Can't access most "edit" or "file" commands

[WestcoastTony]

I've had an Ion turntable connected to a Mac G4 for a long time with no difficulties, and recently tried to connect it to a different computer, a Power PC G5 running OS X version 10.4.11. I downloaded Audacity version 1.2.6, which seemed to be the recommended version. I've got a signal from the turntable to the computer, I can open a new file and record, but most of the menu options are grayed and not available. I can't access any of the first 10 commands in "Edit" (including "undo," "delete," or "silence"). For example, I can select a "lead-in" segment of the recording by Edit>Select>Start to Cursor....but I can't delete it. Further, I can't access most of the commands in "File," and can't export the recorded file in any way. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong here. Also, is there just a good overview operating manual for 1.2.6 I can access somewhere? Thanks!

[steve]

Unless your computer is really old you are likely to do better with the 1.3.12 version (I don't use Macs so I don't know the model numbers)
Audacity 1.2.6 is really old and is no longer maintained.

Most of the menu items are only available in "Stop" mode and are greyed out when in "Play", Record" or "Pause".

[WestcoastTony]

Steve: thanx for the input. I note on the Audacity site that 1.3 is recommended for Macs with Intel processors. I'm running a Mac with a G5 Power PC and I'm worried that any 1.3 and my system would not play well together. I ran an even older version of Audacity on my old G4 without problems. I'm wondering if my solution is not to go newer but older...

[kozikowski]

Tiger 10.4 on a G5 should be reasonably happy with 1.2.6. That's what we're running on one of the machines at work.

Don't even think about Leopard-ing your machine. That crosses the recommended version numbers into the land of fuzzy.

Are you the administrator on your machine? You can get into trouble by crossing permissions. Have you ever verified your system drive or repaired permissions?

Go > Utilities > Disk Utilities > System Drive > Verify Disk and Repair Permissions.

I'm looking for the instructions to delete Audacity preferences. You may gain big time by doing that.

Trash Mac Audacity Preferences
http://audacityteam.org/forum/viewtopic ... =10#p34670

Restart Audacity and it will look like you just installed it fresh.

Koz

[WestcoastTony]

I repair permissions regularly as a routine after any changes to my system. Trashed the prefs and I'm getting commands available again in the menus. I'll report back later after I've had the chance to try everything out. Thanks, Koz!

[WestcoastTony]

Everything seems to be AOK. Trashing the prefs would appear to have solved the issues. My thanks!

[kozikowski]

Now that we got you rolling, You should look into double installing Audacity -- you can install both 1.3.12 and 1.2 although you can only use one at a time. You will be stunned at all the newer tools and the older tools that actually work now. As you get used to 1.3, you'll use 1.2 less and less.

If you use Audacity Projects, 1.3 Projects will not open in 1.2. Exported WAV files open up anywhere.

Koz

[WestcoastTony]

I don't presently have Audacity installed on my up-to-date Mac (the one running Snow Leopard) since my Ion turntable is more conveniently connected to the older machine with the older OSX. But if I do install on the high-end Mac, I'll definitely go with a version of 1.3.Thanks again!

[billw58]

I run Audacity 1.3.12 on my (ancient) Powerbook G4 under OS X 10.4.11 with no problems. It is sooooo much better than 1.2.x.

-- Bill