Leading blank space is not treated as silence on Export Multiple

[yannick]

Contrary to what the release notes say, leading blank space is not treated as silence when exporting multiple tracks.

Ubuntu 18.04
Audacity 2.3.3 installed from the Ubuntu archive :
audacity/bionic,now 2.3.3-0build1~ubuntu18.04 amd64

How to reproduce :
- import two tracks ;
- move one slightly to the right so it doesn't start at 0:00:00 ;
- File > Export > Export Multiple
The track that was "offseted" has no silence at the beginning, hence it is no longer aligned when re-imported.

Thanks for the great work !

[Trebor]

As long as one track began at 0:00:00 the offset should be preserved when the mix is exported.
However exporting the offset track alone will not insert silence at the beginning.
A workaround is to generate a tiny bit of silence at the start of the offset track, e.g. 1ms, or even 1 sample,
then silence will fill the offset when exported.

[yannick]

Quick correction and more info :

- my version was installed from ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity and not from the ubuntu archive, apologies for that mistake.
- I tested the 3.3.2 snap and it doesn't preserve blank space either on multiple track export.

[steve]

When using Export Multiple based on tracks, ensure that any tracks with leading empty space have a bit of "Silence" at the beginning of the track (https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/silence.html)

[yannick]

yes, I know that, that's what I've been doing for, like, ever

But, on the 2.3.3 release notes, one can read :

Leading blank space treated as silence on Export

For this release we have added a feature where by default when exporting audio any leading blank space in the tracks or project to be exported is treated as silence and appropriate leading silence will pad the exported audio.

And, well... either it doesn't work, or, I'm doing something wrong - which is not unheard of !

That's why I posted this message here, as kind of a bug report, but maybe it's not the right place ? In which case, I'd be happy to repost, if someone can point me in the right direction.

[steve]

And, well... either it doesn't work, or, I'm doing something wrong - which is not unheard of !

It doesn't work.

That's why I posted this message here, as kind of a bug report,

Thank you. I was a bit short of time when I wrote my previous reply.
I tested the feature and found that it didn't work, so I've logged it on the Audacity bug tracker.

For what it's worth, the Preference setting does work for normal Export, and I believe it "should" work for "Export Multiple", but it doesn't.

[yannick]

Thanks ! I shall wait for a new release then.