audacity question

[Sjcoan]

I'm looking to cut down a few songs because they get boring and too repeatative. I downloaded them from itunes burned a cd and ripped them to my show computer in WMA format so vixen can use them but when i try to open them in audacity I get a error saying it cant open them do to protection. Any one encounter this problem and found a way around it?

Thanks
Steve

[amummau]

What version are you running? 1.2 or 1.3 beta? You can only edit "extra" formats (such as wma) in version 1.3 (which is very stable for use). Downloading and installing ffmpeg then will allow you to import almost any audio file.
Read here under Libraries for more info.http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/plugins
Follow here for install instructions: http://manual.audacityteam.org/index.php?title=FAQ:Installation_and_Plug-Ins#installffmpeg

Also, I'd recommend using mp3 files for greater compatibility and less file size. To export files in audacity in the mp3 format, you'll need to install the LAME mp3 codec. See here for install info: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?s=install&i=lame-mp3

Make sure to restart audacity after installing any addins. You will have to point audacity to the correct files when prompted.

[rstehle]

If you still have the songs in your iTunes library, just play them, and record with Audacity. Make your edits, and 'export as MP3'. Export them to your 'Audio' file in Vixen.

[ErnieHorning]

I had no problem directly converting the *.m4a to *.mp3 with Audacity. You just need to specify the output bit-rate.

[amummau]

Correction: What I meant to say was that version 1.3 is able to use ffmpeg while version 1.2 doesn't support it. (some people already have ffmpeg installed before installing audacity) Like Ernie, I've had no problems importing the .m4a files downloading from itunes, running them through audacity, and getting a usable .mp3 file. I personally recommend using the original file rather than one on a cd; it allows for less possible points of failure.