Editing Audio Clip

[jerblak23]

I'm completely new to audacity, but I wanted to take a 3 minute clip out of a podcast and post it. I can't do it because the trim option doesn't enable, nor do a lot of other options like save. I isolated the segment but then I can't go on to the next step because of this. I downloaded the lame encoder and followed the simple tutorial. I noticed after a couple of times trying to edit the podcast that audacity doesn't support itunes files, so I downloaded from an RSS feed and set that file to be opened by audacity. I'm basically taking wild stabs it seems. Can anyone help?

[kozikowski]

Default iTunes music is in M4A, not MP3 because M4A allows copy protection and other tricks. It's not a bad compressor, either.

If you assume an iTunes music file without FairPlay protection, you can download and install the FFMpeg software package.

http://audacityteam.org/download/

Then you can open up the M4A file directly -- although I would probably go through the desktop rather than direct.

After you get the music into Audacity, find the beginning and ending of the work you want to export through zooming and playing. Audacity will not scrub. Place a label at each place -- Control-B. Labels are sticky or magnetic and it's very easy to drag-select that portion by letting your selection stick to the labels.

File > Export Selection. Audacity will not Save a sound file. If you absolutely need an MP3 file, then, yes, you need the lame software for that.

Koz

[jerblak23]

Ok I set the markers, but the options under file and edit are mostly blanked out. I downloaded the ffmpeg also, but just like lame encoder I don't know what I'm supposed to do with it. It's a program that during installation said it would be saved in program files for audacity. When I found it I saw these dll files and I don't know how to use those. How does the lame encoder and ffmpeg library enable me to export an MP3 from audacity?

[steve]

Ok I set the markers, but the options under file and edit are mostly blanked out.

Most options in Audacity are disabled while Audacity is playing, recording or paused. Click the "Stop" button and see if the options are available.

I downloaded the ffmpeg also, but just like lame encoder I don't know what I'm supposed to do with it.

See here: http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/FAQ: ... encoder.3F
and here: http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/FAQ: ... Library.3F

When correctly installed Audacity can use Lame and FFMpeg for importing/exporting a wider range of audio file types.

[jerblak23]

The problem was that I was pressing pause while listening to my clip. I never pressed stop after getting everything set. Thanks for your help