Splitting multitrack recording using labels

[AmpDocta]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum but I've read the FAQ on the subject and it seems only to deal with splitting stereo tracks derived from LP records.

What I'm trying to do is split a multitrack recording of a board recording of a jazz gig. The tracks are all 24 bit .wav files recorded using a Samson Zoom R16. I recorded the entire set on 8 tracks but would like to split out each song in the set. The sets are about 90 minutes long and the files for each track are named mono-000.wav thru mono-007.wav. What I would like to do is label the cuts using a label track and then have it automatically create directories labeled with the label of each cut and then place the split tracks into files named as before mono-000.wav etc. Is there a way to automate this process.

I have already figured how to do this using "export multiple..." but can only do it for one labeled area at a time by selecting the tracks in the label, then from file menu I select "export Multiple..." then I manually type in the label into the destination directory field of the dialog box and select the Tracks checkbox. This then brings up a series of 8 dialog boxes for editing the tags of each .wav track so I have to return 8 times as it goes through each tag labeling dialog. Finally audacity goes to work but because the export takes quite some time to finish, I have to wait for each split selection to complete before doing another one.

What I need is a way to automate the process so that it all happens automatically. If there is no way to do this is there any scripting interface in audacity? Any suggestions would be most appreciated as I find this step to be most time consuming and tedious. I prefer to let the computer be my slave for mindless tasks like this.

Thanks,

Howard Chandler

[steve]

I don't know of an automated way, but there are ways that you can considerably streamline the process.

First some settings in Preferences (Edit menu > Preferences)

Interface tab:
De-select "How to get help..."
Select "beep on completion..."

Tracks tab:
not required for this, but you may find that "Solo button > Simple" is more useful.

Import/Export tab:
Select "read uncompressed...(faster)"
De-select "show metadata editor...."

Projects tab:
Select "Do not copy any audio"

Warnings tab:
Select "Saving Empty Project"
Select "Low disk space..."
De-select the others.

*** WARNING ***
These settings assume that you know what you are doing. These are NOT idiot proof setting
With these settings, WAV files are not copied into the Audacity project unless the data is changed from what exists in the source files.
The project references (links to) the original WAV files, so it is essential that you do not move, delete, rename or change in any way the original WAV files or else ALL of the projects that depend on these files will disintegrate. The original WAV files are referred to in the manual as "dependencies" because the projects depend on the availability of these files.

The above settings also disable the default warnings about dependant files.

The plus side is SPEED.


Creating the song projects.

MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR SOURCE FILES - preferably on external media - if this recording is irreplaceable make 2 or 3 back-up copies.

Make a folder on an internal hard drive that has LOTS AND LOTS of free, defragmented disk space. You should be looking in the region of 200 GB of free space if you are planning to do much editing/processing. You will be putting everything into this folder (which also simplifies backing up). We will call this the "main" folder.

Create a folder inside the main folder and put your source files into it.

Create folders inside the main folder - one folder for each song.

Create an additional folder and name it "master"

Open Audacity and import the source files.

If necessary, name each track and ensure that the tracks are in the correct order.

"Save" the project in the "master" folder.

Very few programs support metadata in WAV files, so we are not going to use metadata at all at this stage. If your final delivery format is MP3, then you can tag the final mixed down songs at the end.

If there are any processes that are to be done to the full length of one or more tracks (for example you may want to Normalize the tracks, or you may have a track with a hum that needs to be notched out for the full length of the track), do that now.

(Optional) Set markers (labels) for your tracks.

"Save the project again in the "master" folder.

Now for the songs.

Select the first song (all tracks).
Tip: Once you have made a selection in one track you can use the up/down cursors to move focus from one track to another. The ENTER key will toggle selection/de-selection of that track.
Tip: "View menu > Collapse all tracks" (Ctrl+SHIFT+C) will collapse the tracks so that lots of tracks will fit on the screen. Click on the arrow below a track name to expand a single collapsed track. "View menu > Expand all tracks" (Ctrl+SHIFT+X) to expand them all.

"Edit menu > Trim" (Ctrl+T)
You have just deleted everything except for the first song.

"File menu > Save As"
Save the project in the first "song" folder.

Recover the rest of the songs:
Ctrl+Z (Undo)

The first song should still be selected, so now you can delete it.
"Edit menu > Delete", or just hit the DEL key.

Next song:
Select you next song,
trim it,
"Save As",
Undo
Delete


Continue in like manner for the rest of the songs.


Making your projects safer:
When you start working on a song, click on "File menu > Check dependencies".
This will give you the option to copy the required data from the original WAV files into your song project. Make a cup of tea while the data is being copied, then start work on editing your song.

Note that when you Save and close an Audacity project, the "Undo" history is not saved. You may want to periodically save a song with a new name so that you have a "restore point" for the project. (firstsong-001.aup firstsong-002.aup firstson-003.aup ....)