Too Many Of The Options Are Not Usable

[jek1862]

I am brand new to sound editing. I chose Audacity since it is free and highly recommended. I don't care about recording, all I want to do is add effects to the music files I play. Well, I have been going NUTS trying to get Audacity to work!! I have downloaded three different versions, including the new beta, your official site at sourceforge and still won't work right. What is happening is that MANY of the options under the various headings, File, Edit, Effects, Analyze, etc. are lightened out, they are not in bold type and therefore unusable. For example, under 'Effects' NONE of the options are in bold type! So I can't use any of them there. Under the other various headings, some are in bold type, but at least 75% of the options are not and therefore unusable. What is going on?? I am using Vista Ultimate. Please help as I really want to use Audacity, and there's got to be a reason for this. I have skimmed the various posts in this section but haven't come across anything exactly like this. Thanks!

[whomper]

I am brand new to sound editing. I chose Audacity since it is free and highly recommended. I don't care about recording, all I want to do is add effects to the music files I play. Well, I have been going NUTS trying to get Audacity to work!! I have downloaded three different versions, including the new beta, your official site at sourceforge and still won't work right. What is happening is that MANY of the options under the various headings, File, Edit, Effects, Analyze, etc. are lightened out, they are not in bold type and therefore unusable. For example, under 'Effects' NONE of the options are in bold type! So I can't use any of them there. Under the other various headings, some are in bold type, but at least 75% of the options are not and therefore unusable. What is going on?? I am using Vista Ultimate. Please help as I really want to use Audacity, and there's got to be a reason for this. I have skimmed the various posts in this section but haven't come across anything exactly like this. Thanks!

did you open a wav file first?
or pause one?
they wont show when you cant use them

[steve]

For effects to be available you must have some audio selected and Audacity must be in "STOP" mode (not playing, recording or paused).
Audacity 1.3.11 is the recommended version.