Cursor functionality needs dramatic improvement

[Jehannum]

It might not be that hard to code, nor be too taxing on the computer's resources.

For instance, the mouse position could simply index the sound data proportionally (by speed or position).

It wouldn't need pre-processing like altered-speed playback. It would be simply digging out sound data from wherever the mouse was positioned. The mouse stops: the sound stops.

[steve]

It might not be that hard to code, nor be too taxing on the computer's resources.

Please post your patch and I will be very willing to test it. If it works I will be more than happy to promote it and I'm sure that it will receive a considerable amount of backing.

[Jehannum]

It might not be that hard to code, nor be too taxing on the computer's resources.

Please post your patch and I will be very willing to test it. If it works I will be more than happy to promote it and I'm sure that it will receive a considerable amount of backing.

Sorry, no way of patching it myself. It's just that I used to be a programmer and I can imagine how I would attempt to program it conceptually.

[D90]

I too would love to see this feature! Have used it in video editing, and it just makes things so much quicker.

Maybe it would be annoying to be on all the time for other users, perhaps only active when a command key is held down, or CAPS LOCK?

[Gale Andrews]

I too would love to see this feature! Have used it in video editing, and it just makes things so much quicker.

Alright, your vote will be added. Thanks,



Gale

[Editzor]

I came here looking for how to scrub audio and was very surprised it's not available as it seems like such a basic pretty much required thing for complex editing.

For the record I use Final Cut Pro for my basic audio editing (in addition to my full time film/video editing), and one of the reasons is that it allows for subframe audio editing. You get 1/30 frames audio editing and scrubbing out of the box but if you hold down Shift and drag around you'll get 1/100th of a frame scrubbing, replete with In and Out points.

Working with Audio at the Subframe Level
http://documentation.apple.com/en/final ... tasks=true

Without live scrubbing of audio Audacity is of only limited utility. I'm at the point now after editing for so many years that I can hold shift down and nail the in point I need for syncing audio almost every time first try, that's why I was kinda shocked that Audacity can't live scrub audio.

I noticed that you can play audio in it and hold down the left and right arrow keys for a pseudo-scrubbing ability but it won't reverse past the initial click/play point.

Not here to complain, mainly to add my voice for real time scrubbing and just wanted to mention that as a film editor scrubbing audio is essential for syncing Sound FX, ADR and a whole throng of instances.

[kozikowski]

Scrubbing can be viewed as a very, very special, bi-directional application of Effect > Change Speed. As with any effect, it's never applied in real time (Select > Effect > Apply > Review > UNDO) and scrubbing demands that it happen in very real time.

Remember all the requests that Effect > Equalization happen in real time? That one is like playing a selection on your music system, stopping, changing the tone controls, and playing again to see if you like what happened to the tone. Another enormous time waster courtesy of Audacity's non-real time processing.

~~

There is a down side.

See: stuttering, gaps, and repeating segments of sound. The people complaining about those underpowered machine problems would be immediately peeled off and discarded. Those machines would never handle any version of real-time processing.

Koz

[Gale Andrews]

I noticed that you can play audio in it and hold down the left and right arrow keys for a pseudo-scrubbing ability but it won't reverse past the initial click/play point.

Actually a contributor tried to implement seek behind the cursor some time ago but it caused other problems so it was disabled.

add my voice for real time scrubbing

We'll count your vote.


Gale

[auyou]

One thing that is missing that is currently driving me to distraction is the inability to use the mouse to grab the cursor, move it through the waveform and hear it at the same time. I've only known one dedicated audio editing program, I think Cool Edit at least back in the 90's that could do it. I use OSX so can't get it for the Mac and the only piece of software so far I've got for the Mac that can also do it is Final Cut Pro but is useless since it snaps between frames. Without this this essential piece of functionality, it's a bit like painting blindfolded. Trying to splice and edit in silence in nigh impossible. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HEAR WHAT I'M DOING That dynamic speed play button just doesn't cut it.

Yes it's basically the same as what you would do on a reel 2 reel by holding the reels and manually manoevering the tape through the play head

[steve]

Yes it's basically the same as what you would do on a reel 2 reel by holding the reels and manually manoevering the tape through the play head

Don't forget the "B" key (Play to Selection) feature,and the "C" key (Play Cut Preview):
http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/pl ... ay_special