How to Edit WAV and ULAW
For any number of reasons, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to make changes to an audio file. Your audio file may be in WAV or ULAW format, both of which are uncompressed however the editing process is different for each. In order to edit either a WAV or ULAW file, you need a basic understanding of what you want to edit; various tasks are performed differently in different programs. The WAV format is easy to edit since it is compatible with all digital audio workstations (DAWs), however in order to edit a ULAW file, you must first convert it to a more common format.
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Instructions
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Editing WAV Files
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Audacity is a multi-platform digital audio workstation (DAW) available to download from the Internet completely free of charge. Audacity is capable of opening, editing and saving WAV files, however if you wish to save your edited WAV file as an MP3, you must download the MP3 plugin, which is also available for free.
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Adobe Audition is a powerful DAW that is your best choice if you're familiar with the Adobe suite of programs and you don't mind spending money on top-quality software. Adobe Audition is based on the old Cool Edit Pro software and is currently only available for Windows operating systems.
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Apple Logic is a fully-featured music production studio software that is often used by the biggest names in the music industry. It is only available for Apple computers with Intel processors, it is relatively expensive and it is quite processor intensive.
Editing ULAW Files
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Download a program called Switch from NCH Software. Switch is available directly from the NCH Software website, and is compatible with Windows and Mac OS X. Switch is available as a non-commercial free download to Mac OS X users. Follow the steps in the installation wizard to install the program. Convert your ULAW file to WAV format in Switch. Remember to keep backup copies of files in case there are problems with conversions. Open your WAV file in a DAW such as Apple Logic, Adobe Audition or Audacity and edit as necessary.
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Alternatively, download SC Free Audio Converter 7. Convert your ULAW file to WAV or MP3 format. If you convert to MP3 format, you end up with a smaller file size but will sacrifice audio quality in the process. Open the WAV or MP3 in a DAW such as Audacity, Adobe Audition or Apple Logic and perform desired edits.
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If you don't mind spending money, you can download Audio Converter and Ripper 4.1.2 from Audio i. This software is shareware and only works with Windows. Convert your ULAW file to a more common format and edit with a DAW. If you have several ULAW files that need conversion, use the batch convert feature to streamline the process.
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