Audacity Forum

Is it possible to make an accurate and repeatable selection using only keystrokes?

I need to split up a waveform into precise chunks of 5 seconds so I need a method to use the keyboard to enter the selection timing intervals.

I looked on the help for visually impared users but there seemed to be no method available.

Any help appreciated.
Thanks.

atvasco wrote:I need to split up a waveform into precise chunks of 5 seconds...

There's an easy way of doing that in the current Audacity 1.3, but not in Audacity 1.2
I'd definitely recommend upgrading to Audacity 1.3 as it has many enhancements that I'm sure you will find useful. If you already have Audacity 1.2.6 installed there is no need to uninstall it. Both versions can be installed at the same time, with two provisos - 1) You can't run them simultaneously - 2) Audacity 1.2 cannot open projects that have been saved by Audacity 1.3

In Audacity 1.3
1) Select the track that you want to split.
2) Analyze menu > Regular Interval Labels
3) Set the label interval to 5 seconds (and any other options that you may want) and press the OK button.

You now have labels set at 5 second intervals.

If you just want to "split" the track into chunks, but for them to remain in place in the Audacity track;
1) Ctrl+A (select All)
2) Edit menu > Labelled Regions > Split

If you want to "split" the track into chunks and Export each chunk as a separate audio file - use "Export Multiple" as described here: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Split ... t_Multiple

You mentioned "help for visually impaired". I don't know if you were looking for that because you thought it would have useful tips regarding keyboard command, or because you are visually impaired yourself. If you are visually impaired, let me know - either reply to this or send me a Private Message (PM) - and I'll sort out some useful links for you.

Many thanks.
I shall install 1.3 and try it out.

Cheers.

Hi,
I installed 1.3 and followed your instructions. They worked quite well, thank you.

I am not visually impaired but, as you mentioned in your previous reply, I am looking for useful tips regarding keyboard commands.
I need to automate an analysis via a script so I am trying to avoid mouse usage as much as possible due to the problems with screen size/scaling. Thus I am looking for keyboard commands.

I know that 1.3 is still a beta version but I have some observaions:

• On the "Export Multiple" dialogue
  • There is no shortcut key to get to the "Name files:" section
  • There is no shotcut key to the Export button
  • The tab order seems a little odd

• On the "Edit metadata" dialogue
  • There is no shotcut key to the OK button

These are, I know, minor things and I can get around them by tabbing but if the tab order changes my script will fail.

Many thanks for your help and an excellent product.

Cheers

Scripting support for Audacity is rather limited as it is designed primarily as a GUI tool.
Have you looked at the "Chains" feature? Again there are some fairy major limitations, but you may find it useful.

Have you considered using SOX? http://sox.sourceforge.net/
It is a command line program and lends itself well to scripting.