I’m using Windows XP (since before 2002). I wrote a program that uses .wav files that has been working fine since 2002. I recently decided to normalize all the .wav file (1,122 of them). First tried normalizing (Audacity 2.1.0) on my Mac OS10.12.5 and it all seemed fine. But when I run the program either nothing plays or just some play with no consistency. I tried various formats and nothing worked. So I moved to XP and tried the same thing using Audacity 2.1.3 and had the same problems. I have tried saving in various formats, but nothing works. Since the files are stored in a folder, I can swap out the new files with the original folder and they all work. Any ideas?
I wrote a program that uses .wav files
To do what? What’s the goal?
Koz
What made the original WAV files? Do you have Windows set to show you file extensions?
Koz
Audacity 2.1.3 is the last version for XP. If this XP machine connects to the internet, you are at grave risk of any new ransomware attack that appears in the wild.
Why normalize the files? Be aware it does not make them sound equally loud, only makes the peak volume the same.
You may not have WAV files. You may have M4A or MP3 wrapped in a WAV. Download “MediaInfo” from http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net/en/Download/Windows to see details of the files. Get the MediaInfo version without installer, because the installer may have malware or adware. Show us the MediaInfo text output for a file that has a problem.
If you are normalizing the files in Audacity using Chains, the files to be processed must all be in the same folder. Process the files a few hundred at a time, if you are still having a problem.
Gale
The program is a movie music game. Like I said, it’s been working fine since 2002. I’ve occasionally added new material and done some recompiling, but it always works with the original .wavs I provide. It wasn’t until I did the normalize that I had the problems.
The files are from various sources ( home made - extracted from original source material, downloaded from wav sites, etc.) and the formats are mostly 8 or 16 bit PCM, with a few mpeg layer-3 in there. I wanted to normalize since a great many of the files have a fair amount of clipping which I wanted to get rid of.
I currently import about 100 at a time, do the normalize and then export multiple to a new folder. It all seems to work fine except when I try to play them. 
I provide. It wasn’t until I did the normalize that I had the problems.
The files are from various sources ( home made - extracted from original source material, downloaded from wav sites, etc.) and the formats are mostly 8 or 16 bit PCM, with a few mpeg layer-3 in there. I wanted to normalize
Of course, when you export after normalizing you are creating an entirely new file and it may not be in the same format as the original.
since a great many of the files have a fair amount of clipping which I wanted to get rid of.
Normalizing does NOT fix [u]clipping[/u]. When you normalize or otherwise reduce the volume, the wave shape doesn’t change… If you zoom-in you’ll still see the clipping/distortion. (There is a Clip Fix effect, but it doesn’t always fix the “sound” of the distortion.)
If you have a clipped file and you reduce the volume, Audacity will no longer “show red”, but Audacity isn’t looking at the waveform and Audacity doesn’t “know” what the wave shape is supposed to be.
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Audacity just looks at the levels and it shows red for potential clipping.
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MP3s can go over 0dB without clipping. (However your DAC may clip if you play-back at full-digital volume.) Commercial CDs are often normalized for 0dB peaks. Since MP3 is lossy compression the wave shape changes, some peaks get a little higher and some peaks get a little lower. If you rip a CD to MP3 it will often show clipping in Audacity, but the MP3 isn’t actually clipped. If you buy MP3s from Amazon or AAC files from i’Tunes, these may also go to +1dB or so and may “show clipping” in Audacity.
Again, your DAC will be clipped if the MP3 goes over 0dB and you play at full-volume into the DAC. But, I’ve never heard of a case where that slight-clipping was audible.* But in this case, normalizing will prevent playback-clipping and you may want to do it.
- Audacity itself can go over 0dB without clipping. For example, if you have a normalized file and you boost the bass by +6dB the file will go over 0dB and Audacity will show potential clipping. The data (waveform) is NOT clipped, but if you play it at full volume your DAC will clip and if you save as a “normal” WAV file it will clip. Again in this case, normalizing after boosting the bass (and before exporting) will bring-down the levels and will prevent clipping.
*Audible MP3 compression artifacts are usually not related to clipping.