Why won't Audacity work on my recording?

[steve]

here is the file.

If that is the best version that you have, then I doubt that it is possible to make significant improvement because the "damage" (loss of sound quality) due to MP3 encoding is clearly evident, and that can't be fixed.

[Niku]

So Audacity was telling the truth. Well, that is disappointing, but thanks for your efforts. I'll be printing all of the instructions as soon as my printer lets me (It has the very annoying habit of telling me that the printer is offline or can't be found when it has just printed something else). I can't say that I'm not disappointed, but I'll just have to try some of the options you've mentioned; however, I know that I would not be capable of using many of the techniques without a great deal of frustrating and irritating practice. Well, there is also the physical approach, which is a lot easier, and I have already ordered the supplies for cleaning and buffing the record. I've also ordered a new needle. With a new needle, a rehabilitated record,and--maybe--Audacity, I should be able to reduce those clicks and pops to a considerable degree. Incidentally, the record is a 33-1/3rd, not a 78. In those days, there were 45s, 78s, 33-1/3rd, and even 16-2/3rds for very long playing records.

[kozikowski]

16-2/3rds for very long playing records.

Generally spoken word performances from the library.

If your needle and type of record already match, you're probably not going to get the dramatic bump in quality solving a cross would give you. Cleaning is good.

When you get a pass and it's reasonable (good levels), Export as WAV (Microsoft) right away as a backup. That's a perfect sound format (unlike MP3) and will not add any sound damage. It's also the Audacity default. Then run corrections and export another WAV as a sound master.

Then, if you really need to, export an MP3 for your personal music player or other application. If you have to do any more production or corrections, do it to one of the WAV files, not the MP3, and do it to a copy.

Koz

[Niku]

Steve,
"If that is the best version that you have, then I doubt that it is possible to make significant improvement because the "damage" (loss of sound quality) due to MP3 encoding is clearly evident, and that can't be fixed."
I just noticed this, and I find it to be surprising and disappointing, even shocking. The file I sent is by no means the best file in existence, but it's not THAT bad. It's not very good, I admit but that's why I want to fix it. If you say that Audacity can't fix it, that's a sad commentary on the value of Audacity. Can't fix THAT file? Then what can Audacity fix, clicks that only a dog can hear? In my opinion, if Audacity can't fix THAT file, then it is worthless. However, since you are assigning part of the blame to MP3, what about this one? It's the same poem but in uncompressed WAV format. Can Audacity do anything with this? If not, it's time to get out of the business.


Well, I couldn't send it. It's an uncompressed WAV audio file, and it's 23.1 MB. I guess that's too big to send. I could send it from DropBox, but how could I direct it to this corner of Audacity?

[steve]

If you say that Audacity can't fix it

I'm saying that the damage caused by the "lossy compression" of MP3 encoding is impossible to fix, not only for Audacity but for any program at any price. This is why we stress the importance of working with high quality formats such as WAV, and leave lossy compression 'till the end of the process (if needed at all). Converting from WAV to MP3 loses quality, and there is no way to get that lost quality back.

[steve]

You could post a short extract in WAV format (see: http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 49&t=72887)

[Niku]

Steve,
"5) Attach the file that you have exported to your Forum post.
Below the message composing box is an option to "Upload attachment". Files larger than 2 MB cannot be attached to posts. If your file is larger than 2 MB you can use a free file sharing service and post a link to the file. For example:
https://www.dropbox.com/"

Sometimes there's a POST button and sometimes not. I'm glad there was one this time. Anyway, I now remember that you can send something through DropBox by sending the LINK. Duh! Does the quoted portion above supersede the other portions where it is stated that only short clips, such as 12-seconds, are acceptable? More to the point, would it be acceptable to send the entire 25-minute poem if it were to be sent by a LINK to DropBox?

[Gale Andrews]

The main point is that you need to export your original audio that you are trying to repair as WAV. Then it will be the same quality as what you are trying to repair.

We can accept a link to a Dropbox file of 25 minutes, but the problem is that it will be 250 MB in size (if stereo) or 125 MB if mono. It will probably be sufficient to give us a much shorter file that is representative of a section that you want to repair.

We can always ask for the complete file later if necessary.


Gale

"5) Attach the file that you have exported to your Forum post.
Below the message composing box is an option to "Upload attachment". Files larger than 2 MB cannot be attached to posts. If your file is larger than 2 MB you can use a free file sharing service and post a link to the file. For example:
https://www.dropbox.com/"

Sometimes there's a POST button and sometimes not. I'm glad there was one this time. Anyway, I now remember that you can send something through DropBox by sending the LINK. Duh! Does the quoted portion above supersede the other portions where it is stated that only short clips, such as 12-seconds, are acceptable? More to the point, would it be acceptable to send the entire 25-minute poem if it were to be sent by a LINK to DropBox?

[Niku]

Gale,

Well, my file is 23.1 MB, not 125MB or 250MB. but since you would obviously be happier if I didn't send the entire recording, I won't belabor the point. I'll send a much shorter sample.

[Gale Andrews]

my file is 23.1 MB, not 125MB or 250MB.

If it's 25 minutes it isn't uncompressed WAV then.


Gale