WAV file trimmer

I find myself in need of an app that will allow me to trim off the end of several large .WAV format audio files. Because these files tend to be very large, I am looking for an app that will not require re-encoding the output file. And I do not need it to split the large file (although that would be a "nice to have") all I really want it to do is truncate the file.

Freeware preferred and no parasitic-ware attached to it.

Thanks,
Gary

 

waves don't need re-encoding as they have no encoding at all.

audacity should do the trick, is free and all.

 

These are all files from live gigs I mix. Sometimes I forget to turn off the recorder before I go to the stage to facilitate a set change. Hence the long junk I want to trim. I use Audacity all the time to master these files. But wanted to trim them as soon as I initially dump them to my hard drive for storage.

The original files are 24 bit PCM at 44.1khz from a Tascam recorder. When I open them with Audacity it opens them as 32 bit float, regardless of the "quality" setting in preferences.. And there is no "save" option just the save project. The only "non-project" save is to export the files. The only WAV export option is a 16 bit PCM. So there may not be "encoding" but there is some "reprocessing" resulting in some data loss.

Gary

 

oh, crap. Hm..as i've typically used audacity to record, "it just works".

I know of GoldWave, should be able to do anything. But it's not free..

According to bing, though, audacity should handle (without conversion) 24bit integer wave data. no clue, I've always recorded in 16bits.. and yes, one always has to "export" to get audio out of audacity.

 

I am not sure why Audacity is:
1. Changing the 24 bit PCM to 32 bit float when I open the files.
2. not offering an option to export the files in 24 bit PCM.

'Tis a mystery...

Gary

 

Mystery #2 solved! Under export, you will see a bunch of formats, AIFF, WAV 16 bit, MP3, Ogg Voribis etc. There is also one labeled "Other Uncompressed Files". If you select that, then the "options" button allows for more control. There is a WAV "Heading" and then an "Encoding" option for, among others, 24 bit WAV.

Still have no idea about #1, unless it ALWAYS brings files in as 32 bit wav.

Gary

 

well, i see two points in the settings to explore: section 4, quality. in the top section, there's standard-sample-format.

in section 7, import/export, there's the top, about always making a copy or not, if importing uncompressed data.

maybe setting 24bit, and don't copy should make it do the right thing?

 

Both of those settings were already set that way. It still imports the file as 32 bit floating point.

Gary

 

well. i bet version 2 can fix this. haha, like, that would ever get available..

I have no other free idea right now that could do it. Quite sad state of the free audio apps, actually.

 

I snoop around on an Audacity specifc forum, if I can find one, and see if this behavior is "by design".

Gary