laptop mic.

Downloading the concert file from the recorder via usb was simple and the full length concert is on the hard drive via my music files.
Tried playing the concert direct to audacity via the usb but this did not work.
The core need is to record from the hard drive to audacity without the mic being live. Can this be done in the latest version, I wonder?
I cannot grasp what relationship the music and the mic has and why silencing the mic also closes down the music.

regards thoramay.

With respect this is far from the only area in which your understanding is incomplete.

And since you are disinclined to follow the steps I have suggested, I’m afraid I can not help you any further.

OK so music file exists on the PC as an MP3.

Use File-Open to load the file into Audacity.

You should then be able to play it/edit it etc within Audacity

regards
Bernard

In my voluntary work as a PA sound technician, "mike" is just as common term for a microphone as "mic". So I don't think the topic title is too far out, nor is Gwyn's post. (But I mean mike, not Mike)

As the file now exists on the PC I think Thoramay's getting a bit bogged down in the Mic/Mike problem that I think is now irrelevant.

I'll sleep on it and check back in tomorrow.

Night all

Bernard

I'll check on a Windows 7 machine tomorrow and make a screenshot of the Windows mixer. I think this is more likely to fit than my own XP layout.

Shaky. As we are trying to solve the problem with different versions on our screens it is all very confusing.
I now intend to do a restore and then download the latest beta version. Maybe I can then mute the mike and achieve what I want in audacity.
I am grateful for your interest and help.
At present, trying to shorten the concert file with an open mic is a nightmare senario.

regards thoramay

So far it seems attempts to mute the mic have been limited to within Audacity. Why not just disable it in Windows?

Peter. That is what I was advised to do...but!! muting the mike in windows also mutes the music files.
I was told to go to the loudspeaker symbol. right click and then disable the mic.
Returning to audacity I could not get any music to play.
The version I have been given is 123 version, released in 2004 for XP.
I am told that the latest version operates in exactly the same way.
Trying to shorten the concert with an open mic is a no-no.
I have tried to establish on my Dell laptop where the mic is situated and, maybe, cover it but no joy yet on this.
The thread seems to be going around the houses rather than concentrating on how I can mute the mic.
Let's see how I fare when I download the latest version.

regards thoramay.

My apologies if I was a little abrupt yesterday, but there are various fundamental principles involved in the task you are undertaking for which this is IMO neither the time or the place for a wide-ranging discussion.

However, I’ll try to expand briefly. You already have a digital recording on your recorder. Re-recording this can at best preserve the quality already obtained, but as you have already observed it is more likely to - perhaps significantly - deteriorate it for various reasons related to the process you follow.

A typical audio CD can hold something less than 80 minutes of audio which stored digitally equates to 700mb of data, using the standard conversion rate (parameters).

In order to squeeze a 2 hour recording onto less than 128mb of data, your recorder is using something known as audio compression. This is akin to different digital camera sensor sizes; a 16 megapixel camera can take pictures with much more detail than a 10 megapixel sensor camera.

The smaller file size is directly proportional to the loss of detail and is analogous to the quality of your recording.

Therefore you should be working on the recording you already have, and not subjecting it to further degradation.

How you then proceed depends on where you intend to play the CD created. If you want something that can be played anywhere you need to slice your existing digital file into approximately 70minute segments, then **convert** the digital file have into the .wav format conventionally used in CDs.

Depending on the format of your existing file (could be MP3, could be something else) you might do the conversion in Audacity or something else like another free piece of software called VLC. You then need to ‘burn’ this to a blank CD. For this I use something called Media Monkey, which is also free.

If on the other hand you want to play the CD solely on a newer model that supports MP3 files you can put the entire 2 hour recording down on one of those.

So to recap, the first step is to figure out what file format you already have on your hard disk; right click on this in Windows explorer then read this off the properties dialogue.

Thanks for staying with me.
The file is MP3 format.
The object of using audacity is to slim down the concert to 80 minutes to fit on a cd to be played on any machine. I understand that I need to save back to the hard drive as a WAV file. Is this correct?
I am following instructions from a friend who has put his copy of audacity on my machine.
What I have now discovered that using audacity andd clicking on file and then open, I can import the MP3 file and can view the whole concert across the page.
Pressing the green button starts the music and then a line follows this across the page.
I can then see the spikes that tell me where the singing is and where the talking is. I have tried to cut out the talking parts but the cut button does not work.
I obviously need a good book on this programme. It has huge potential for me.

regatrds thoramay.

Almost. The correct term in Audacity is to export; you are moving one format (MP3) to another.

I think the first thing to do is to download the latest version of Audacity. FWIW I am currently working with version 1.3.13 (beta).

Editing the files then is actually quite easy to get the hang of, but it is key to make a copy of your existing file in Windows then work on the copy, in case you muck things up.

The key tools you will need to learn are on the edit menu (delete, silence audio) an don the effects menu (fade in/out to get smoother transitions). Use the magnifier glass icon with the +/- signs to zoom in and out of audio segments to get better definition on these transitions.

Separately, I would download the free version Media Monkey to ultimately burn the CD’s when you have prepared the audio segments and exported them in wav format.

Good luck!

Hi - I'm back

Great news, you've loaded the file successfully.

One option is to cut the file into 2 halves and save to 2 CD's. To do this position the cursor to about 1/2 way (at the end or start of a tune) then Edit-Select-Start to cursor to chose the first 1/2 or Edit-Select-Cursor to End to select the second 1/2.

Then File-Export Selection as WAV back to your PC (give the new file a new name)


The second option is to cut out the chat. Make sure that the "I" icon in the top left is selected then position your cursor at the start of what you want to erase. Hold down the left button and wipe to the right until at the end of the section. Then press the delete key on your keyboard.

When finished with this editing save back to PC as above


regards
Bernard

BTW, one more thing; it may be worth mentioning that what you are doing is likely in breach of current UK copyright legislation.

Indeed it appears that what I am doing in making digital copies of records I have already purchased outright, or been given for free to promote when I was more active on DJ scene, may also contravene current legislation.

This is patently ridiculous, so if there are any music industry executives out there please pm me and I will gladly supply my personal details so you can take me to court and we can get this nonsense overturned.

Shaky. The concert is by a local church choir in which I am the celebrated tenor (take that with a pinch of salt).
I am hoping to produce copies purely for charity donations