Audio disappeared while the prog was still on

[Vels]

Audacity 2.2.1, Windows 7.

The tracks remained in tact, but the audio within them have just gone away into nothingness. So I had 10 tracks with vocals, over a split second, I got 10 empty tracks with nothing. One explanation I could see for this is that I imported the existing wav files straight from the archive on my desktop, didn't have them anywhere else, and this happened exactly when I returned to that archive to get one more wav file to the bunch. But before I'd do so, I took a look inside and the audio was already gone. All of the classic ways of recovering and restoring have been tried, unless you want to try me, does anyone of you know how to restore it, whether it be with progs or anything else and what is the exact reason behind this occurance? I'm willing to go lengths and I don't want to give up on this.

[steve]

I'd highly recommend that you update to Audacity 2.4.2. You can get it via the Audacity website: https://www.audacityteam.org/download/windows/

Please note that the support that we can provide for Windows 7 is very limited as that version of Windows is obsolete.

[Vels]

Yeah but before doing so I just have to make sure that I've tried all possible ways to bring it back. A little update on the case, I was able to restore a bunch of .au files, looks like from the latest session, can't confirm it. Later I got a bunch of .auf files. Tried Audacity Recovery Utility, did not help. If you got any thoughts as to what was the cause of it and is it still possible to get it back, I would be very glad.

[waxcylinder]

Did you by any chance use File>Save As rather than just File>Save to save back to the existing project name.

If so that may be the problem - we had a nasty bug a few releases back (I can't remember which exactly) where if you did that when you reopened the project it was all flat-lined.

This is why it is important to keep up to date with latest releases of Audacity - we do work hard to fix bugs.

WC

[steve]

we had a nasty bug a few releases back (I can't remember which exactly) where if you did that when you reopened the project it was all flat-lined.

That was Audacity 2.2.1.
We fixed it in Audacity 2.2.2 in mid February 2018 and announced it as an urgent bug fix release.

[Vels]

I remember very clearly, I saved it every 30 minutes or so, it already got a name for the .aup file but then the audio was captured by Satan himself. All the tracks were still there, empty though. Should I give up on this or keep a trying.

[steve]

it already got a name for the .aup file but then the audio was captured by Satan himself.

If you used "File menu > Save As" rather than "File menu > Save" (in Audacity 2.2.1), then Satan has eaten it and there is no way back. This was a very nasty bug.

Should I give up on this or keep a trying.

I think that project is gone and lost forever.

[Vels]

It was standard saving, once you click it, you won't do it again until something changes. But deep inside I knew, it was such a good take, what sin exactly should I have sinned for it to happen to me... Thanks fellas, I appreciate.

[kozikowski]

Quick note. Instead of Saving every few minutes, it might be Save As a different name.

Just plain Save just updates one single Project. It's fast and convenient and it will save all your edit formats (but not Undo). Lose that one Project and the show is in the mud. Each time you Save As a different name, Audacity will save a fresh, new Project. You can go back to any one of them for a rescue.

It's also not a bad idea to File > Export a perfect quality WAV (Microsoft) 16-bit file if the show is mono or stereo. WAV won't save multi-track shows.

Koz

[Vels]

Well I still got about 17 .au files with each of them weighing about one MB, I know there's a way to restore it back manually but I didn't get a grip of what to do in the English tutorial, are any other languages available? Also a bunch of .auf files.