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How do I play songs on audacity?

Hey, I have my cd's loaded on to my computer, and I want to be able to play them through audacity so I can slow them down and learn the bass lines. I'm pretty much computer ******** (and I'm 18 so you think I'd know my way around a computer right? WRONG! LOL), so could someone help me out here please? I tried to load some songs by using the Import Raw Data thing but the song didn't play, just fuzz.
 
Hey, I have my cd's loaded on to my computer, and I want to be able to play them through audacity so I can slow them down and learn the bass lines. I'm pretty much computer ******** (and I'm 18 so you think I'd know my way around a computer right? WRONG! LOL), so could someone help me out here please? I tried to load some songs by using the Import Raw Data thing but the song didn't play, just fuzz.

I know what you're saying about the "fuzz". Audacity is a great piece of free software. I actually didn't know that you could slow down tunes with it. You're on your own when it comes to that (let me know how when you find out).

To import audio, don't choose "raw data". In my experience, importing mp3's or wav files work fine (audacity doesn't recognize all file types). Choose "import audio". Let me know how it works out.

Joe
 
I know what you're saying about the "fuzz". Audacity is a great piece of free software. I actually didn't know that you could slow down tunes with it. You're on your own when it comes to that (let me know how when you find out).

To import audio, don't choose "raw data". In my experience, importing mp3's or wav files work fine (audacity doesn't recognize all file types). Choose "import audio". Let me know how it works out.

Joe

Yeah, I saw in another thread someone said something about slowing tracks down and it doesn't change the pitch or anything so it would be perfect. Whenever I try to load a song though it says it does not recognize the file...is there something I have to do different when I load it onto my computer or anything?
 
Yeah, I saw in another thread someone said something about slowing tracks down and it doesn't change the pitch or anything so it would be perfect. Whenever I try to load a song though it says it does not recognize the file...is there something I have to do different when I load it onto my computer or anything?

I don't have a problem opening WAVs, MP3s, or OGGs in Audacity. I navigate to the file and click open, and it does. I know it handles AIFFs, AUs, and W64s too. Do the files you're trying to open have the correct file extension (.wav, .mp3, etc)?

The way to change tempo is to select a region of the waveform. You can do this with the mouse or with "Move Cursor" under the Edit menu. Go into the Effect menu and click "Change Tempo". You can adjust the tempo upwards and downwards by typing a percentage, moving a slider, typing a time or BPM value. Since Audacity doesn't add effects in real time, playback must be stopped to apply an effect. After it's done the math you should be able to play/loop a part to your heart's content.
 
I don't have a problem opening WAVs, MP3s, or OGGs in Audacity. I navigate to the file and click open, and it does. I know it handles AIFFs, AUs, and W64s too. Do the files you're trying to open have the correct file extension (.wav, .mp3, etc)?

The way to change tempo is to select a region of the waveform. You can do this with the mouse or with "Move Cursor" under the Edit menu. Go into the Effect menu and click "Change Tempo". You can adjust the tempo upwards and downwards by typing a percentage, moving a slider, typing a time or BPM value. Since Audacity doesn't add effects in real time, playback must be stopped to apply an effect. After it's done the math you should be able to play/loop a part to your heart's content.

Nice! Thanks for this info.

Joe
 
Yeah, I saw in another thread someone said something about slowing tracks down and it doesn't change the pitch or anything so it would be perfect. Whenever I try to load a song though it says it does not recognize the file...is there something I have to do different when I load it onto my computer or anything?

First, what kind of file are you trying to open?

Joe
 
I don't have a problem opening WAVs, MP3s, or OGGs in Audacity. I navigate to the file and click open, and it does. I know it handles AIFFs, AUs, and W64s too. Do the files you're trying to open have the correct file extension (.wav, .mp3, etc)?

The way to change tempo is to select a region of the waveform. You can do this with the mouse or with "Move Cursor" under the Edit menu. Go into the Effect menu and click "Change Tempo". You can adjust the tempo upwards and downwards by typing a percentage, moving a slider, typing a time or BPM value. Since Audacity doesn't add effects in real time, playback must be stopped to apply an effect. After it's done the math you should be able to play/loop a part to your heart's content.

I think that is the problem. I had a song downloaded from LimeWire and that worked, but then songs I ripped onto my computer wouldn't. It is ripped through Media Player so I don't know if that is what is affecting it or not? When I put the mouse over the song name it says Type: (or something) Windows Media Player, and the downloaded one says MP3, I thought maybe that was why, but I don't know how to save it as a .mp3.
 
Let's make this as simple as possible.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Download [This invalid link has been removed].
2. Rip the CD to mp3 files.
3. Open the files with Audacity. (File > Open > Pick the mp3)
4. Slow it down. (Select the track > Effects > Change TEMPO**).

Voila!

**Use "Change Tempo" not "Change Speed" -- that would change the pitch, and we don't want that.
 
Let's make this as simple as possible.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Download [This invalid link has been removed].
2. Rip the CD to mp3 files.
3. Open the files with Audacity. (File > Open > Pick the mp3)
4. Slow it down. (Select the track > Effects > Change TEMPO**).

Voila!

**Use "Change Tempo" not "Change Speed" -- that would change the pitch, and we don't want that.
There is an entirely different and better way to do this.....
If all you want to do is slow down a song so you can play to it or learn it etc.... get a plugin called PaceMaker for Winamp. This allows you to change the tempo of any song you're listening to without messing up the pitch of the instruments or vocals.