I am using Audacity 2.1.1 on Windows 10. I am doing a project for a client that requires the following specifications:
Sampling frequency = 8 kHz
Dual monaural in stereo WAV file
16-bit PCM uncompressed
I will first describe what I have done and then pleaser let me know what I am missing if that’s alright
So I loaded the original file (mp3 format) and then duplicate the file. From the file drop down, I selected the first file to left channel and the second file to right channel. Then I go back to the first files drop down and chose “make stereo track”. Toward the bottom left, I changed the project rate to 8000 HZ. Then when I save the file, I chose “other uncompressed” files and click on options to save as it "WAV (Microsoft) 16-bit PCM and then save. However, I am told that the file channels are not separated and could be heard from both speakers. The goal here is to have each channel isolated to one channel each. How can I accomplish this? I looked around briefly but could not see anything that relates to my response.
Is the original MP3 file mono or stereo? Is there only one file, or two mono files?
Dual monaural in stereo WAV file
I’m not sure I understand what that means… Do they want the same thing on the left & right? (That’s how “mono” audio CDs are made, since the CD format is always 2-channel stereo.)
Or do they want two different mono files saved as stereo, such as English language on the left and French on the right?
However, I am told that the file channels are not separated and could be heard from both speakers.
If both channels are the same, how would they know? If the channels are different, you can check that yourself.
I loaded the original file (mp3 format) and then duplicate the file.
OK. Stop. Was it Mono? One line of blue waves when you opened it?
I’m not clear on the specifications, either. It appears at first pass they want a stereo show with exactly the same thing on both sides. But that’s what they complained about.
Goals are good: “I want to make a stereo show with different languages on Left and Right.” Don’t just give us the steps in the middle that failed.
Hey, thanks for the quick response! My apologies for not being more clear. I should know better!
Is the original MP3 file mono or stereo? Is there only one file, or two mono files?
The original file is an mp3. It was only one file which I duplicated so eventually, I had two mono files after duplication.
I’m not sure I understand what that means… Do they want the same thing on the left & right? (That’s how “mono” audio CDs are made, since the CD format is always 2-channel stereo.)
This is what I thought at first, that it didn’t make sense. However, they explained that while the audio files matched the specifications, there were no channel separation as both speakers were present on both channels and they need the speakers isolated to one channel each. FYI, this is even though I took two separate mono files and made one left channel and the other for right channel and merged as Stereo track.
Or do they want two different mono files saved as stereo, such as English language on the left and French on the right?
Yes, precisely! They want two different mono files as stereo on separate channels. Exactly what you described!
Mods: My responses have not yet been approved and I am unable to wait so please excuse
I have got some additional information. So I was sent a test file and I could hear it from separate speakers within my computer. In order words, I was able to hear what they said coming from only the left speakers first and then it came only from the right speakers. I loaded it into Audacity and it looked similar to what I have been doing except, both tracks had totally different wave lines, though they were the same tracks. Does this make sense?
They want two different mono files as stereo on separate channels.
We progress.
So they supplied you with the English language performance first and the French language performance. I’m afraid I know where this is going.
They’re separate, right? English first on the mono MP3 sound file followed by the French performance. Say five minutes of each?
Describe exactly what it sounds like when you open the supplied MP3. One line of blue waves, right?
Attached is a mono show. Click to see the whole thing.
Let me leap ahead. They supplied you with a mono MP3 containing English and French mixed together. They want you to split the languages into a stereo show.
I think you hit it perfectly! They did say that if the waves looked the same in Audacity, then they were not separated. Here’s a screen shot of what the test call looks like:
Additionally, I have included a test call to illustrate what it would sound like. However, I will have to remove after you’ve listed, but I think it will help tremendously.
So to walk you through the process. I will be sent an audio file, may be .mp3,.wav.stereo but typically .mp3 and I need to convert it into the format I mentioned in my first post.I think I already know how to create the two mono file and make a stereo track. I also know how to set the sample rate etc. What’s killing me is how to separate the tracks so they are on different speakers as in the test call I attached as I don’t have a lot of experience with audacity.
Thanks once again for your help on this guys, truly appreciated!
So use File > Import > Audio… , select both files and “Open”. On the upper track, click the track name to left of the blue waves and choose “Make Stereo Track”.
Thanks for your response However, as mentioned above, I have performed several steps including the one you mentioned and that does not separate the channels where they are heard on separate speakers. See audio file I loaded.
I read through the posting again. The client supplied you with a sound file that contains the French and English dialog at the same time. Then they sent you a clean sample sound file that represents the stereo goal. That’s the one you shared with us, and that goal makes perfect sense.
Given they’re both talking at the same time, there are no tools to split a single mixed performance into two separate ones.
Thank you so much for confirming. I did realize that it was not possible in audacity. However, I was able to accomplish this by silencing the audio on both recordings, thus, separating the channels. It worked perfectly!
Basically, what I did was drag the slider for left channel on the first track all the way to the left and then drag the slider on the second audio all the way to the right. Then I silenced the audio from both tracks which has the representative on the call on the left speaker and the customer on the right speaker. This worked great!
Hopefully, this will help someone with this issue going forward.
