Open Source Audio Editing

[bedouin]

I'm not sure how many people are aware of this app, but Audacity is an open source sound editor for OS X, Linux, and Windows, very similar to CoolEdit (I guess it's called Audition now).  

I know when I was a Linux user I couldn't find a decent sound editor, and even after switching to OS X (a pretty rich multimedia OS) I couldn't find anything similar to Goldwave or CoolEdit (Sound Studio came pretty close, but it lacked the ability to export directly to MP3, along with some other annoyances).

Anyway, thought I'd share this app since I'm pretty impressed by it, and didn't even know it existed until a week ago.

[ August 01, 2004: Message edited by: bedouin ]

[skyman8081]

Good for you.

I actually suggested that the cast of one of the projects I was working on to use this App to do voice recording.

Mainly because I was too cheap to Buy Goldwave or Soundforge, and too lazy to pirate/steal them.

Now all I need is a non-sucky OSS Non-linear editing app, and a decent Photo App, with support for the CMYK color-space, and then I can fully switch to linux.

[ August 01, 2004: Message edited by: Sauron: gone ]

[WMD]

quote: a decent Photo App, with support for the CMYK color-space

I keep hearing about CMYK and how GIMP doesn't support it.  What is CMYK exactly, and why is it important?

[skyman8081]

quote:Originally posted by WMD:


I keep hearing about CMYK and how GIMP doesn't support it.  What is CMYK exactly, and why is it important?

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

the four colors that are used as the base for printing.

it is important the the originals be in CMYK, so that the printer can make sure the cmyk values match, meaning that the color is correct for the final print.  Not possible to do in RGB, and many print shops REQUIRE CMYK originals

[WMD]

Ah....I wonder if the GIMP devs have this in TODO.  Sure sounds important.

[flap]

Gimp 2 does it already.

[mobrien_12]

LinuxJournal has a very good article on soundfile editors.  Audacity is one of the many in there.  I've been using KWave.

[WMD]

quote:Originally posted by flap:
Gimp 2 does it already.

Say what?

*opens up Gimp 2.0.1 window*

Hey, yeah, it does...    

[Calum]

however audacity is rubbish (in my experience) it crashes at every opportunity and doesn't do anything you want it to.

also have a look at the home page, they obviously have set windows systems as their priority environment, since they support all those VST plugins etc but only under windows...

useless, unless you're a windoid.

[Orethrius]

however audacity is rubbish (in my experience) it crashes at every opportunity and doesn't do anything you want it to.
 
also have a look at the home page, they obviously have set windows systems as their priority environment, since they support all those VST plugins etc but only under windows...
 
 useless, unless you're a windoid.

Quoted for truth.

"We are Microsoft.  You will be assimilated.  You have no chance to escape make your time."  (whoooops, wrong sci-fi plug   )

[bedouin]

quote:Originally posted by Calum is NOT a moderator:
also have a look at the home page, they obviously have set windows systems as their priority environment, since they support all those VST plugins etc but only under windows...

Well, they do provide links for Mac OS and OS X VST plugins in addition to Windows.  The problem is that there (as far as I know) are few, if any VST plugins for Linux.  I think people who use VSTs in Linux are doing so with some aid from WINE.   I don't think that really says anything the developers' lack of dedication to Linux.

As for the claim "it doesn't do what you want it to," that's a bit broad, and I'm not quite sure how to address it.  My experience with it in OS X has been favorable.  For a moderately featured free audio editor I think it's great.

[solarismka]

quote:Originally posted by bedouin:


Well, they do provide links for Mac OS and OS X VST plugins in addition to Windows.  The problem is that there (as far as I know) are few, if any VST plugins for Linux.  I think people who use VSTs in Linux are doing so with some aid from WINE.   I don't think that really says anything the developers' lack of dedication to Linux.

As for the claim "it doesn't do what you want it to," that's a bit broad, and I'm not quite sure how to address it.  My experience with it in OS X has been favorable.  For a moderately featured free audio editor I think it's great.

Audacity is a great program.  Use it for University

[emh]

quote:Originally posted by Calum is NOT a moderator:
however audacity is rubbish (in my experience) it crashes at every opportunity and doesn't do anything you want it to.

also have a look at the home page, they obviously have set windows systems as their priority environment, since they support all those VST plugins etc but only under windows...

useless, unless you're a windoid.

Audacity also has support for LADSPA plugins.  

http://www.ladspa.org

If Audacity by itself doesn't do something you want it to, most likely one of the LADSPA plugins will.

[mobrien_12]

The big difference that I notice between Audacity for Windows and Audacity for Linux is that the Win32 version has an option to record from "What U Hear."    

A useful feature... wish the Linux version had it.