Data folder size

[PIP]

I've been successfully using Audacity for a number of years both at home and with students at school. In the last few weeks all projects we create generate huge data folders - usually between 100 & 200 MB. This happens when editing just one MP3 track that could have been trimmed to under 30 seconds. The software is now regulalry crashing when trying open the projects.

Windows XP
Version 1.2

[Gale Andrews]

I've been successfully using Audacity for a number of years both at home and with students at school. In the last few weeks all projects we create generate huge data folders - usually between 100 & 200 MB. This happens when editing just one MP3 track that could have been trimmed to under 30 seconds.

Then something in your usage of Audacity has changed, for example you are applying more effects to the whole track.

Even though MP3s are compressed, Audacity decompresses them on import so you can edit them without any practical losses. A 3 minute stereo MP3 will by default use 60 MB of space in the temporary or _data folder. If you amplify the whole track, space used goes up to 120 MB because the previous state of the project is kept in the folder, giving you the ability to undo the amplify. When you exit Audacity and save the project, only data for the current state of the project is saved (the remainder should be discarded), but the current data will still take 60 MB.

To use less space, Edit > Preferences: Quality and change the Default Sample Format to 16-bit. This will halve the space needed but still give you lossless quality.

The software is now regularly crashing when trying open the projects. Windows XP Version 1.2

Is there any error message produced by Audacity when this happens, if so what does it say? This isn't common, but it could happen if there are files and/or folders in the _data folder which don't relate to the .aup project file.

If the .aup file will open so that you have complete audio you can see, don't edit it any more. Do File > Export as WAV, exit Audacity and restart it, import the WAV you exported and save it to a different project name.

If the .aup won't open at all, you can try manual or automatic recovery of the .au files in the _data folder. See:
http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Crash ... l_recovery

Another alternative might be to obtain the current Audacity Beta (1.3.12):
http://audacityteam.org/download/beta_windows

and try opening the project in that. OK the warning that if you save the project in 1.3.12 you won't be able to open it again in 1.2. Audacity may show you errors when you open the project. You can click Help > Show Log to see what the errors are, but I would recommend exporting a WAV instead if the data that opens looks correct. Export as WAV, exit Audacity, then import the WAV into either 1.2.6 or 1.3.12 and save it as a new project.




Gale

[PIP]

Thanks for the feedback - I've discussed this issue with our ICT technical team at school and considerted what we've changed recently on the network. We have introduced data quotas for all students (they previously had unlimited space) and it may be the case that the _data folders were always large, it's just now that there is insufficient space for certain projects to save. Also we have some large calsses 30+ trying to open and save projects at the same time which could well be putting a strain on the network. I'll look at changing the quality & sampling rate to ensure the _data folders are not quite so big.

Regards

Pip

[Gale Andrews]

I'll look at changing the quality & sampling rate to ensure the _data folders are not quite so big.

Take care with reducing the sample rate if you are recording or generating audio because it will significantly affect the quality (remove high frequencies). Reducing the sample format won't significantly affect quality. If you are importing files into an empty project, the first file imported will change the project rate to the rate of the file anyway.

When you are exporting an MP3 the sample rate won't affect the file size, so unless you use very low bit rates, export as 44100 Hz.


Gale