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Hey software gurus,

What is the best single freeware or shareware program for converting between sound file types?

I need to convert .wma into .mp3 and/or .wav firles, but I also have some APE and other files that I can't eidt in their current format.

Also, I'm looking for a very cheap or free audio editing program that will do many of the same chores as Sound Forge or Cool Edit. The trick here is that I need an application which is completely keyboard-driven, as I cannot use a mouse/pointer.

All suggestions welcome, and thanks in advance.

Goldwave might be a good place to start with your editting. I dunno what the app is like these days but a few years ago there was a free version that was pretty decent, and had more keyboard commands than you could shake a stick at. Why the switch away from soundforge though, just out of interest?
Cdex is what springs to mind for your conversion needs, but i'm not totally sure a WMA codec comes bundled. Worth a look though, and again its a nice simple interface and its fairly menu driven so you should get on ok with it from the keyboard.
any of that help?
Sc0tt-uk

Hello Sc0ttUK,

Well...er, I have a newer version of Sound Forge but do not have a registration number for it. :oops: I can't afford Sony's current $499.00 U.S. price :evil: I love it, I can select parts of a wave using the keyboard, etc. but I can't install/unlock the new version, nor can I port the old version to my laptop.

As a friend of Peter Quistgard, I could use Cool Edit, but I haven't figured out how to use the keyboard with it. So, to keep it both legal and simple, I'm looking for alternatives.

Out of curiosity, what do you use? TIA.

Paul

Hi Paul

I´m not sure about the keyboard vs. mouse matter but besides that, audacity is the definite no. 1 on the free audio software market. It´s open source and has loads of features which makes it come close to professional software like soundforge or audition.

When it comes to converting I´m very much satisfied with db power amp which I´m using for some years:
http://www.dbpoweramp.com/
I have to confess, again, that I´m not sure about the use of the keyboard as the way I us this tool is to right click on any sound file and choose "convert" from the context menu. Just give it a try, I´d suggest.

yeppie

Hey Paul,
I use Pro Tools here for editting, mainly out of habbit seeing as its what I use at work. It works ok for me, because I don't tend to do much post production. I usually prefer an original catch over something thats been processed and mashed up too much even if the original is a bit dodgy, plus i'm lazy!

As far as I recall audasity was ported from Mac, and ported apps are notoriously shitty when it comes to accessibility. I could be wrong about Audasity being a port though, and from what I've seen it does look pretty cool for free, so that would be worth you checking out. And also, don't forget to google for Goldwave, I reckon it might be the best one for ya if its still out there.

Do some digging, hopefully between the titles me and Yeppie have put out so far theres something that works for you. If not, it might be time to consider screwing the folks at Sony over, just this once hehe!

sc0tt-uk

Yeppie, Sc0tt...

I downloaded, installed and tested Audacity. Many functions are accessible, but the one perhaps most important is not. One cannot highlight a section of the sound to process by using the keyboard (in other words, you need to use the mouse to select the portion of the track on which you want to work.


). This alone will cause me to abandon Audacity, unless I can find another keyboard method. This is a problem with Cool Edit as well.

With Sound Forge, I simply hold down the Shift key and use the arrows to highlight the section I want to process. It's very time-consuming, but at least it's possible. Using the Regions and marker systems is confusing...and I doubt even possible.

ProTools is too expensive, sadly. I have friends who use the software in their professional studios...but it's not in my budget.

Back to the old Google... I'll search Goldwave. Thanks guys!

paul

Hmmm, what version of Audacity are using, Ciego? I'm using version 1.2.3 adn I was able to successfully highlight a portion of a recording using only the keyboard in the same manner you attempted--hold down Shift and use the arrow key to slowly highlight the portion, then hit spacebar to play the selection.

hmmm... if theres keys to do that Shung then theres probably keys to do most basic editting at least.
I don't have it installed here, but if nobody has already then check out the Audasity help section/user guide etc. Theres normally a section that lists keyboard shortcuts somewhere near the end of those. If its not there then an email to support should give you an answer - sounds like its hopeful for ya though Paul.
sc0tt-uk