Audacity Forum

I'm interested in removing a section from the middle of a recorded song. I've managed to convert the song successfully so that it plays properly, but how do I ensure that I stop the cursor (or place the "edit line") in the correct spot? Is there a feature that allows you to move the cursor back and forth over a section while you can HEAR the sound (rather than just look at the signal) to make sure your edit points are in exactly the right spot?

I haven't found a way to start playing anywhere but at the very beginning of the song, or to resume playing from where you paused it. If you're working trying to edit music, it would seem to be essential that you can use your ears to decide when to place the edit and not have to guess visually.

Can Audacity provide the ability to listen to where you're editing?


Tom Hathaway

thathaway3 wrote: Is there a feature that allows you to move the cursor back and forth over a section while you can HEAR the sound (rather than just look at the signal) to make sure your edit points are in exactly the right spot?

No, what you are asking for is known as "scrubbing" and this is not an available feature in Audacity. It is a commonly requested feature request.
You can get more accuracy in your selection of audio clips by zooming in (use the magnifying glass icon - or there are k/b shortcuts available)

thathaway3 wrote:I
I haven't found a way to start playing anywhere but at the very beginning of the song, or to resume playing from where you paused it.

You can place your cursor anywhere in the wave form and click to select the cursor position - Audacity will then play from your cursor position. Or if you have a portion of Audio selected then pressing play will play just the selected audio. You will find that zooming out will help with this

thathaway3 wrote: Can Audacity provide the ability to listen to where you're editing?

I assume you mean playing the selected section, as above.

WC

Here's more on selecting.

http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... ting_Audio

Nobody uses the play and stop buttons. The spacebar will stop and start playback.

Zoom In with Control-E. Zoom back out with Control-F. Control-3 will zoom out a little bit.

Place Labels at your edit points with Control-B. From then on, the Labels become sticky so you can select an exact segment of music perfectly.

I know. I want it to scrub, too. All my video editors do that.

There's one other thing that drives me crazy. I turn off "Scroll Display While Playing." If that preference is on, the timeline and blue waves will flip back and forth as the cursor gets to the left or right edge of the frame. Edit > Preferences. Sometimes it's called Update Display While Playing. The name changes.

Koz

Thanks very much for the replies. While not what I'd have liked to hear, it's very helpful advice and I should be able to get what I need.

Thanks again!

Tom Hathaway.

Have a look at this post: http://audacityteam.org/forum/viewtopic ... 505#p42614
It applies to Audacity 1.3 and I would recommend upgrading to the latest 1.3 version.

Other handy shortcuts from the same thread http://audacityteam.org/forum/viewtopic ... 505#p42649

I had actually read much of that post, and wondered about 1.3. I think that with all these tips I've got enough to try things out for a while. Just gotta be smarter than the keyboard.

Tom