Frustration with Aud 1.3

[MrDissonance]

I'm trying to use Audacity 1.3 on my Dell Optiplex G280 (XP, Audigy Sound Blaster card), and become very frustrated with the lack of decent documentation and explanation of things in the software and particularly the user interface. I'm hoping someone here can help me understand some things about Audigy, since I've heard so many good things about it and would like to give it a fair trial. (I've used other software to convert old media to digital form, and most of that software was far more intuitive and easier to understand than Audigy. And I'm not a novice at this. )

For starters, where can I find an explanation of the choices on the Device Toolbar? What is MME, for example, and what is Windows Direct Sound, the 2 choices displayed in the left-most portion of the toolbar? And I'm given a choice (among the Audigy choices) of "What U Hear", "microphone", "line in", "S/PDIF-in", and "Auxiliary". There is only 1 input jack on the Audigy Sound Blaster, so how do I choose among these inputs?

With other software I've used, I can hear the input material. Why can't I hear it in Audigy?

Finally, after I've finished recording or editing a file, and EXPORTED it as a WAV, how do I tell Audigy "OK, now I want to close that file and start working on a new file?" It appears that when I click NEW, a totally new copy of Audigy is launched.

Would appreciate any help anyone can provide. I'm aware that Audacity is a community-supported project; still, this is very frustrating to me; I've spent time playing with all these choices and reading the manual, but none of that has helped. The software I used from NCH Software (I think it's an Aussie company) was vastly easier to get started with--and that, without having to read a manual (tho I would have done that if necessary).

[Gale Andrews]

I'm trying to use Audacity 1.3 on my Dell Optiplex G280 (XP, Audigy Sound Blaster card), and become very frustrated with the lack of decent documentation and explanation of things in the software and particularly the user interface. I'm hoping someone here can help me understand some things about Audigy, since I've heard so many good things about it and would like to give it a fair trial. (I've used other software to convert old media to digital form, and most of that software was far more intuitive and easier to understand than Audigy. And I'm not a novice at this. )

Audigy is a sound card. We do not make software called "Audigy".

For starters, where can I find an explanation of the choices on the Device Toolbar?
What is MME, for example, and what is Windows Direct Sound, the 2 choices displayed in the left-most portion of the toolbar?

See the Manual (http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/Device_Toolbar). Search the Wiki (http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Audac ... _Home_Page) if you want more explanation of MME and DirectSound (or search on Google).

And I'm given a choice (among the Audigy choices) of "What U Hear", "microphone", "line in", "S/PDIF-in", and "Auxiliary". There is only 1 input jack on the Audigy Sound Blaster, so how do I choose among these inputs?

What U hear would not have an audio jack, but otherwise, read the Audigy Manual? Perhaps the drivers you are using for it present redundant inputs?

You don't say what three-digit version of Audacity you are using. We need to know that (see Help >About Audacity). My guess is that you may be using 1.3.12 or earlier, and actually have the inbuilt sound card selected in the Devices Preferences, so Mixer Toolbar is showing you the inbuilt sound card inputs, not Audigy's. In Audacity 1.3.13 (the current Beta), the Mixer Toolbar does not show any input devices and sources. These are instead grouped in Device Toolbar, so you can see which input source belongs to which device.

With other software I've used, I can hear the input material. Why can't I hear it in Audigy?

Try Transport > Software Playthrough.

Finally, after I've finished recording or editing a file, and EXPORTED it as a WAV, how do I tell Audigy "OK, now I want to close that file and start working on a new file?" It appears that when I click NEW, a totally new copy of Audigy is launched.

Audigy is a sound card so you cannot "launch a new copy of it". File > New in Audacity opens a new project window in the same instance of Audacity. If you want to clear to a new workspace in the existing Audacity window, use File > Close (as you would in many word processing programs, for example).

Generally, I would suggest you could read up the Audacity menu commands in the Manual.



Gale

[MrDissonance]

The first, and most obvious, thing I have to say is, "Well, ex-cu-u-u-u-s-e- me for inadvertently typing 'Audigy' for 'Audacity'. " Of course, I'm quite (pleasantly?) surprised that you were able to figure out I meant "Audacity''. Next time I post something in this forum, I will be sure to run it past a copy editor or 2 before I post, lest I put you to additional trouble deciphering my message.

As to the manual, I found a "manual" of sorts included with the download I did, but it didn't address the questions I asked. Nor was there any indication that there might be something online that would be more comprehensive.

[waxcylinder]

... Nor was there any indication that there might be something online that would be more comprehensive.

Funnily enough there's a direct link to the online documentation at the top of this forum page, in the banner - curiously labelled "Documentation" <sighs>

WC

[steve]

The current Windows .EXE version of Audacity (the recommended download for Windows) includes the full manual which is the same as the on-line manual. Perhaps you only saw the "Quick Help" and not the full manual?

We do as much as possible to draw peoples attention to the comprehensive amount of documentation, for example every page on this forum has links at the top of the page:

Click the underlined links for quick answers:
• Tips • Tutorials • Documentation

Check out those links for a wealth of information.

[Gale Andrews]

I found a "manual" of sorts included with the download I did, but it didn't address the questions I asked.

It would if you used it more inventively by browsing the contents (or searching if you used the online version). So if you have questions about a particular part of the interface like Device Toolbar or Mixer Toolbar, look at the page for that part of the interface. And look at the FAQs - this one directly answered one of your questions.

Nor was there any indication that there might be something online that would be more comprehensive.

There is a large "How to Get Help" window that appears every time you launch Audacity Beta that explains the Manual, Wiki and Forum.

If you are still having problems, please use 1.3.13 if you don't already have it, and confirm that is the version you are using when you ask for help.

The current Windows .EXE version of Audacity (the recommended download for Windows) includes the full manual which is the same as the on-line manual.

To be accurate, that isn't now completely true. So that we can keep the online manual as up-to-date as possible, it now refers to the current state of the code as available in our Nightly Builds. So right now the Manual relates to 1.3.14 alpha.



Gale