How-to guides · Audacity

Cut unnecessary parts of audio with Audacity

This is the procedure for deleting the preceding and following silences and restatements from the waveform and exporting it to a separate file. We will explain in detail the starting position, setting values, completion confirmation, and how to review in case of problems.

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Cut unnecessary parts of audio with Audacity overview: Check preparation and starting position, Open and configure features, Complete and check results, Fix the problem and exit safely
An overview of this guide’s steps and checks, not a screenshot of the app.

Who this guide is for and what to prepare

  • First-time users of Audacity
  • People who want to safely check the operation of cutting unnecessary parts of audio with Audacity

What you need

  • Leave the original sound before editing separately, and decide the cut start and end positions and output format.

Check preparation and starting position

Leave the original sound before editing separately, and decide the cut start and end positions and output format.

Open and configure features

Drag the unnecessary section with the selection tool, play the selected part, and press Delete. Play before and after the boundary, and if there is a truncated word or click sound, check Ctrl+Z to go back and select again.

  1. Import the original audio using [File] > [Import] > [Audio]. Play in space and zoom in on the waveform to find the boundaries of unwanted parts.
  2. Drag the unnecessary section with the selection tool, play the selected part, and then press Delete. Play before and after the boundary, and if there are any truncations or clicking sounds, check Ctrl+Z to go back and reselect.

Complete and check results

  1. Select [File] > [Export Audio], choose MP3 or WAV, set the range to [Entire Project], and save under a new name. Listen to the complete file in an external player.

Fix the problem and exit safely

Audacity project saves are not audio for distribution. Check the red clipping display of the volume and the usage rights of the recording content and music.

  1. To export only part of the audio, select that range and set the export range to [Current Selection].

Limitations and requirements

  • Audacity project saves are not audio for distribution. Check the red clipping display of the volume and the usage rights of the recording content and music.

Frequently asked questions

What if you can't find the item you want in Audacity?

To export only part of the audio, select that range and set the export range to [Current Selection].

What should I be especially careful about when cutting unnecessary parts of audio with Audacity?

Audacity project saves are not audio for distribution. Check the red clipping display of the volume and the usage rights of the recording content and music.

Official sources and verification date

Sources checked: . Check the official sources below for changes to supported systems, plans and menus.

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