Newbie query re extra time at start of track

[clampsta]

Hi

I have started using Audacity to create a 'mix' of a number of tunes I have. Now that I have spent a while getting them all flowing neatly from one to the next I realise I want to put another track in at the start of the whole project.

How do I either - create more time at the start of the project (so I can put a new tune in) or - group all the other 'tracks' together (without merging them) so I can shift them along and make more time at the start.

I'm sure it must be a really simple operation but I just can't work it out

Thanks

[steve]

How do I either - create more time at the start of the project (so I can put a new tune in) or - group all the other 'tracks' together (without merging them) so I can shift them along and make more time at the start.

• Ctrl+A (select All)
• F5 key ("Time Shift" tool)
• Click and drag all of the tracks to the right - all selected audio will move together. Leave more space than you need.
• File menu > Import the new file (this will go at the start of a new track)
• Use the "Time Shift" tool (still be selected) to drag the new track to the right so that it meets the start of the older tracks. Use "fade in/out", or whatever your chosen method is to make the join/cross-fade.
• Zoom out (Ctrl + Mouse wheel, or the zoom buttons) so that you can see the whole of the project (if you have a lot of tracks you may want to use "Collapse Tracks" from the View menu.)
• Ctrl+A (select All)
• Hold the Shift key down and click near the end of the last track and drag the selection to the left. Zoom and drag as necessary until you have only the blank space before the first track selected, then press the "Del" key to delete the excess space at the beginning.

Some Tips:
You can toggle whether a track is selected or not with the Enter key.
Up/down cursors move the track focus from one track to the next.
F1 key - Selection Tool.
F5 key - Time Shift Tool.
Ctrl+A - Select All
Shift+Ctrl+M - Make a mix of selected tracks (this is not the same as selecting "Mix and Render" from the "Tracks" menu. The result of this is an extra track.)
You can also select multiple tracks by click/drag the mouse across multiple tracks.

[clampsta]

That sounds gr8, thanks! I look forward to trying that this evening

[clampsta]

Hi

I have tried this but even with all tracks selected they only move one at a time with the time-tool so I cannot slide them along all together in-sync

Is there a way I can just add more time at the very start of the track without touching the soundclips already present?

Thanks, John

[steve]

I have tried this but even with all tracks selected they only move one at a time with the time-tool so I cannot slide them along all together in-sync

You need to be using Audacity 1.3.11

Is there a way I can just add more time at the very start of the track without touching the soundclips already present?

Ctrl+A (select All)
Home (cursor to start)
Generate menu > Silence (generate silence)
Alt+Ctrl+K (split delete the silence - leaves the tracks in the new position)

(this is also for Audacity 1.3.11)