Auto labelling - possible?

[Simonsmithster]

Hi,
I am recording a huge text.
I wonder is there a function within audacity that would automatically generate and apply a label in a recording timeline? Ie I press control . And I get a label, but the label is automatically generated with a simple two or three letter string. That way I can mark a paper script with these letters when the actor does a retake.
Any ideas anyone?
Thanks
Simon

[billw58]

On Mac, CMD+. (period) creates a label at the current playback (or recording) position. It does not fill in default text, but instead leaves the label open for editing.

So, no, auto labeling is not currently possible. Would you like to make a feature request for it?

-- Bill

[billw58]

I'm surprised to find that this request is not on the the wiki Feature Requests page or the wiki Label Enhancements page . Maybe it's buried in one of those pages, but I can't find it.

I'd support this, as I found it very useful in Pro Tools. It would probably need a preference to define what the label would contain and how it would be incremented.

-- Bill

[Simonsmithster]

Hi bill
Thanks for your response.
yes I would like to request it.
Ideally it would be a alphanumeric code for me, perhaps start AA,AB,AC,AD ........BA,BB,BC, etc
That would give a mahooosive number of possible tags or labels per file and still be quick to write down on a paper script.

Simon

[billw58]

I've created a new label enhancement proposal here .
-- Bill

[Simonsmithster]

Wow that's brilliant thanks bill. It would be a great addition to a great product. Just one note on macs 'ctrl m' is an os shortcut. I use a self defined shortcut. Worked a treat.
Simon

[waxcylinder]

Bill. I would support that too - but it gets a bit lost in that Proposal page - maybe you should also create a Bugzilla enhancement entry for that (some of the key developers prefer that route to long proposals).

WC

[Gale Andrews]

Moved to "Adding Features".

There weren't any previous requests for this that I know of. I added three votes for it to http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Featu ... sts#labels (scroll down).


Gale

[Paul L]

On Windows, I could easily type ctrl+m RETURN to drop empty labels during playback or recording. I can make the motion even simpler with an AutoHotKey script that sends keystrokes for me so I need only hit one key, or I could even make a mouse button or scroll wheel do it. I don't know Mac well but I understand there is Apple Script to code similar makeshifts.

[steve]

I've created a new label enhancement proposal here .

The biggest problem that I see, is that everyone will want something different.
Some will want a 2 digit number,
some will want a 3 letter code,
some will want leading text then a number,
some will want a number and suffix,
some will want a time stamp,
some will want the date + a number with leading zeros,
some will want a number then the label left open to add custom text,
some will want "A1, A2, A3...A9, B1, B2..."
some will want hexadecimal,
some will want ....

We already have "Ctrl+M" (CMD+. on Mac) then type in the text that you want, and the shortcut may be customised to almost any other key. How far do we go?

I can make the motion even simpler with an AutoHotKey script that sends keystrokes for me so I need only hit one key,

Yes, scripting your own custom action is one way to get the option that you want (and probably the only way that everyone can get the option that they want).

Here is a script for Autokey (Linux) to insert a numbered label:

Code: Select all

#Insert a numbered label in Audacity
if not store.has_key("counter"):
    store.set_value("counter", 1)
else:
    cur = store.get_value("counter")
    if (cur > 99):
        store.set_value("counter", 1)
    else:
        store.set_value("counter", cur + 1)
keyboard.send_keys("<ctrl>+m")
keyboard.send_keys("Label %d" % store.get_value("counter"))
keyboard.send_keys("<enter>")