problem with cut, paste

[fiddlegirl]

I'm a new user, but comfortable learning new software.

I am trying to put together compilations of tunes from live recordings of my band. I am opening a project named song 1, saving as compilation, then opening a series of one song projects - for example, song 2, song 3, song 4.

To make the compilation, I copy a section of song 2, and past it at the end of the tracks opened in compilation. Do the same with song 3 and song 4.

So I have one track, now with 4 songs in line, I then fade out/in between the songs and save. I select the recommended option to save audio files associated with the project. So far, so good. Easy, clear and intuitive.

Then I close the file. When I open up the file again, I've lost all wave form in song 2, 3, and 4, except the areas that I faded in and out.

I have figured a work around - copy the entire track for each song, paste and save, including associated files. Then go back in and select regions I want to include and trim, but this seems clumsy.

I have looked for this problem in the forum, but can only find directions for edit cut/paste. I followed those directions but still have the problem.

What am I doing wrong?

[aldimond]

I can't get this to happen using the latest version from CVS. What version are you using? It's possible you came across a bug that was fixed after your version was released.

To be clear, here's the exact procedure I'm using.

1. Start with 4 stereo MP3 files, all different, in the same directory.
2. Open each in Audacity. I now have four windows open.
3. Trim the first down to a short excerpt; apply fade in and fade out effects.
4. From each of the other files, copy a short excerpt and paste it on the end of the first, applying fade in and fade out effects at the beginning and end of the clip.
5. Save the first file as and Audacity project.
6. Exit Audacity.
7. Open the new Audacity project in Audacity.

I've tried a few variations on this, like starting with four Audacity projects instead of four MP3s. I also tried moving the project and its data directory to a new location after saving, and it worked OK.

Suggestions for workarounds:

1. If you're starting with normal audio files you could start with a blank Audacity window and use File->Import to get the audio from each song into Audacity. They'll import as separate tracks, which you can delete using the "X" button in the upper left corner of each track when you're finished with them.
2. Instead of saving as an Audacity project when you're finished you could use File->Export to generate an MP3/Ogg/WAV/AIFF/whatever other format you like.

[steve]

I select the recommended option to save audio files associated with the project. So far, so good. Easy, clear and intuitive.

Then I close the file. When I open up the file again, I've lost all wave form in song 2, 3, and 4, except the areas that I faded in and out.

Audacity projects are made of two parts - there is the Audacity Project File (the file name ends with ".aup") and then there is the data that the project uses. If you have saved audio files associated with the project, then all of the data should be in the data folder ( filename_data ). It is important that you do not move, rename, delete or change either the project file or the data folder or you are very likely to break the project and get problems exactly like what you have described.

Audacity will not Save a sound file. You must Export to get a stand-alone sound file.