Simply opening and saving a WAV file creates different CRC32 value for the file, indicating that content was altered.
Is this correct, does one have to change some export settings - as Audacity 2.1.1 maybe does not use the same settings as during import/open - thus altering the file, and possibly also changing sound quality…?
Opening and Exporting (Audacity will not Save a sound file) may add dithering signals. So no, they’re not the same. This regularly burns scientists hoping for free scientific and research tools. Audacity is an audio production editor not a WAV editor.
You can turn off dithering in preferences. Audacity > Edit > Preferences > Quality. That can be dangerous because Audacity works internally at 32-floating bit depth and converts both in and out. Without dithering, the output signal may have audible conversion errors.
Koz
Thanks.
Do you know of any tools that would simply compress WAV to FLAC with no changes to the sound?
Also looking for a way to cut a WAV file without making changes to the non-cut contents?
Jan
If you only want to convert WAV to FLAC, try Foobar 2000 (it’s free, and is also an excellent lightweight audio player).
If you are wanting to edit / process the sound before converting to FLAC, don’t worry about the difference, it is too small to worry about, and if any type of processing of the audio is performed it is actually beneficial (it reduces harmonic distortion and extends the usable dynamic range).
(it reduces harmonic distortion and extends the usable dynamic range).
It sounds better.
See: Audacity is an Audio Production editor.
Koz
Do you know of any tools that would simply compress WAV to FLAC with no changes to the sound?
[u]TAudioConverter[/u]. Once it’s set up it’s just drag-and-drop so it’s easier than using an audio editor.
Also looking for a way to cut a WAV file without making changes to the non-cut contents?
With dither disabled, the untouched part of the audio should remain untouched and the conversion between 16-bit or 24-bit and 32-bits (and back) is lossless.
(I wouldn’t normally expect this, but you can get a CRC difference if something in the header or something else that doesn’t affect the audio data is changed.)