audacity > Preferences, choose “Libraries” on the left then look if it gives you LAME numbers opposite “MP3 Library Version”.
You can always export WAV files from Audacity and convert them to MP3 in iTunes, which already has its own MP3 encoder built in. See here: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Exporting_your_Audacity_Project_into_iTunes_and_iPod#convert .
Gale
Hello all
I am an iMac user with OSX 10.9.2 and have a pile of really great tapes that I want in my iTunes library. I am having issues along the same lines as Gale but determination will get me there I hope. Anyway I have reached the check for sound "Generate>Tone. But no tone and having found the Device toolbar it gives me no options to select the correct device.
Can someone point me in the right direction please? I know it will be simple but thats too complicated for me at the moment 
)
Please see Installation: Do NOT run Audacity from the DMG!!! . Make sure you get Audacity 2.0.5 from http://audacityteam.org/download/mac .
Why are you generating a tone?
If you have a USB cassette player, try following our Manual: http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/recording_with_usb_turntables.html . Get the USB device recognised by Mac so that you can see it in System Preferences > Sound. Play a tape and make sure the blue “Input level” meter in “Sound” bounces left and right.
Then if Audacity is already running, either restart it or use Transport > Rescan Audio Devices from the top of the Audacity window. Audacity can’t see a USB device if you plug it in after launching Audacity.
Please give the make and model number of the USB player (or whatever it is) if you need help.
Gale