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Gear / Technical Help => Post-Processing, Computer / Streaming / Internet Devices & Related Activity => Topic started by: ero3030 on January 05, 2020, 06:49:44 AM

Title: Audacity exporting my files smaller than originals
Post by: ero3030 on January 05, 2020, 06:49:44 AM
i have never really checked as i dont really do anything with my files other than normalize.  did it with 3 small files last night all under 1 gig.  a 870mb file 568mb after exporting and so on and so forth with the other 2.  i checked the output bit depth and it was set too 32 float.  i changed it too 24 just to check and getting the same results. doing something wrong?
i had no luck searching online or on here.  thanks for any help,  ed  recording on a mixpre3 line in basic
Title: Re: Audacity exporting my files smaller than originals
Post by: morst on January 05, 2020, 06:52:49 AM
i have never really checked as i dont really do anything with my files other than normalize.  did it with 3 small files last night all under 1 gig.  a 870mb file 568mb after exporting and so on and so forth with the other 2.  i checked the output bit depth and it was set too 32 float.  i changed it too 24 just to check and getting the same results. doing something wrong?
i had no luck searching online or on here.  thanks for any help,  ed  recording on a mixpre3 line in basic
what version of audacity?
PC Mac or Linux?
Choice of file output format? (wav? FLAC?)
Sample rate (should not matter but I am curious)


ps rather than normalize, I prefer to use the "amplify" plugin to measure the amount of boost up to -1.0 dB or closer to 0 dBfs,  and then set the levels right by using the gain sliders before doing my "export multiple"
Title: Re: Audacity exporting my files smaller than originals
Post by: ero3030 on January 05, 2020, 07:15:05 AM
Running 2.1.0 and using a PC
Title: Re: Audacity exporting my files smaller than originals
Post by: ero3030 on January 05, 2020, 07:56:18 AM
Think I figured it out.  I usually don't track the shows so exporting a "chain" automatically converts the the files to 16 bit
Title: Re: Audacity exporting my files smaller than originals
Post by: morst on January 05, 2020, 03:41:36 PM
Think I figured it out.  I usually don't track the shows so exporting a "chain" automatically converts the the files to 16 bit
Export multiple has a box where you can control the output format and pick 16, 24, or 32 bit (or other!)
Title: Re: Audacity exporting my files smaller than originals
Post by: relefunt on January 06, 2020, 03:40:51 PM
I record at a lot of different resolutions/rates and find that I need to check the settings -- every single time -- when exporting. I have accidentally down-sampled more than one show and then had to re-do everything -- that was a learning opportunity!
Title: Re: Audacity exporting my files smaller than originals
Post by: ero3030 on January 06, 2020, 05:57:36 PM
I record at a lot of different resolutions/rates and find that I need to check the settings -- every single time -- when exporting. I have accidentally down-sampled more than one show and then had to re-do everything -- that was a learning opportunity!
Shit!  Every time I normalized and exported I down sampled all my shit.  Go figure. Luckily I only usually normalize when recording acoustic or bluegrass stuff.  Messed up on my part.   I'd say time to start paying attention,  but..... thanks for the info and tips.  Ed
Title: Re: Audacity exporting my files smaller than originals
Post by: relefunt on January 06, 2020, 07:52:14 PM
I record at a lot of different resolutions/rates and find that I need to check the settings -- every single time -- when exporting. I have accidentally down-sampled more than one show and then had to re-do everything -- that was a learning opportunity!
Shit!  Every time I normalized and exported I down sampled all my shit.  Go figure. Luckily I only usually normalize when recording acoustic or bluegrass stuff.  Messed up on my part.   I'd say time to start paying attention,  but..... thanks for the info and tips.  Ed

From past mistakes, I now always double-check the export settings AND check the sample rate of the file after I have exported. It's easy to do on Mac (highlight file name, then click "command-I") and there is probably some way-better way to do that on Windows.

Occasionally I run into a 16-bit, 96kHz file on the inter webs and i usually wonder if that was an exporting error.