Join 2 long recordings- easier way?

[judycam]

Thanks so much for providing this forum, first thing.

I've reviewed the manual and can't find the answer to my question. I want to make 40 min or so recordings on different topics. The last half of each recording is the same however, and I'd like to add the same second half to each topic's first half.

Is there an easier way to join the two halves other than highlighting by clicking in the track, holding and dragging along the entire length of it? Surely there's a way to click in the track once to copy it?

Many thanks, Judy

[PGA]

Sure, Judy! Audacity uses standard Windows features so just select the bit you want to copy and paste then Ctrl+C to copy to clipboard, go click where you want to paste and then Ctrl+V to paste. There are also icon buttons that will do the same job in the toolbar (Scissors for Cut, Two documents for Copy, a clipboard and a document for Paste)

[Edgar]

I've reviewed the manual and can't find the answer to my question. I want to make 40 min or so recordings on different topics. The last half of each recording is the same however, and I'd like to add the same second half to each topic's first half.

Is there an easier way to join the two halves other than highlighting by clicking in the track, holding and dragging along the entire length of it? Surely there's a way to click in the track once to copy it?

You do not specify exactly the initial condition, so...
Condition One
You have one audio recording (maybe a WAV or something--call it FirstSpeech) the first half of which is the first "part 1" and the second half of which is the "common ending".
You have one audio recording (SecondSpeech) all of which is the second "part 1" and which lacks the "common ending".
In this case you would start Audacity and import (menu: File > Import > Audio... ) FirstSpeech; then start a new Audacity Project (menu: File > New ) ; in this new project import SecondSpeech. Now listen to FirstSpeech and identify the point at which you wish to start the "common ending"; stop listening/playing, click in the wavetrack to set the cursor exactly at the point you wish to begin your copy--zoom way in, press <SPACEBAR> or click Play to listen a few seconds, press <SPACEBAR> or click Stop. When you have the cursor just right, select to track end (menu: Edit > Select > Cursor to Track End or keyboad shortcut--mine is <Shift+End> ). Now copy that selection (menu: Edit > Copy or keyboad shortcut--mine is <Ctrl+C> ).
In the other Project (SecondSpeech) click anywhere in the wavetrack; move the cursor to the end (menu: Transport > Skip to End or keyboad shortcut--mine is <End> ). Paste the snippet (menu: Edit > Paste or keyboad shortcut--mine is <Ctrl+V> ).
Condition Two
You have three audio recordings (FirstSpeech, SecondSpeech, CommonEnd). Following the instructions in the above example import all three in to their own Project. Click in CommonEnd's wavetrack anywhere; select all the audio (menu: Edit > Select > All or keyboad shortcut--mine is <Ctrl+A> ). Follow the above example's instructions on moving the cursor to the end of each of FirstSpeech and SecondSpeech pasting the snippet (you only need to copy it once) onto each.
Condition Three
Both FirstSpeech and SecondSpeech have stuff to cut off the end before adding the "common ending". Following the above examples. Identify the point at which you wish to truncate the audio, select to end, and delete (menu: Edit >Remove Audio > Delete or keyboad shortcut--mine is <Delete> ). Continue as in the above examples to copy and paste.

[judycam]

Thank you both. I will work on these tomorrow and follow your recommendations, Judy

[Edgar]

Thank you both. I will work on these tomorrow and follow your recommendations, Judy

Let us know how this turns out.

I realize my instructions are often a bit "long in the tooth" but I never like to assume the reader's (who might not always be you) knowledge and experience level.

[judycam]

Dear Edgar and PGA,

I'm getting there...

Next question: I've been experimenting with your advice by using two, very short test tracks, recorded into Audacity. Even though I choose one track as evidenced by it being surrounded by a yellow line, when I ask to copy THAT track, both tracks become highlighted. How do you highlight just one track? So basic I'm sure but I can't see how to do this.

Thank you again, Judy

[steve]

The yellow line does not indicate that the track is "selected". The yellow line indicates that it is the "current track", or in technical terms, it is "the track that has focus".
When audio is selected, it is "highlighted" with a darker colour.

If you press the ENTER key, you should see that the contents of the track with the yellow line change to a darker colour - the track is now "selected". Press the ENTER key again and the colour changes back to the normal lighter shade - it is now not selected.

"Selection" of audio is an important feature in Audacity - it is worth experimenting with this to get the hang of it. There's an article here that goes into full detail about all of the ways of selecting audio (you don't need to remember all of the details, but it would be worth reading through and trying out the different methods) http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/Audacity_Selection

[judycam]

Hurray! Thank you, Steve. Thank you all for your generosity!

[billw58]

Even though I choose one track as evidenced by it being surrounded by a yellow line, when I ask to copy THAT track, both tracks become highlighted.

As Steve pointed out, you didn't have any tracks selected. There is a preference to "Select all audio in project, if none selected" and it is ON by default. So when you did Edit > Copy, Audacity selected all the audio in your project since none was currently selected.

-- Bill

[judycam]

Had I known that Audacity Selection was part of the editing info, I would not have had to bother you all, but thank you for helping me regardless. Everything I need is there. Sorry about that, Judy