Saving mp3 file without re-encoding

This section is now closed.
Forum rules
Audacity 1.3.x is now obsolete. Please use the current Audacity 2.1.x version.

The final version of Audacity for Windows 98/ME is the legacy 2.0.0 version.
Locked
visage
Posts: 26
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 12:27 pm
Operating System: Please select

Saving mp3 file without re-encoding

Post by visage » Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:33 pm

When editing mp3 audio, I just need to trim mp3 and save it without re-encoding(it already have 128kbps bitrate suitable for my needs). I didn't find option allowing to save file without re-encoding it.

Irish
Forum Crew
Posts: 550
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:25 pm
Operating System: Please select

Re: Saving mp3 file without re-encoding

Post by Irish » Fri Feb 19, 2010 9:57 pm

visage wrote:I didn't find option allowing to save file without re-encoding it.
Because there isn't one.

Audacity always un-compresses the files that it imports, works on them in their un-compressed form, and then compresses them on export, if exporting to mp3 or any other compressed format.

There are other tools available, if you just want to do simple editing of mp3 files, which work on the compressed audio and don't increase the damage. Mp3split is one, and I'm sure there are others.

PO'L
________________________________________FOR INSTANT HELP: (Click on Link below)
* * * * Tips * * * * Tutorials * * * * 1.3 Quick Start Guide * * * * Audacity 1.3 Manual * * * * Audacity wiki * * * *

kozikowski
Forum Staff
Posts: 68941
Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:57 pm
Operating System: macOS 10.13 High Sierra

Re: Saving mp3 file without re-encoding

Post by kozikowski » Fri Feb 19, 2010 10:13 pm

<<<I just need to trim mp3>>>

Yes. You're the poster child for one of the other simpler editors. You get forced into Audacity if you need effects or left-right task management and tools like that.

Koz

visage
Posts: 26
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 12:27 pm
Operating System: Please select

Re: Saving mp3 file without re-encoding

Post by visage » Tue Feb 23, 2010 10:49 am

another question: if audio source is in .FLAC format, is is better to convert it to WAV then edit, or edit FLAC file directly? I need to encode audio to mp3 anyway.

Irish
Forum Crew
Posts: 550
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:25 pm
Operating System: Please select

Re: Saving mp3 file without re-encoding

Post by Irish » Tue Feb 23, 2010 4:58 pm

If your source file is in FLAC format, then there is no issue. It is a lossless format and you can import it into Audacity and edit it with no loss of quality.

PO'L
________________________________________FOR INSTANT HELP: (Click on Link below)
* * * * Tips * * * * Tutorials * * * * 1.3 Quick Start Guide * * * * Audacity 1.3 Manual * * * * Audacity wiki * * * *

visage
Posts: 26
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 12:27 pm
Operating System: Please select

Re: Saving mp3 file without re-encoding

Post by visage » Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:54 pm

so there's the necessity to convert FLAC to WAV?(which is also lossless format)
Last edited by visage on Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

steve
Site Admin
Posts: 80752
Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:43 am
Operating System: Linux *buntu

Re: Saving mp3 file without re-encoding

Post by steve » Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:58 pm

visage wrote:if audio source is in .FLAC format, is is better to convert it to WAV then edit, or edit FLAC file directly?
Audacity does not directly edit any files. Audio files are Imported (copied or otherwise "read") into Audacity, but the original audio file is not changed in any way.

If a FLAC and a WAV version of the same file is imported, the imported data will be identical in each case. WAV files may import a bit quicker than FLAC files, but otherwise there is no difference.
9/10 questions are answered in the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Locked