Audacity Program

And yes I did forget to change the category. It is sort of general.

I'm not sure I understand the problem, Tom.

When you mention that it isn't in the library, do you mean that the file you are trying to convert can't be found? Or is the format you are trying to convert to can't be found?

I don't normally use Audacity to convert mp3s - I usually use it to edit tracks. But the "Export as MP3" in the "File" drop down menu should be the route to go. Maybe if you go to Edit > Preferences > Quality, or maybe even Edit > Preferences > File Formats?

In this latter route there's a button to "Find Library" in the "MP3 Export Setup" portion of the window.

Tom, I've used "mp3-wma converter" to convert wma, mp3 files, etc back and forth between formats and reducing rates, etc. This may be an easier program to use compared with Audacity.

Here's a link to a review and a download:

http://download.cnet.com/Free-Mp3-Wma-C … 42362.html

I use it all the time and have no trouble.

Justin you hit the nail on the head. I have a big MP3 file and I want to make it into a smaller file i.e. from 100 mg to 8 mg. Can I do that in Audacity?
Thomas

You can decrease the sample rate in Audacity, then export it and see if the file size has decreased, but with a YouTube embedded clip, no need to decrease. I have samples nearly ten minutes in length, at HD sound qaulity loaded to YouTube.

At least I don't feel stupid in this case about not knowing. The person who made the recording didn't follow my instructions and converted the file to an MP3 from a Wave. Perhaps I can get a copy of the Wave file. If so I can do it. Thanks for all of the help.
Thomas

I am not sure how you could fix the sound on this without introducing a bit of distortion - especially during the parts where your voices overlay.

Could you re-record your own side of it and edit out and modify the guest's voice. Or - and this is worst case scenario - you may have to resort to making it a text-based interview (if it is an interview).

You've probably thought of all this already and so these suggestions may not be much use.

Thanks. As it is now, I'll probably run it as is. The alternatives seem too overwhelming.

If you recorded both at the same time (one sound file), you can't fix either unless one of the people is on the left channel only and the other on the right channel only, then you'd be able to split the channels and raise the volumes on the one needed.


Now, if you didn't talk when the guest was talking, you can do one of two things:

1. Lower your voice excerpts, or...

2. Raise his. Depending on the level of the highest voice.


It may be annoying and a little time consuming, but you just highlight part of, for example, your voice, click on the Effect tab button, click on Amplify... from the selections, and experment. If it's really loud, you may want to start with typing -5.0

You can undo and try again until you reach the level you desire, then repeat for each other excerpt of you talking. On the keyboard I am using, I can press down Ctrl/b] and press [b]R and it will repeat the last thing you did, so if that works for you, it will repeat a decrease of -5.0 (for example).

In other words, there MUST be a way to equalize the conversation with a single click, so that it's all more or less the same volume (without actually going in and amplifying my guest's voice, which is a tremendous task since there's a LOT of overlap in our conversation)?

Or if there is another (free) software that can do this? I tried something called "Levelator", but it doesn't accept mp3s.

Yeah, that's also a wav program. I'm going to try and convert the file to wav, then use Levelator, then convert back to mp3 (if it manages to actually level), and then start editing the track. Phew -- one would think there would be an easier way to do this very BASIC thing, considering how many podcasts there are out there, with so many unevenly recorded voices.

Well, it kinda worked. Converting to wav, then using Levelator, then converting back to mp3 -- and the volume is more or less level (even if my guest's voice is more "echoey"). The drawback is that I also got a lot more background noise (touching of the table surface etc.), but I can't have it all.

BTW did you try using the installed compressor in Audacity like I suggested? Levelator is just essentially a compressor. What were the results?

-Erik-

Of course, now another issue has arisen. Wordpress only allows a 128MB file upload, and the program is 133MB. I'll try to cut out a few bits, but is there any way to 'preview' the export size before actually exporting? It's quite a hassle to export it, wait 30 minutes for the procedure to finish, and then realize I didn't cut out enough material. It's still too big.