Freesound Forums

Sorry for the boring beginners questions, but I just downloaded my first sound file, an amazing recording in a pine forest http://www.freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/sounds/178136/

But I am not sure how to get it to play. Windows Media doesn't like it... I think I need to convert it or download something to play it?

I am probably going to use this with a public power point presentation, so would like to have it in a more common (wav) format to be sure I can play it on whichever computer I get. How do I convert and is there a lot of sound quality loss?

Thanks,
Sasha

While I was waiting for this to be posted, I downloaded WinAmp to play the FLAC recording. I'd happily hear recommendations on the best player or perhaps a link or recommendation to your favorite resources to learn about this? Freesound is taking me by storm. I love it. I can't wait to learn more.

Hello,

a very popular tool, often recommended around here (and for more than one reason) is Audacity
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

You can use it just as a player, or a sound converter, but it's a quite powerful sound editor with interesting sound effects, an internal Nyquist engine to script your own transformations, and support for external effects.
Could it get any better? Sure! It's free, and multiplatform

FLAC is a lossless format, so you can safely convert that sound back to WAV wherever installing a FLAC capable player is not possible. You would only incur in quality loss when converting to lossy formats like OGG and MP3.

Conversion in Audacity is done via the File -> Export... menu selection.

HTH

Hi you all and @OzarkDogWoods

First thanks for the compliment on the file. And I use audacity as tool as well.
a good free-player that can play FLAC I use is VLC MEDIA PLAYER on www.videolan.org

Hi, copyc4t, klankbeeld,

Thanks for the recommendation on Audacity and VLC media players. Also many thanks for the specific info on converting files in Audacity, copyc4t.

Are there particular reasons to use Audacity vs. VLC?

Sasha

OzarkDogWoods wrote:
Hi, copyc4t, klankbeeld,

Thanks for the recommendation on Audacity and VLC media players. Also many thanks for the specific info on converting files in Audacity, copyc4t.

Are there particular reasons to use Audacity vs. VLC?

Sasha

Thanks, copyc4t! That is so helpful and really cuts my learning curve. The problem with being at such a beginner place is that it is impossible to know just from a google search what is really the best choice. I am looking forward to downloading Audacity.

All best,
Sasha

You're right about google searches not being good enough answers, but at least for Audacity there's a search that can help you shed some light: search for audacity howto on Youtube, and you'll find a lot of little tutorials about recording, or adding specific effects.

There you might catch a glimpse of how the program is used generally, and how it would work for you.
A sound editor is surely more complicated than a player, but you'll see that Audacity's power doesn't get in the way of its ease of use, and I bet you'll have fun experimenting with sounds and changing them into something completely different.

copyc4t wrote:
You're right about google searches not being good enough answers, but at least for Audacity there's a I bet you'll have fun experimenting with sounds and changing them into something completely different.

Yes, I think so, too! Though can't you just imagine all the beginner questions I'll have about sound equipment!

Thanks,
Sasha