Huge gaps in recording - corrupted file?

[Hypnotic]

I was previously using Audacity 1.2 but switched to 1.3 because of the new features and am now experiencing a significant problem.

I am making a series of vocal recordings using a modular system. I record a few sections, do the necessary tweaking, save them as separate files and then insert those audio track sections (via cut and paste) into a custom recording which is then saved as a file itself and then exported to wav and mp3 format.

I did one of these with no problems, but the second one has been very frustrating. When I opened it, a large section was missing (middle of screenshot) and there was large gap in the recording itself (right third of screenshot). I deleted the gaps and pasted in the missing material, saved the file, but upon reopening the file the gaps were still there. I also tried saving the repaired file under a new filename and it also opens with the gaps.





I spent hours making this recording and it's very frustrating to have this keep happening. Any suggestions or advice would be helpful.

[steve]

ecord a few sections, do the necessary tweaking, save them as separate files...

Do you mean that you Exported them as files (such as .WAV files)?
The "Save" function in the File menu does not "save files" it "saves Audacity Projects" (and the difference is crucial).

and then insert those audio track sections (via cut and paste)...

I don't understand how you "cut and paste" from a file into a Project. I suspect what you are doing is "cut and paste from one project into another project". Am I right?

[Hypnotic]

Yes, sorry for the mixed-up terminology.

I cut and paste audio tracks from several projects (.aup files) into the larger, custom project (.aup file) then save that custom project for later export into wav or mp3 files.

But when I open the larger, custom project (.aup file) I get the gaps shown in the screengrab above, even after fixing the problem in the project and saving it again.

[steve]

Without sitting next to you while you are working I'm not sure exactly why this is happening, but I have an idea of what it might be.
Go into "Edit menu > Preferences > Import/Export" and set "When Importing Audio Files: Make a copy...(safer)"

See if that solves the problem (do let us know either way).

[Hypnotic]

Thanks for your input Steve.

I found a bit of a kludgy workaround. I repair the project (deleting the gaps and adding the missing vocal track). Then I export into a .wav file.

Then I create a fresh project and import the wav file into that, then save that project. It seems to have solved the problem.

I am hoping that this was a fluke and does not repeat, but I will report here if it does.

[steve]

I am hoping that this was a fluke and does not repeat

Have you made the change to the Audacity Preferences that I suggested?

[Hypnotic]

I did, but when creating these projects I am not importing any external audio (.wav, etc.). I am merely cutting and pasting sections of previously recorded projects (.aup) into the project I am working on.

So I don't understand how your suggestion on preferences would make a difference in that case.

[steve]

For the type of work that you are doing it will do no harm to have that option enabled (in fact most of the forum regulars think that it should be enabled by default).

Due to the confusion at the beginning of this topic it occurred to me that a possible explanation for the problem (and the only explanation that I can think of) is that the project that you were copying from did contain an imported file (it could still be a file that you recorded yourself). If that project contained an imported file that had not been imported using the "safer" option, then cutting and pasting it to a new project would be in effect the same as importing that piece of audio into the new project. That could account for why the same piece of data kept "disappearing". The "safer" option should ensure that data is always copied into the project and will hopefully prevent the problem from recurring.

[Hypnotic]

Ok, I understand now. I have enabled the safer option in preferences so hopefully the problem will not recur.

Thanks!