Audacity Forum

Dear All,

I'm curious about audacity's project format. Is it based on some sort of universal standard for music project files? I've noticed that every DAW seems to have its own project format, but are they based on something in common?

Thanks,
Noah

You probably don't want me telling you they're all based on XML Extensible Markup Language.

<?xml version="1.0" standalone="no" ?>

I'm just so happy to find someone who doesn't think the AUP file is a sound file.....

The up side is the ability to basically do whatever you want in order to make the system as efficient and fast as possible based on the design conditions. The downside is you can do basically anything you want.

Koz

That brings up an interesting idea. The standard Edit Decision List. THE edl for years was CMX. Even when the last CMX machine was turned into a table lamp and ivy planter, the CMX EDL lived on as the closest anyone could get to a standardized format. I've never heard of anyone trying to export an EDL to Adobe Audition. If you did that, it wouldn't make any difference at all what the Project format was. You just exported the Action Points. At 3:45:20, cut from song A to song B. I don't care how you execute that command, but that's how it needs to come out at the end.

Koz

This page from the manual under development for the upcoming Audacity 2.0 gives some info on the project format that Audacity uses: http://manual.audacityteam.org/index.ph ... ect_Format

and this one: http://manual.audacityteam.org/index.ph ... y_Projects

In particular pay careful attention to the contents of this page http://manual.audacityteam.org/index.ph ... references the section about "When importing audio files" note that the dialog box has changed i 1.3.x since this draft was written. I would strongly recommend that you override the default setting and click the "safer" option - "Make copy of uncompressed files before editing". Failing to do this burns lots of newbie (and not so newbie) users of Audacity when they import a clip and then move or delete the original source (often by removing a CD) - this then leaves a big hole in your project.

WC

waxcylinder wrote:Failing to do this burns lots of newbie (and not so newbie) users of Audacity when they import a clip and then move or delete the original source (often by removing a CD) - this then leaves a big hole in your project.

Recent 1.3.x versions will warn you about this when you Save the project. I don't think that earlier versions give any warning, so the "safer" option is more strongly recommended on these versions. The down side of the "safer" option are that initially opening or importing a WAV file (or other uncompressed audio) will be a bit slower, and the project data file will be larger. The benefit is that it is harder to accidentally destroy your Audacity Project.