Audacity Forum

Hi everyone
I'm relatively new to audacity, and up until now everything has been great. But I can't seem to export a stereo file. No matter what I try (aiff or mp3) I get both tracks out of the left and right channel. The orignal was two separate recordings that I merged into a stereo track, and while playing on audacity I can pan back and forth and get the stereo effect. What am I doing wrong? Does 1.2.6 not export in stereo? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If I can't figure this out I am hooped as I need two seperate signals.

gas

I can't tell from the question what you actually want, but you can split a stereo track into individual left and right with the black down arrow on the left of the track, Split Stereo Track. Select either one and export.

If you want to end up with one stereo track from two captures, you may want to "de split" them.

Koz

Koz

I want to export a left and right channel, which I created on audacity using the method you described, but when I export I get both tracks in the right and left channels. For my purposes I need to have two seperate signals, one on the left and one on the right. Right now I hear both tracks on both sides.

gas

One more question. What format does audacity use to save a file. Is it a wav file or something sltogether different?

gas

<<What format does audacity use to save a file.>>>

The famous Audacity "Gotcha."

Audacity doesn't save as a file. It saves as a "project" which is an XML supervisory file and a cloud of clips, pieces, shards, fragments, and graphic files. The only way to get one single sound file is to Export As WAV... (or other format of your choice).

For one bad example, if you put two capture clips together one after the other on the timeline, the XML (.aup) file could say:

================
Take that file
Jam it on the end of that other file.
Show the user the two graphics located ../here
Have a happy day.
================

There is no show file. It's just instructions on what to do with your capture clips. That's why the project file is so small.

If you haven't exported your work as one single sound file so far, Do Not delete any other files--including your capture clips. Your show may still be standing on them.

Koz

<<<export a left and right channel>>>

So you created two mono tracks, one with violins and one with piano. You want to end up with one stereo track with violins on the left and piano on the right.

What you got was a massive mono mix that happens to come out two speakers.

I'm being really particular about this because Audacity manages it's tracks in a slightly odd way. I would also have bet you couldn't do what you're doing....

Gotta work on this a little.

Koz

Koz

Thanks for explanation of the format (or nonformat as the case might be).

Yes, your understanding of what I am trying to do and what I ended up getting is correct. However, I'm not sure I understand why you ended of your last post by saying "I would also have bet you couldn't do what you're doing...."

gas

Mixing two tracks almost has to be done intentionally. It's rough to believe it happened by accident. I'll figure it out later when I get home--or if somebody else posts.

One thing to try. I understand this is a little Laurel and Hardy, but what happens if you capture about three seconds of anything live in stereo, then separate them and paste your piano and violin, recombine them into stereo and cut off the live capture.

Koz

Koz

I tried what you suggested, but still got a mix of both tracks on both sides.

gas

My spidey sense is tingling.

Go up here and download the Left, Right clip. Dump it onto a stereo 48 KHz timeline and play it. Still have mono?

http://www.kozco.com/tech/soundtests.html

Koz