Pending Feature Requests

This locked page is for the use of sysops to transfer feature requests from the Audacity Forum and other sources. They will be reviewed and where appropriate transferred to the Wiki Feature Requests page. For this page, it is best not to summarise, but paste in verbatim, so the context of the suggestion can be understood.

Not yet reviewed

• Autodetect LAME library: In Audacity, I export my recordings to MP3 using the LAME library. Everytime I install it, I have to go to the Preferences menu and show the path to the library. It's always in "Audacity\Plug-ins" directory. Since it is the default place to put plugins, could Audacity automatically detect if the LAME library is in the "Plug-ins"?
  • SteveTF responds: LAME is a bit different to other plug-ins (such as effects plug-ins). If you put it in the main Audacity program folder instead of the plug-ins folder, it will probably be detected automatically. (seems to work with Audacity 1.3.x anyway).

• "Cut in" on a previously recorded track: I know I can record two tracks and merge them but what I'd really like would be a way to set a record starting point so that when the track reaches that point it begins recording over the track. It would be useful when correcting a mistake. For example you could set the playback point a few seconds before the mistake, hit record, play along with the track to get your timing down, and when it reaches the recording point have it record the current input.
  • SteveTF replies: The behaviour that you are asking for is similar to how drop in recording is done on hardware recorders. That method is useful when the number of available tracks is limited, but with Audacity you can have as many tracks as you like, thus allowing a more powerful and flexible method of drop in recording. The way I do drop in recordings is to mark the position of the drop in region with a label, then start recording over the necessary area (beginning before the bad bit and ending after the bad bit). In Audacity 1.3.x, labels mark regions, not just single points. I can then click on the label name to select the bad region and "Split Cut" it, then trim the new take to fill the gap. There is no need to mix these two tracks (unless I want to) as they will automatically be mixed when I export. Some of the advantages of this method are that I can adjust the position of each of the clips to get a seamless join. I can cross fade the new clip into place if I want, and I can adjust the volume, Eq and anything else on the new clip so that it matches the existing audio perfectly.

• Reload from disk: I am using a program to generate .wav files and each time it saves into the same file. It would be very usefull for me to have a button like "reload from disk". A hotkey for it would be useful too.

• Enhanced program icon with higher resolution: It's not that important, but the icon of the current Audacity program is very low-res, which means that it doesn't look that good by 48x48 (Vista, default icon size for the desktop). See http://bayimg.com/AaLJFaABG - Would be great, if you could add an icon with a higher resolution. There is already a high resolution version of the default Audacity icon on the main page: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/images/ ... _50pct.jpg - Only the text has to be removed. Then it has to be converted and finally implemented into Audacity. Would be great, if my wish could be considered for the final version of Audacity 1.3.

• retrieving (curtaining) audio: In most other audio edit programms there is a possibility that after you deleted something you are able to retrieve the audio by making the audio piece whole again by opening it like a curtain again. Because in those programms (like audition or dalet)the audio is always there even when you don't see it. I don't know how to explain it properly (sort of restoring by scrubbing over the end of the audio. This feature isn't in audacity. If you are in the middle of your piece of work and you are missing someting in the middle you can split the part but you are not able to curtain it open again. so you have to insert the whole file again.
  • SteveTF responds: Audition only does what you are describing when in the multi-track view. In the Edit view, deleting audio will do exactly that, it will delete the audio, not hide it as you are suggesting. In the multi-track view, Audition is not working directly on the audio file but using a virtual copy, and is therefore able to hide or reveal as much or as little as you decide. Also, the effects in the multi-track view are usually "real time effects" that do not actually change the audio data until you do a mix down. This is not the case in the Edit view, where effects are applied directly to the audio data. Audacity works more like the Edit view of Audition. Audacity is an audio editing program rather than a Digital Audio Workstation, and as such it edits the audio data. Providing the type of real time processing that you are requesting would probably require a total re-write of all the code, and would in effect be a different program altogether. In Audacity, there are different ways of working with files that provide similar functionality. For example, you can duplicate a track (select the track then press Ctrl+D) you can then mute the original track, work on the duplicate copy, and if you wish to restore the original, simply un-mute it. There are also non-destructive tools, such as the envelope tool which can be used to silence part of a track without deleting the data. Audacity doe not attempt to emulate some other audio program, but rather aims to provide a powerful, but easy to use multi-track audio editor, and as such is one of the best available, and certainly at an unbeatable price. As you become more familiar with the program, you will discover ways of doing things that may be different to other programs, but are just as effective.

• Analyze: I suggest the analyze menu include a way to put an analysis in another parallel view only track similar to a label track instead of just a pop up window. The horizontal zoom should act on the analysis track and the editing track simultaneously and then allow verticle expansion of the view only track as is now implemented on the editing tracks. Something similar to the pull down menu on the track but then open in an additional different view only track that is linked to the editing track. You could see dB, waveform, pitch and other analysis all at the same time instead of just one selection. I realize that a workaround would be to copy the track and then open a different analysis in each copy but then editing one track would not edit the view only tracks. This particular workaround also does not allow for plug in analysis. This would make it easier to isolate and analyze a specific micro sound and see the big picture. One of the advantages of computer editing of sound is that you can see the sound.

 

Reviewed but not added - intending to delete

These pending FRs were posted here but on review, appear to be inappropriate for the reasons stated (for example, the Beta already supports this feature). Unless reasons for adding them/more explanations of usefulness/purpose are given, they will be deleted.