How do I merge WAV files?

[ahitch]

I have 2 WAV files I wish to merge into one. Not length wise, but "fused" together. And I have to keep the WAV format.

How do I do this?

[steve]

Import both files (File menu). They will each be loaded into their own track, one above the other.
If you want to adjust the position left/right of either of the tracks, use the "Time Shift" button (double headed arrow <-->) and slide the tracks left/right.
When you press the play button, both tracks will play together.

You can use the volume slider on the left end of the track to adjust the playback level. You will probably need to reduce the levels of the tracks so that playback does not overload.

From the File menu, select "Export" to produce a WAV file.

[RA1]

Using Audacity 1.2.6 (on Windows XP), this is how to merge a left (mono) and right (mono) WAV file into one (stereo) WAV file.

1. Open up Audacity (creates an empty project)
2. Select Project->Import Audio and select left.wav
3. In the track drop-down menu (right above where it says e.g. "Mono, 44100Hz"), select "Left Channel"
4. Select Project->Import Audio and select right.wav
5. In the second track drop-down menu, select "Right Channel"
6. (Optional) Select File->Save Project
7. (Optional) Verify the tracks are aligned properly -- by clicking play, etc.
8. Choose File->Export As WAV
9. Close the project and open the newly created WAV file. The tracks should now be merged.

[steve]

Thanks for the step-by-step RA1, but just to note that those steps are not limited to Audacity 1.2.6. It works the same on Audacity 1.3.x.
Audacity 1.2.6 is very old now (past retirement age) and I would definitely recommend upgrading to Audacity 1.3.13 (I use it regularly on XP and it is a lot more capable than the old 1.2.6 version.