Trimming audio files

[killdozzer]

Imagine you want to shorten a song, but you don't want it to end jerky, too sudden, illogically...

Fade out is not an option because as long as it takes to fade out with a natural feel, rhythm preserved, you can already hear the song continuing so it feels not like an ending, but like any other attenuation in the middle of a song.

I’m trying to end it like those songs that end on a beat, like with a bass kick and just end.



In order to make this work – feel like a real song ending – I’d need some sort of delay, some short echo to avoid the last tact to be followed by dead silence. Like having the last beat last a second on its own, longer than in the original song.

Does anyone know a way to do this? I’m using Audacity.

 

[Ponzio]

Just fade out the song using Audacity. Create another track with your preferred fade out and join them using Audacity too. I've done it a couple of times and the results have been pretty good.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuzzS1BGAuKtiehm7Dl6zjAY-m_sHw?e=5vyPY7

Of course don't forget to level match them as close as possible for a smoother transition.

 

[killdozzer]

Thank you Ponzio!! Fade out is really not an option. I need it to end abruptly but to make it seem it was meant to be abruptly.

 

[Ponzio]

Either way, whether you fade out the track or end it at a certain point and delete the rest, it shouldn't be an issue. Take the first file that you edited, export it, then load both files that you want to join and Bob's your Uncle

 

[lovinthehd]

Curious, why do this in the first place particularly? What are you shortening?

 

[killdozzer]

Either way, whether you fade out the track or end it at a certain point and delete the rest, it shouldn't be an issue. Take the first file that you edited, export it, then load both files that you want to join and Bob's your Uncle

Thanks again. I believe you, but I have a feeling we're talking about different things. You seem to be splicing something. I just need to cut, let's say in the middle of the song and try to make it as natural of an ending as possible and erase everything from that point on. Shorten a song.

Curious, why do this in the first place particularly? What are you shortening?

Thanks for joining in. You might have picked it up already somewhere in these forums, I figure skate and I prepare my own competition tunes.

Over time I did get skilled in all sorts of trimms and arrangements, but I fear I lack the right language to pose the right question.

I've noticed that a lot of songs that end on a beat, don't really end like from loud to dead silent in a matter of a millisecond. The last tone lasts for a very short period, it sort of echoes very shortly, there's a delay and the tone decays somehow naturally, much the same way it would if you end your song hitting the cymbal and letting it endure until the end.

The problem with fade out is that it lasts and you can almost always hear the song continuing, singer beginning the new verse, tune carrying on so it always sounds like turning the volume down.

 

[Ponzio]

I believe you, but I have a feeling we're talking about different things. You seem to be splicing something. I just need to cut, let's say in the middle of the song and try to make it as natural of an ending as possible and erase everything from that point on. Shorten a song.

Yes, you're right, I did misunderstand you.

Open Audacity, load the song you're going to edit, find the spot with lowest sound level where you want to cut it off, left-click your mouse and slide it to the end of the track and press delete. Review the last 40 seconds let's say to see if you're happy with the edit. You can always 'Undo' your edit by going to the toolbar and press 'Edit' and undo it.

If you are happy at this point with the edit, you may want to add 2 to 3 seconds of silence to the track. Magnify the track, left click the end of the track and slide out 2 to 3 seconds to the right and then press 'Generate' at the top of the toolbar and choose 'Silence'. At that point you're done and you can export the whole track.

 

[Ponzio]

From the FWIW department, Audacity has been updated.
https://www.audacityteam.org/download/

 

[killdozzer]

From the FWIW department, Audacity has been updated.
https://www.audacityteam.org/download/

I found something to help me start:

This is where after cutting a file short, the person ads some echo to make it look like it was meant to end there.

 

[Ponzio]

I found something to help me start:

This is where after cutting a file short, the person ads some echo to make it look like it was meant to end there.

It's an amazing tool, Audacity that is. Glad you found what your were looking for.

Happy editing!

 

[lovinthehd]

Thanks again. I believe you, but I have a feeling we're talking about different things. You seem to be splicing something. I just need to cut, let's say in the middle of the song and try to make it as natural of an ending as possible and erase everything from that point on. Shorten a song.


Thanks for joining in. You might have picked it up already somewhere in these forums, I figure skate and I prepare my own competition tunes.

Over time I did get skilled in all sorts of trimms and arrangements, but I fear I lack the right language to pose the right question.

I've noticed that a lot of songs that end on a beat, don't really end like from loud to dead silent in a matter of a millisecond. The last tone lasts for a very short period, it sort of echoes very shortly, there's a delay and the tone decays somehow naturally, much the same way it would if you end your song hitting the cymbal and letting it endure until the end.

The problem with fade out is that it lasts and you can almost always hear the song continuing, singer beginning the new verse, tune carrying on so it always sounds like turning the volume down.

Ah, that does ring a faint bell about the skating/venue sound. Good luck, I haven't played with such but might since I have Audacity....if I come up with something interesting I'll chime in