Topic: Merging WAV Files in Audacity

[Wayne Kisbee]

Hi,

Have recently purchased a new recorder where the WAV files get split at 2gb recording at 24/96.

How do I merge/join/combine the 2 files I have in audacity?

Sorry for the dumb question but I can't figure it out.

Cheers

[Duncan]

Hi,

Have recently purchased a new recorder where the WAV files get split at 2gb recording at 24/96.

How do I merge/join/combine the 2 files I have in audacity?

Sorry for the dumb question but I can't figure it out.

Cheers

Try opening them both in their own windows then on the first part do a Transport – Skip to end

Go to the second part and Edit – Select – All
Then Edit – Copy

Return to the first part and Edit Past

I've not used Audacity to do this with my recordings but It seems to work when I just tried it

Duncan

[Wayne Kisbee]

Thankyou Duncan. Very much appreciated.

The gig files I have just joined were recorded in 24/96 and when I have gone to save the new file by using the export function, I seem to be only able to save as 16 bit?

Is that right?

Cheers

Wayne

[vanark]

I am old school, so I still use shntool to join my files  - shntool join -n *.wav

[Ultfris101]

Thankyou Duncan. Very much appreciated.

The gig files I have just joined were recorded in 24/96 and when I have gone to save the new file by using the export function, I seem to be only able to save as 16 bit?

Is that right?

Cheers

Wayne

When export in Audacity there is an "Options" button or something (not in front of it now) that lets you choose 16 bit WAV, 24 bit WAV, etc. That might be defaulting to 16bit. it will stick to the last one used.

If I recall you select "other uncompressed formats" and then go to the options button. Not the cleanest interface but it works and you can't beat the price!

Sounds like what you're seeing.

And I do NOT, repeat do NOT want to start a debate on sample rate but I found that 96kHz yielded very big files to no clear benefit for ME, especially starting out in this world as I did about a year ago. I record in 24bit/48kHz and find the disk space savings and transfer speed-up worth it. I can't hear a difference and by stopping my recorder between bands when there are multiples at a show I don't hit the 2gb limit as frequently. YMMV of course but something to think about.

[Wayne Kisbee]

Hi Ultfris,

Thanks for that, again greatly appreciated.

Re bit rates, its a new recorder so decided to give it a go. Time will tell on that one ha ha.

Thanks again

Wayne

[runonce]

Thankyou Duncan. Very much appreciated.

The gig files I have just joined were recorded in 24/96 and when I have gone to save the new file by using the export function, I seem to be only able to save as 16 bit?

Is that right?

Cheers

Wayne

And I do NOT, repeat do NOT want to start a debate on sample rate but I found that 96kHz yielded very big files to no clear benefit for ME, especially starting out in this world as I did about a year ago. I record in 24bit/48kHz and find the disk space savings and transfer speed-up worth it. I can't hear a difference and by stopping my recorder between bands when there are multiples at a show I don't hit the 2gb limit as frequently. YMMV of course but something to think about.

Following that train of thought - I'd be inclined to track each file and use first file/last song and second file/first song for the merge. Might have to jigger the filenames a bit...but could be quicker in the end.

[Wayne Kisbee]

When export in Audacity there is an "Options" button or something (not in front of it now) that lets you choose 16 bit WAV, 24 bit WAV, etc. That might be defaulting to 16bit. it will stick to the last one used.

If I recall you select "other uncompressed formats" and then go to the options button. Not the cleanest interface but it works and you can't beat the price!

Sounds like what you're seeing.

Sorted, cheers

Wayne

[achalsey]

Hi,

Have recently purchased a new recorder where the WAV files get split at 2gb recording at 24/96.

How do I merge/join/combine the 2 files I have in audacity?

Sorry for the dumb question but I can't figure it out.

Cheers

How I do it is you can also just open both tracks in the same window, then using the time shift tool (the joined arrows pointing left and right in the "tools" tool bar) drag the second track up to the end of first one and connect them.  They should snap together if you put the beginning of the second track to end of the first.  Then just click the little black bar that shows up at the tracks are merged seamlessly together.

[Wayne Kisbee]

Thanks alchalsey.

Another question, what's the best way to split the files into tracks?

[runonce]

Move your cursor to where you want a break.

Ctrl+B

Then File>Export Multiple

[dnsacks]

splitting tracks -- if running a pc, I still find this easiest to do in cdwave (cdwave.com)

[achalsey]

Thanks alchalsey.

Another question, what's the best way to split the files into tracks?

Highlight the area that you want to be a track and like runonce said, control+B, or command+B if you're on a mac.  You can move the track boundaries by clicking the arrows that face inwards at either end of the new track marker that show up underneath the wave form.  If you click the circle it moves the whole track, not just that side.

[Wayne Kisbee]

Thanks guys. Much appreciated as always 

[Wayne Kisbee]

I have split the files into tracks using cdwave and tried to save at 44100 16bit but keep getting a message saying unable open conversion stream. Any ideas?