Completely Perplexed

[AngelaSwendsen]

After I master a recording and save it, then export to wav or mp3, the mastering I've done is lost. Literally I can open up the audacity project file and all of the mastering work is there. But when I open up the wavs or mp3s I am back to low RMS. This only starting happening in December. I realized it in January what was happening when the ACX team got back to me and said all my files, except chapter 1, had low RMS. So I opened them all back up, in audacity project mode, saw my files were fine, reconverted to wav and then mp3 and uploaded again. Still came back all RMS to low. So then I pulled the files into audacity from the mp3 format. Yep, all mastering gone. Pulled them in from wav files and yep, all mastering gone. I have no idea how this is happening. Again, totally new never before experienced issue. I have unistalled and reinstalled. No avail. Audacity 2.3.0 on Windows 10. I've been playing with this for over a month and about to pull my hair out. The poor author. If I can't figure this out can I download another program and dump my audacity files into it?

[kozikowski]

If I can't figure this out can I download another program and dump my audacity files into it?

No. That would give you a closed cyclical failure. Other programs can't open Audacity Projects and the most reliable way to get a show into a different program is Export as WAV.

I'm thinking about how I would make this happen if somebody wrote me a big check to force it to happen. "All my effects are lost" happens here and there and I don't remember what the solution is—or if there is one

When you finish a fresh reading, do you Export a WAV and keep it in a safe spot? That's recommended against the time your computer goes into the mud while you're editing and takes the only copy of the show with it.

You correct the live recording for theatrical errors (mouth clicks) and then apply the Mastering tools. The final show passes ACX Check and sounds perfect. Then you export a WAV for archive and the 192 quality MP3 for submission and both of them are missing the corrections. Where in there did you save the Project?

Restart Audacity. Open a mastered project, check it, and export another WAV. Same problem? That's a terrific test because Audacity Projects don't save UNDO. The old, uncorrected show no longer exists (except in your safety backup). If that starts working, that may be your Get-Out-Of-Jail card until we figure out what's really happening.

Koz

[AngelaSwendsen]

I save the project before I export to wav. And as mentioned, I can open the project up and all the edits are there. But when I open the wav into audacity they are not there. It's the strangest thing ever. I found a work around finally, which is to use switch converter and pull in the audacity project file directly, skipping the wav format altogether. But something is just not right about the whole thing. Thank you for your thoughts!

A

[kozikowski]

I can open the project up and all the edits are there. But when I open the wav into audacity they are not there.

That's not what I said. Close Audacity. Open Audacity, open a project, make sure the edits are there and export a WAV. Does the WAV have the edits?

Did the Project open without the edits—after you closed and opened Audacity.

Closing Audacity is a special case. Depending on your results, it can give us a place to look for the problem.

Koz

[kozikowski]

I found a work around finally, which is to use switch converter and pull in the audacity project file directly,

We have to be using the wrong words. Switch Converter should not be able to open an Audacity Project.

I have to leave for a bit.

Koz

[kozikowski]

Let's back up. When you save an Audacity Project, it creates a management AUP file and a _DATA folder like this.



Do you get those?

When you export a sound file you should only have one file like this.

Screen Shot 2019-01-29 at 8.45.54.png (7.56 KiB) Viewed 107 times

Your icon graphics will be different. I'm on a Mac.

Unless you changed it, Windows will helpfully hide the ".wav" part of the name. That's convenient and pretty...until something goes wrong. OK so far?

Koz

[kozikowski]

Media Info has an on-line file checker so you can be more certain what you have.

https://mediaarea.net/MediaInfoOnline

You can also force Windows to reveal full filenames.

Koz