Labeling Tracks bombs & suggestions

[Doug BB]

Hi!
HP Pavilion notebook, Win7 64, Audacity 2.1.3

I've been meaning to come here for months, please forgive
my resulting dam burst!

Adding to Labeling Tracks bombs recording:
While I'm recording lectures etc, I often take notes in the label track, to save listen-time for
later clean-up, etc.
But most times that causes the recording to stop with NO WARNING, often un-noticed for awhile.
Many key combos seemingly cause this, for example, starting a new note with a space. (I think.)
I thought I could avoid this by learning, but no, it's been six? months, no help.
Most times I have no idea which key combo caused it.

Seemingly, besides the unwanted STOP, I think it also often changes modes, such as into
time-shift tool, and other unpredictable stuff.
If that cant be fixed, a loud BEEP or screen-flash warning when it jumps out
would be better than nothing...I could restart recording much sooner.

Minor problem 1:
Also, that is the only text text editor I've ever used that does not use the standard keyboard shortcuts, such as shift-del to cut, and shift-insert to paste. (This editor has it.)
The dropdown copy, cut, paste menu is 30 times slower.

Minor problem 2: Sometimes I have to delay editing, and a project will
accumulate 8 - 15 tracks and I'll save it. But counting tracks is a guessing game,
I lose my place while scrolling. An auto-numbering in track name would
be way cool!

Minor problem 3: There is no way to save a single track's labels, they all
save into a single file, with no easy way to differentiate between tracks
other than reading the times. (And sometimes the start times seem wrong?)
A blank line between tracks would be a big help.
(I sometimes paste my label notes into the MP3's comments as an index,
or a side file.)

Minor problem 4: After the above unwanted STOP, in panic mode, I'll restart
the lecture as another track, again taking notes. I have found no way to later copy
part 2 along with those notes to paste onto the end of the truncated track.
I forget if pasting a label track portion is impossible, or I just too difficult.
I get warnings like; You cant paste one type track into another. I know that, WTF?

A cool Bell/Whistle: If I could save the label track into the Mp3
(or a file) at the same time as I create/export the Mp3!
I think everyone would use that almost every time if
it was that easy!

Sample 2 saved label notes:
2334.627120 2334.627120 Soul in Hell
3252.279728 3252.279728 END

...I wonder if those seconds could be converted
into more human timekeeping?

Sorry for writing a frigging novel!
Thanks for considering!
--Doug

[steve]

While I'm recording lectures etc, I often take notes in the label track, to save listen-time for
later clean-up, etc.
But most times that causes the recording to stop with NO WARNING, often un-noticed for awhile.

Tip: Be very cautious using the spacebar while recording.

The spacebar is the keyboard shortcut for Play / Stop.
The spacebar CAN be used while writing or editing label text without affecting record / play, but you MUST be inside the label text area (ie editing the text). If focus is not inside the label text, then spacebar acts as a keyboard shortcut and will stop the recording.

Tip: When adding / editing labels during recording, get into the habit of using_underscore_instead_of_spaces (or-using-hyphens-if-you-find-that-easier.)

Most times I have no idea which key combo caused it.

Almost certainly the spacebar, though "P" will Pause the recording if focus is not inside the label text.
Most other shortcuts are disabled during recording, though a few are necessary (such as Ctrl+B, Ctrl+M, Space, Pause).

Seemingly, besides the unwanted STOP, I think it also often changes modes, such as into
time-shift tool, and other unpredictable stuff.

The keys F1 to F6 select the different tools. On some keyboards it can be easy to activate these when intending to type a number.
These keys should not interrupt a recording, neither can I cause a recording to be interrupted by these keys.

Also, that is the only text text editor I've ever used

Audacity isn't a text editor - it's an audio editor.

that does not use the standard keyboard shortcuts, such as shift-del to cut, and shift-insert to paste.

The standard shortcuts for Cut, Copy and Paste on Windows (and Linux) are:
Cut: Ctrl + X
Copy: Ctrl + C
Paste: Ctrl + V
(https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/hel ... -shortcuts)
Audacity does support these keyboard shortcuts: https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/key ... rence.html

An auto-numbering in track name would
be way cool!

See the "Name newly recorded tracks" section here: https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/rec ... ences.html

There is no way to save a single track's labels, they all
save into a single file

There may be a plug-in for that....
Yes, see this topic: viewtopic.php?f=42&t=107826

Minor problem 4: After the above unwanted STOP, in panic mode, I'll restart
the lecture as another track, again taking notes.

Why not resume recording in the same track? (appending the original recording).
By default, the shortcut for Record / Append Record is "R".

If I could save the label track into the Mp3

That would give you a non-standard MP3, with no guarantee that it will play on everything.

...I wonder if those seconds could be converted
into more human timekeeping?

Times of labels are in seconds. It should be easy to convert into any other format with a spreadsheet.

Sorry for writing a frigging novel!

No problem, but if you wish to discuss any of these items in detail, I'd suggest that you stick to one issue per topic so as to keep the discussion focussed on the important issues.

[waxcylinder]

Adding to Labeling Tracks bombs recording:
While I'm recording lectures etc, I often take notes in the label track, to save listen-time for
later clean-up, etc.
But most times that causes the recording to stop with NO WARNING, often un-noticed for awhile.
Many key combos seemingly cause this, for example, starting a new note with a space. (I think.)
I thought I could avoid this by learning, but no, it's been six? months, no help.
Most times I have no idea which key combo caused it.

If In Tracks Behaviors preferences you have checked "on" "Type to create a label"
IF you than click in the label track to start typing the label - and IF you start the the label with a space
THEN, yes Audacity will stop (it takes the Space as the command to Stop - it is the Stop/Start shortcut)

You can create a label while Recording which has spaces in it - but just not leading spaces.

The better way to create a label while recording is either
a) Ctrl+M - to create a label at the current record head position
b) position cursor on waveform and type Ctrl+B - this will make a label at that position
In both cases you can type label with leading spaces and embedded spaces.


If you want to continue using the "Type to create a label" feature and if you don't need the Spacebar for a Start/Stop shortcut you can then either un-assign that shortcut or change it to a different keyboard shortcut - see: https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/key ... ences.html

WC

[waxcylinder]

An auto-numbering in track name would
be way cool!

See the "Name newly recorded tracks" section here: https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/rec ... ences.html

That's only helpful if you also go to Tracks Preferences and turn "on" "Show Audio track name as overlay" - as in the Track Control panel there is only room for "Audio Track" and not the numbering which gets truncated - see: https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/tra ... ences.html

WC

[steve]

That's only helpful if you also go to Tracks Preferences and turn "on" "Show Audio track name as overlay" - as in the Track Control panel there is only room for "Audio Track" and not the numbering which gets truncated

You can give the track a custom name that is short enough to be fully visible (or no name at all, just a number).
This setting is also in the "Name newly recorded tracks" preferences: https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/rec ... ences.html

[waxcylinder]

That's only helpful if you also go to Tracks Preferences and turn "on" "Show Audio track name as overlay" - as in the Track Control panel there is only room for "Audio Track" and not the numbering which gets truncated

You can give the track a custom name that is short enough to be fully visible (or no name at all, just a number).
This setting is also in the "Name newly recorded tracks" preferences: https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/rec ... ences.html

That's cute - and this is me writing that down

Peter.

[steve]

That's cute

I know, I made it

[waxcylinder]

That's cute

I know, I made it

But I note that it only affects tracks created by recording.

If you use Tracks > Add New > Stereo Track you still get the bog-standard "Audio track labelling

Peter.

[steve]

But I note that it only affects tracks created by recording.

Yes, that's why it's in the Recording Preferences.

One of the main objectives was to provide a way to know when events in the recording occurred (enable the timestamp option, and add the Timeline time to the time logged in the track name). Of course it can be used for many other purposes, such as Doug BB's request for auto-numbering.

I'm guessing that you will next want to ask "Why not have options for tracks created in other ways?"
This type of feature can easily become overloaded with features and options. My aim was to focus on a common subset of use cases - that of auto-naming recordings. It could be particularly useful for people that regularly make timer recordings.

Many other "auto-naming" features could be achieved through plug-ins. Auto-naming recordings can't, at least not very conveniently, hence making this a built-in feature rather than a plug-in.

[waxcylinder]

But I note that it only affects tracks created by recording.

Yes, that's why it's in the Recording Preferences.

Hahaha I'd spotted that

I'm guessing that you will next want to ask "Why not have options for tracks created in other ways?"
This type of feature can easily become overloaded with features and options. My aim was to focus on a common subset of use cases - that of auto-naming recordings. It could be particularly useful for people that regularly make timer recordings.

Oh no I won't

As you know I'm working on a different can o' worms at the moment Steve ...

Can_o_worms.jpg (15.63 KiB) Viewed 371 times

Peter.