converting stereo track to mono one

[GingerB]

I'm trying to convert a stereo audio track into a 16-bit, 44.1 kHz monaural WAV format file. I am running Audacity on Mac OS 10.6.4. My ultimate goal is to save the file on a cd so that I can import the track onto a Tascam DP-02 (digital 8 track recorder). I have tried splitting the tracks into two, which was successful, however the tracks are not identical. I then tried to export multiple files, which appeared to work. However, when I tried to import the tracks on the Tascam system it said that the file was not found.

I'm new at this recording thing...I'm actually helping my husband, who is the musician and also new at home recording, try and figure this out. I've gone through the Tascam manual and their forum page and the only thing that I can come up with is that the track is not formatted correctly.

Any suggestions and/or information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[billw58]

The Tascam manual seems to suggest that the only way to import a WAV file is through the USB connection to an external computer, and that you must have a FAT partition on the Tascam hard drive in order to do this. Also, the transfer is controlled from the computer, not the Tascam (in other words, the computer must be able to recognize the FAT partition on the Tascam once the USB connection is established. The Tascam manual claims that Mac OS X 10.2 and later will connect to the unit.

I note that you've posted in the 1.2.x forum. You really should be using 1.3.12 with OSX 10.6. 1.3.12 is available here: http://audacityteam.org/download/beta_mac

Once you've installed 1.3.12, open your project with the stereo track you want to convert. I assume you want to mix the left and right channels into one mono WAV file, not create two mono files. Click on the track drop-down menu http://manual.audacityteam.org/index.ph ... -Down_Menu and select "Split Stereo to Mono". You will now have two mono tracks. Now select File > Export. Choose WAV 16-bit from the format menu, and choose a place to save the file. Since your project contains only mono tracks, Audacity will make a mono WAV file.

Now consult the Tascam manual (page 45) for instructions on how to import WAV files from a computer to the Tascam. There is no indication that you can import tracks from a CD.

-- Bill

[whomper]

this works for me

select the track
go to tracks
from dropdown pick stereo to mono
converts the two stereo to one mono

my lack of knowledge but i thought cds always needed a stereo track to burn. convert to mono and you might only get the left or right channel on playback.

seems as if you record only one track initially you will get mono and cant make two different tracks just two identical tracks
are you recording stereo originally and now wanting mono?
then
you could create a new track
set it to mono
cut and paste the original mono
to have L & R identical mono tracks that might play back better

alternative that seems to work too:
if you click on the track it self
the dropdown lets you pick mono, left, or right
if you pick mono for both L & R
then do mix and render
you might get the mono the way you want it
still only one track with possible cd playing problem

dont know what i did trying this
but something playing with all the above changed things around so
---now when i record i get two identical mono tracks
i think i set the original stereo track to two monos
and deleted them
but now when i record i do get two identical mono tracks
undocumented feature, easter egg, or ????
reloaded and it is back to recording as normal

there is also a split stereo to mono
on the track drop down list
that seems to make both L & R mono
but not identical mono tracks

burning question
why would you want a mono CD ?

[GingerB]

The Tascam unit that we have has a cd player/burner in it...according to the manual, you can import tracks from a cd into the unit but it notes "Only 16-bit, 44.1 kHz monaural WAV format files can be handled in import and export operations. (The file-names that are not in this format are not displayed.)

My husband's band is recording songs for a cd. One band member (a guitarist) is recording stuff at home and sending it to my husband via cd's and/or email. My husband (the bass player) is then wanting to load the audio from the guitarist onto his recording unit (the Tascam) and finish the song. It saves everyone from having to schedule "sessions" together and the guys can work on the projects when it's convenient for them.

The Tascam we have is Tascam DP-02 Digital Portastudio. It's been tricky to figure out, the manual is in a lingo that we're not used to, but I've done all the steps it says to in order to import from a cd. I haven't tried using the USB yet...that was a question I had to my husband this morning. It's a shame that we can use the cd feature as it's laid out in the manual. I'm just at a loss as to what to do next.

Thanks for your help. I'll try all of your suggestions and see where it takes me.

Ginger

[billw58]

The Tascam unit that we have has a cd player/burner in it...according to the manual, you can import tracks from a cd into the unit but it notes "Only 16-bit, 44.1 kHz monaural WAV format files can be handled in import and export operations. (The file-names that are not in this format are not displayed.)

Right you are - it's on page 69, in the appendix! You want to make sure you make a data CD, not an audio CD, on your computer. This is easy to do on a Mac. Just insert the blank CD and wait for it to show up on your desktop as an "untitled" volume. Then drag the files onto the CD and click the "burn" button. In a minute or so you should have a data CD.

-- Bill

[GingerB]

Thanks, guys. I'm downloading the audacity version Bill recommended I use. I'll give it all a whirl, cross my fingers and let you know what happens.

Thanks again,
Ginger

[GingerB]

YES! IT WORKED! Thank you!

I downloaded the newer Audacity version, split stereo to mono, mix and render, exported to disk, inserted disk into Tascam and BAM! -- it worked.

Thank you again!

[GingerB]

Back to being frustrated. The first song worked. The 2nd one..well, not so much. I did everything exactly the way I did the first one, but when I put the cd in the Tascam it said "file not found." I let it go for the night and will try again tomorrow. I'm not sure what the difference is...

[steve]

It sounds like your Tascam imports from CD the same way as my Yamaha does.
The key things to check are:

Tracks must be the correct format - on my Yamaha they must be the same sample rate as the project (44.1 or 48 kHz), 16 bit (Microsoft) PCM WAV, mono or stereo. For your Tascam they need to be 44.1 kHz, 16 bit (Microsoft) PCM WAV, mono.
Before you export, check that the Project Rate (bottom left corner of the main Audacity window) is 44100.

File names must be in the correct format - on my Yamaha file names must use only numbers and letters and no other characters.

The CD must be a data CD (not an audio CD).

There must be sufficient free space on the recorder.

CDs can be faulty - it is possible to do everything correctly but for it to still not work because the recorder can not read the disk. Branded CDs burned at less than the maximum write speed will usually be more reliable than cheap unbranded CDs, or using the maximum burn speed.

[GingerB]

Thanks. The Tascam is very sensitive, I'm not liking it. Logic is not not in it's vocabulary. I've made sure that the songs were converted from stereo to a single 16-bit mono file with the projection rate at 44100. I even saved it to the disk the same to make sure it's a data file, not audio. It's possible the cd was messed up. It's a memorex cd-rw and it's been erased several times. I know I can import directly from the computer to the Tascam using a USB, but it's also a pain.

I'll try with a brand new disk. Thanks for the info and the support. I'm almost to the point where I'm sitting the same way I was when the other file worked. That's what I get for having a sports-fanatic, superstitious husband.

Thanks again. I'll let ya'll know what happens...