How to use Audacity properly

[Guest Don Gillespie]

I have read all about the LOR users who are using Audacity to program a lot of their sequences, I have Audacity downloaded to my computer but I really don't grasp the concept of how to use it to better my sequnces, this might be dumb but how do you use Audacity from start to finish when you are programing a sequence, I purchase all of my music through I-Tunes and create MP3 files then put them in my LOR audio file from there I use the tapper wizzard to create a beat track, then I start programing, what are the benifits of Audacity and what are the downfalls if any?

By the way this is considered one question even if it looks like more I have been in mexico so long I am starting to think like a Mexican, going home on Sunday.

[George Simmons]

D&G Gillespie wrote:

I have read all about the LOR users who are using Audacity to program a lot of their sequences...

I'm not sure what you mean with that choice of words, amigo. Audacity itself has nothing to do with LOR software. Audacity is used by many as sound-capturing software, to edit song files, and/or to process and encode mp3s with a constant bit rate (CBR) for easier use with LOR.

[Joe2000]

Audacity is more of a sound track editor. If you wished to reduce the size/length of your audio track. You could use it to shorten the length of a song perhaps enhancing volume or any number of other manipulations to the sound track. You can for example append various songs together if you were so inclined. However, making you sequences dramatically better that it won't do. It's still all up to you. Basically a sound track editor. Hope that helps

Joe

[Guest Don Gillespie]

[line]
George wrote Audacity itself has nothing to do with LOR software. Audacity is used by many as sound-capturing software, to edit song files, and/or to process and encode mp3s with a constant bit rate (CBR) for easier use with LOR.
[line]
Ok the question I have is what is a bit rate and how is it used with LOR

[George Simmons]

D&G Gillespie wrote:

Ok the question I have is what is a bit rate and how is it used with LOR

This thread has probably more than you want to know:

http://lightorama.mywowbb.com/forum25/21429.html

Short answer is if you're using mp3 files you need them encoded with a constant bit rate versus a variable bit rate or you're going to have timing issues with LOR, especially while sequencing. (If you use .wav files, no problems.)

[Surfing4Dough]

D&G Gillespie wrote:

[line]
George wrote Audacity itself has nothing to do with LOR software. Audacity is used by many as sound-capturing software, to edit song files, and/or to process and encode mp3s with a constant bit rate (CBR) for easier use with LOR.
[line]
Ok the question I have is what is a bit rate and how is it used with LOR

One of the best, simple, thorough descriptions I have seen for this is courtesy of techterms.com:

Bitrate, as the name implies, describes the rate at which bits are transferred from one location to another. In other words, it measures how much data is transmitted in a given amount of time. Bitrate is commonly measured in bits per second (bps), kilobits per second (Kbps), or megabits per second (Mbps). For example, a DSL connection may be able to download data at 768 kbps, while a Firewire 800 connection can transfer data up to 800 Mbps.

Bitrate can also describe the quality of an audio or video file. For example, an MP3 audio file that is compressed at 192 Kbps will have a greater dynamic range and may sound slightly more clear than the same audio file compressed at 128 Kbps. This is because more bits are used to represent the audio data for each second of playback. Similarly, a video file that is compressed at 3000 Kbps will look better than the same file compressed at 1000 Kbps.

Just like the quality of an image is measured in resolution, the quality of an audio or video file is measured by the bitrate.

[Guest Don Gillespie]

Ok I have looked at the sites next question is going to a 128 bit rate more for the MP3 cards that are used in the controllers I use the my computer to run my shows, and I checked on all of my bit rates from I-Tunes they are all at 160 my programtiming seems to be ok, so should I be concerned about the bit rate or more concerned with the timing and programing maybe audacity isn't for me?

[Surfing4Dough]

D&G Gillespie wrote:

Ok I have looked at the sites next question is going to a 128 bit rate more for the MP3 cards that are used in the controllers I use the my computer to run my shows, and I checked on all of my bit rates from I-Tunes they are all at 160 my programtiming seems to be ok, so should I be concerned about the bit rate or more concerned with the timing and programing maybe audacity isn't for me?

They probably will be fine as long as they are CBR. Technically though, LOR's stance is "To achieve maximum flexibility using LOR products you must use Constant Bit Rate (CBR) MP3 files and they should be recorded at 128 Kbps." (I sense an order of importance based on the words I underlined--must vs. should--and I bet most will agree with this).

See here:
http://www.lightorama.com/RipMP3.html

and if needing to convert, see here:
http://lightorama.com/Documents/Audacity_Lame_128Kbps.pdf

[RaceMedic]

Ok ... might be a silly question .. if i downloaded a song that a paid for how can you tell if it is CBR and the bit rate !?

Thanks,

Dave

[George Simmons]

Hold your mouse over the file name and there should be an info box come up. Or right-click on the file name and check properties.

[Guest Don Gillespie]

[line]
surghing4dough wrote They probably will be fine as long as they are CBR. Technically though, LOR's stance is "To achieve maximum flexibility using LOR products you must use Constant Bit Rate (CBR) MP3 files and they should be recorded at 128 Kbps." (I sense an order of importance based on the words I underlined--must vs. should--and I bet most will agree with this).


[line]
Ok I see what you are saying this looks like the 128 needs to be used with the MP3 card I do not use the card I use the my computer to run everything discovered my bit rate was 160 with each downlaod, seems everything I read for the 128 bit rate goes back to the MP3 card that you insert, am I right about this??

[Surfing4Dough]

D&G Gillespie wrote:

[line]
surghing4dough wrote They probably will be fine as long as they are CBR. Technically though, LOR's stance is "To achieve maximum flexibility using LOR products you must use Constant Bit Rate (CBR) MP3 files and they should be recorded at 128 Kbps." (I sense an order of importance based on the words I underlined--must vs. should--and I bet most will agree with this).


[line]
Ok I see what you are saying this looks like the 128 needs to be used with the MP3 card I do not use the card I use the my computer to run everything discovered my bit rate was 160 with each downlaod, seems everything I read for the 128 bit rate goes back to the MP3 card that you insert, am I right about this??

I think the 128kbps recommendation applies to all LOR equipment (hence why it is posted that way on LOR's website as linked above), but probably will rarely cause a problem.

[rmturner54]

u need to use 128 bit rate with all LOR equipment. There is also a good PDF file on the LOR support page on their website that tells u how to do it

[Guest Don Gillespie]

Ok what are the downfalls if you don't use 128 bit rate last year my display ran well without any hitches I do not use the MP3 card what is the reasoning for this I have read all the info on the LOR site my bit rate is 160 is this going to cause me problems and if it is what is it going to do that I should be concerned about it thanks in advance

[-klb-]

What will cause you problems is variable bit rate files. We have even seen rare cases here in past years in the forum of files that claimed to be constant bit rate, but had offsets when playing visible range. Recoding them using Audacity as constant bit rate fixed the issue.

For PC based, I believe the key issue is that all the testing is done against 128Kbps files. That doesn't imply that other rates won't work, but just that it is not tested and validated to work. And variable bit rate (of any rate) just takes it to the next level of known negative interactions with how Windows Media Player behaves.

[Guest Don Gillespie]

Ok so if I take all my music files from LOR audio and move them to Audacity will audacity change the bit rate? if it does can I move the files back to LOR and then be able to use them in my sequences and also will changing the bit rate to 128 will that effect my sequences that I did with 160 bit rate? be patient with me for I am a moron with computers

[-klb-]

One option would be to make a copy of all of our audio files in a separate folder, using windows explorer. Then reference the following document on using Audacity to prepare files for LOR. The latest download for Audacity may already have the encoder installed, so you might not need to perform that step.

http://lightorama.com/Documents/Audacity_Lame_128Kbps.pdf

Then, you should be able to open each file in Audacity, than export it back as a mp3 file. If it has the same name/location/extension as before, LOR should not even notice it changed. If you elect to export with a different name, you will have to go into edit/media file, and associate the sequence to the new audio file, then save the sequence.

There is a slight risk that the offset at the start of the file may change, but you can use the skew track option in LOR to bring it back in line.

Personally, if you are not seeing any offset between playing the full sequence, and any visible range, I would not be likely to worry about it, unless you experience other issues. If you are seeing an offset between the two, or any other issues affecting show performance, recoding in Audacity is the first thing I would do...

[wallleyes]

I made a new folder on my desktop and named it...converted to mp3.So if you then open audacity and click on file...then open (find your song you want to convert)open your song.Then click file again and select export as MP3.Make sure you select your new folder(converted to mp3 for mine).Then when you use your sequence editor select your song from your new folder.

[Dennis Cherry]

I have been trying to find a way to see if a MP3 file is CBR or VBR bit rates. tried mant programs with no good way, even Audacity.

So I emailed Audacity to see if it was available and got a reply back the next day.

If you are on Windows, the Foobar2000 player will give you the information
you want:
http://www.foobar2000.org/?page=Download

Open the MP3 in Foobar, right-click > Properties, then look in the "Properties"
tab. If you are on some other operating system, use Google, or ask on an
appropriate audio forum like:
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/

I added a couple of columns to the view bar.

Just right click of the view bar and go down to Column.

Added BITRATE, CODEC, and Filename.

Now I can see the CBR/VBR information.



Attached files

[toddmoon]

I work in multiple locations and on a variety of computers. I keep my sequences on a flash drive so I can work on them when I have down time. Because not all computers that I work on have the same audio playing capability it just makes it much simpler to keep things on mp3 at 128 rate. That way I never have issues. I still have a lot to learn and often I do not have the time to chase down technical issues so it is just simpler to work with files that others have taken the time to test and prove out.

Audacity has a lot of features that I have not even begun to learn. It is a awesome program and I hope that at some point I will have the time to learn how to use all of its features.