Thread: Belly Dance Music Editing Advice Sought

Anyone have any favorite software for cutting, fading and simple editing? I constantly need to shorten songs or merge a few clips together....... I have a mac- there are so many free-ware and for purchase options available- and in general I am intimidated by any computer work that doesn't involve text....

Thanks for the help!

I use Sound Forge, which I think is pretty user-friendly, but I have a husband who is an electronic studio musician and can help me out with questions. But there are all kinds of recommendations on this thread - http://www.bhuz.com/showthread.php?1...music+software.

Audacity is easy to use (or easy enough for non techno savy me!)

Originally Posted by theothershimmytwin

Audacity is easy to use (or easy enough for non techno savy me!)

Seconded! I don't know anything about music editing at all, but I've been able to use Audacity to trim tracks, fade music in/out, edit tracks together, and slow music down for teaching purposes.

I use Audacity, but I did get a friend to show me some basic how-to's, as I couldn't do anything with it to start. Youtube is often a good source of how-to's with videos...though I haven't particularly searched for Audacity instructionals.

Here's a neat trick if you use iTunes - you can shorten songs and alter the starting point without having to alter the file at all. So if there's a few seconds of silence at the end of it, or you want to just use part of a song, here's what to do:

- Select the song you want to shorten, and right click then select ' Get info (on Mac, select File/Get Info)
- Select 'options' and then type in your desired track start and stop points.
- Hit 'OK'
- Play the track to check that it starts/stops playing in the right spot.

If you do this with a playlist for your set, that track will stop in the spot you've selected when you burn your playlist to disk (or play it on your iPod). Handy!

Originally Posted by jewelbellydance

I use Audacity, but I did get a friend to show me some basic how-to's, as I couldn't do anything with it to start. Youtube is often a good source of how-to's with videos...though I haven't particularly searched for Audacity instructionals.

Here's a neat trick if you use iTunes - you can shorten songs and alter the starting point without having to alter the file at all. So if there's a few seconds of silence at the end of it, or you want to just use part of a song, here's what to do:

- Select the song you want to shorten, and right click then select ' Get info (on Mac, select File/Get Info)
- Select 'options' and then type in your desired track start and stop points.
- Hit 'OK'
- Play the track to check that it starts/stops playing in the right spot.

If you do this with a playlist for your set, that track will stop in the spot you've selected when you burn your playlist to disk (or play it on your iPod). Handy!

I just used this trick in iTunes - great tip, thank you! I wish they had a fade-out option.

Anyone know how to get a audacity edited file from a MP3 itunes music back to itunes? Thanks for any help out there. Aunna

Originally Posted by susiboston

Anyone have any favorite software for cutting, fading and simple editing? I constantly need to shorten songs or merge a few clips together....... I have a mac- there are so many free-ware and for purchase options available- and in general I am intimidated by any computer work that doesn't involve text....

Thanks for the help!

I use Rogue Ameoba Fission, specifically made for Macs, not too hard, I have never used any other software but I have watched others edit music and from that I was able to use Rouge Ameoba. It is inexpensive too.

Rogue Amoeba | Fission: Fast & Lossless Audio Editing For Mac OS X

Marya

Originally Posted by AunnaBarika

Anyone know how to get a audacity edited file from a MP3 itunes music back to itunes? Thanks for any help out there. Aunna

You save the edited file as mp3 and then import that mp3 back into iTunes. You will need some extra software to convert Audacity's output into an mp3 because they are not able to bundle that piece of software for copyright reasons, so users have to do an extra, annoying step. The exact instructions depend on whether you have a Mac or a PC. But, it's worth it - I love Audacity!

I've been using Adobe Soundbooth and find it very straightforward, I am not tech savvy and managed, without too many probs, to work out how to use it ALL BY MYSELF!