Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Tip: To find your answer more easily, try using CTRL + F ( COMMAND + F on Mac ) to search this page.

The following are the FAQs copied in from the main SF site. They need re-reading and updating for 1.3.14/2.0 where appropriate.

22Sep09: (Peter) FAQs in manual updated to be in line with those on the main Audacity site (which had themselves been updated).

24Sep09: (Peter) FAQ page broken into one page per section - based on the pre-existing section headers in the FAQ. This page probably needs its layout changing now - maybe to just be a simple index with pointers to the relevant FAQ pages?

Gale 25 Sep09: I do want this page to link to both the index page for each FAQ section and to the individual questions in that section. But having the headings in this page as links to the pages for the FAQ sections is very non-standard. That means if we have headings on this page they need a link to the FAQ section index underneath (as per the "Recording" section here now). In that case we keep the Table of Contents (__TOC__) . Or, we use (__NOTOC__) to hide the Wiki-generated table of contents and mimic the Wiki TOC by having no headings, so it looks like "Opening and Saving Files" and "Editing" here now. I prefer mimicking the TOC.

1 About Audacity

• 1.1 Is Audacity really free? Why?
• 1.2 Does Audacity contain any spyware or adware?
• 1.3 May I distribute copies of Audacity?
• 1.4 Someone is selling Audacity on eBay. Is this legal?
• 1.5 I saw an ad that misled me into paying for Audacity. What can I do?
• 1.6 Audacity isn't displaying in the expected or desired language. Can I change this?
• 1.7 Does Audacity work with screen-reader programs for blind users?
• 1.8 What does “time remaining” mean? Does Audacity expire?
• 1.9 Does Audacity run on 64-bit systems?

2 Installation and Plug-Ins

• 2.1 How do I download and install the LAME MP3 encoder?
• 2.2 How do I download and install the FFmpeg Import/Export Library?
• 2.3 Why do I receive an error when I export to an FFmpeg format?
• 2.4 How do I install VST plug-ins?
• 2.5 Why do some VST plug-ins not work or display incorrectly?
• 2.6 What should I do if I have problems downloading or installing Audacity?

3 Recording

• 3.1.1 Why doesn't the Mixer Toolbar input selector work properly, for example on Windows 7 or Vista?
• 3.1.2 Why can’t I hear what I’m recording?
• 3.1.3 Why have I lost sound after connecting a USB device?
• 3.1.4 Why do my recordings fade out or sound as if they were made in a tunnel?
• 3.1.5 Why isn’t my new track in sync with the previous ones?
• 3.2.1 How can I record in stereo?
• 3.2.2 What is an optimal recording level to aim for?
• 3.2.3 How do I record from vinyl records, cassette tapes or MiniDiscs?
• 3.2.4 Can I play a track while recording a new one on top of it?
• 3.2.5 Can Audacity record YouTube, internet radio or other streaming audio?
• 3.2.6 Can I set Audacity to record at a certain time?

4 Opening and Saving Files

• 4.1 How do I open an Audacity project (AUP file) in another program?
• 4.2 Why does Audacity create a folder full of .au files when I save a project?
• 4.3 Audacity crashed! Can I recover any unsaved data?
• 4.4 Can Audacity import file formats like WMA, AAC, FLAC, etc.?
• 4.5 Why can’t I play MIDI files?
• 4.6 How do I import a track from an audio CD?
• 4.7 How do I save my recording on an audio CD?
• 4.8 How can I split a long recording into multiple files or CD tracks?

5 Editing:

• 5.1.1 Why can't I use the effects or other menu items?
• 5.1.2 Why can't I select less than one second or click between whole seconds?
• 5.2.1 How do I combine two files into one longer file?
• 5.2.2 How do I mix two tracks together?
• 5.2.3 Can I remove the vocals from a recording to make a Karaoke track?

Ideas for new FAQs

ToDo develop responses for these proposed FAQs and migrate them to the published part of the page.
Steve 26Jul11: Perhaps there could be a section for using Audacity with other applications, such as Skype, YouTube, DAWs and Games

• Why do I get the following error message when I hit the record button: "Error while opening sound device. Please check the input device settings and the project sample rate." What does that mean? (this comes up soooo... many times on the forum)
  • Peter 16Oct11: Response under construction - see User:PeterSampson/FAQ for: Error while opening sound device

• Recording from YouTube does not work. (Very similar to "RealAudio or other streaming audio" but this specific question is extremely common).
  • Gale: I changed title of the FAQ to refer to YouTube. It should be the same issue - if you can't record Real Player you can't record YouTube (off the sound card). But it would be sensible to add a div there explaining there are better ways to download YouTube videos directly.
• How do I avoid the echo when using my USB microphone? (software playthrough)
• First track is being recorded onto the next track (Windows sound card set to record Stereo Mix).
• I've upgraded to Vista/ Windows 7. Why is there no "Stereo Mix" / "What U Hear" option. (relates to Q 3.2.5)
• Why is there a very low level hiss on Exported files? (dither)
• Are you planning a release of Audacity for mobile devices like iPad or Android smartphone?
• How can I import WAV files from portable players?
• How can I make my recording so it plays back in both speakers?
• I recorded my tapes/LPs in stereo so why do I get only the left in both speakers?
• Can I create Ringtones with Audacity?
• Why have I lost sound on Windows after using Audacity?

When you connect a USB audio device to a Windows computer, Windows automatically allocates both input and output to the USB device. If the USB audio device is an input only device (such as a microphone or turntable) or an output only device (such as headphones or speakers), then it is necessary to go into the Windows Control Panel and in the "Sounds and Audio Devices" section, set the input and output devices to the devices that you want to use.

• Why does my recording keep pausing automatically, or pressing Pause has no effect?

Most likely you have enabled Sound Activated Recording by mistake and the recording input is below the threshold level at which recording is set to start (you will notice that the blue Pause button is depressed after you press Record). The "latency correction" message will only appear when you stop a recording that you were trying to start from time zero.

You can uncheck Sound Activated Recording either in the Recording Preferences as above (click OK to save the change) or in the Transport Menu.

• Why do I have to compile Audacity to get ASIO support?
• Can I record from 2 usb mics at the same time?

(and/or - Can I record from more than 1 device at the same time?)

• When I try to record I get only a flat line and no sound. Why?
• I copied the .aup file to another computer or sent it by e-mail to a friend, but now when I open it there's no sound. Why?

and/or - What is this _data folder and what are all those .au files in there?)

• Can I use parts of Audacity source code in my school project?
• Why do I see a lot of vertical red lines in the track I just recorded?
  • see the Audacity Waveform page
• Can I include screenshots of Audacity in my book, or link to Audacity on my web site?
• Do I have to uninstall the stable version of Audacity to use the Beta?
• How do I record Skype or other VoIP programs with Audacity?
• I'm overdubbing vocals but my voice gets more and more out of step with the music track
• Why does Audacity hang when I launch it?
• Why do I have to ask questions on the Forum instead of getting help by e-mail?
• Why do my longer projects always crash but not the short ones?
• How do I make a recording without small skips or duplications?
  • See this article in the Wiki/Troubleshooting Recordings: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Troubleshooting_Recordings#Skips
• Can Audacity preview or apply effects live, in real time?
  • No

Old - need merging or deleting

• Old - need merging or deleting

ToDo we need to merge or delete ...