Выделение фрагмента клавишами и информация о нём

Занимаюсь диктофонными аудиозаписями в формате .M4A и работа с Audacity, (который понимает этот формат) неудобна.
Просто отметить нужный эпизод затруднительна: я помечаю начало выделения мышью и прослушиваю дальше в поисках окончания. В это время начало теряется. Приходится на бумажке записывать начало эпизода. Неужели нельзя делать отметку начала эпизода клавишей и потом двигать её влево-вправо для более точного позиционирования? И тоже самое для конца эпизода и чтобы при этом не слетала первая метка?! Например, клавишами “[” и “]” ? В описании вроде бы они фигурируют, но не работают.
Только использовать “трек меток”? Подскажите, как лучше и удобнее организовать этот процесс?
И второй вопрос - неужели в такой навороченной программе нельзя посмотреть простейшие характеристики трека / выделения - статистику, максимальный уровень, RMS, как сделано в других редакторах, в том же Cool Edit ?

======== Translation by Google =========
Selecting a fragment with keys and information about it

I am making dictaphone audio recordings in .M4A format and working with Audacity (which understands this format) is inconvenient.
Simply marking the desired episode is difficult: I mark the beginning of the selection with the mouse and listen further in search of the end. At this time, the beginning is lost. You have to write down the beginning of the episode on a piece of paper. Is it really impossible to mark the beginning of the episode with a key and then move it left and right for more accurate positioning? And the same for the end of the episode and so that the first mark does not fly off?! For example, the keys “[” and “]” ? They appear in the description, but they don’t work.
Only use “track cues”? What is the best and most convenient way to organize this process?
And the second question - is it really impossible to see the simplest characteristics of a track / selection in such a fancy program - statistics, maximum level, RMS, as done in other editors, in the same Cool Edit?

There are several alternatives that you could try:

Method 1:
Create a “split” at the start position (“Ctrl + i”)
(See: Edit Menu: Audio Clips - Audacity Manual)

Method 2:
Add a “label” at the start position (“Ctrl + B” then “Enter”)
(See: Label Tracks - Audacity Manual)

Method 3:
Start playback from the start position. When the “end” position is reached, while the audio is still playing, press “]”.
(See: Select Menu: Region - Audacity Manual)

Method 4:
Zoom out (Zooming Overview - Audacity Manual).
Make an approximate selection by eye.
Zoom in on one end of the selection and adjust it more precisely with “Shift + Click and drag”.
Zoom in on the other end of the selection and adjust as necessary.


The quickest way to find the peak level of a selection is to open the “Amplify” effect. The default “Amplification (dB)” amount is the required amplification to bring the selection to 0 dB. Thus, if the Amplify effect says “3.5 dB”, then you know that the current level is “-3.5 dB”. Cancel the effect after you have looked.

A quick way to find the RMS level of a selection is with the “Contrast” tools. See: Contrast - Audacity Manual

There is also an optional plug-in called “Wavestats”, available here: Wavestats.ny plug-in
Unfortunately this is only available in English, but it could be modified to support other languages. “Wave Stats” shows a lot of information about the selected audio:

Thank you, Steve, for the detailed answer. I will explore the options that you have suggested.