Utility to split large MP3s into many separate MP3 tracks

[Muse]

I listen to 3+ hour MP3 tracks on portable devices, and the Sandisk Sansa m250 I just bought, while remembering what you were listening to and where after a power down/up cycle, forgets this stuff if you switch to FM. It's also very slow in FF/Rew modes and the speed is not configurable.

In an effort to partially circumvent these slights, I'm thinking of splitting my big (e.g. 175 MB) MP3's into several separate MP3s, say 8 or 10 or even 12.

I've been using Trackmaker 1.2 and 1.4 to do things like this but never tried making more than 3 out of 1. Now, I discover that I have to buy a "professional version" in order to set breakpoints (which can be done by playing the file in Winamp and clicking a button in Trackmaker), for more than 4 tracks (that would be 3 breakpoints).

I just downloaded and installed Audacity (the latest beta), and poking around in it I don't see (yet) an ability to do this with any convenience. Of course, I can use Trackmaker to split a file in 4 components and then use it again on each component for a total of 16 tracks, or similar scenarios for 10, etc. However, the amount of work here would probably have me stopping at 4 tracks.

Is there a freeware utility out there that will let me set breakpoints and automatically split an MP3 into N segments, automatically naming them in sequence? TIA.

 

[NoelS]

Muse,

I've been using Audacity to split tapes and LPs into separate songs. I just record the entire file then delete all but the first song and save it, then undelete the first deletion and start over. I don't see why Audacity wouldn't work for a large MP3 file the same way... Dividing it into separate songs rather than just smaller "pieces." Maybe I don't understand what you're trying to do...

Noel

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: NoelS
Muse,

I've been using Audacity to split tapes and LPs into separate songs. I just record the entire file then delete all but the first song and save it, then undelete the first deletion and start over. I don't see why Audacity wouldn't work for a large MP3 file the same way... Dividing it into separate songs rather than just smaller "pieces." Maybe I don't understand what you're trying to do...

Noel

Yes, that would work, but it's a lot of work. Trackmaker works with Winamp in such a way that you can listen to a long MP3 in Winamp and have Trackmaker open. You open the MP3 you are listening to in Winamp, choose a name for the new file you will be creating and every time you get to a point in the MP3 where you would like a split you press a button in Trackmaker and the time is captured (shown in a window in Trackmaker). You can pause in Winamp and do this, if desired.

You can do this numerous times, but I discovered that unless you are using the "professional version" of Trackmaker, 3 break points are the limit. It really is a convenient way to do it. I'd like to split my 3 hour MP3s into 10 separate MP3s. Well, I may just stick with 4, given the way things are going.

To illustrate, I may listen to X.MP3, choosing a new file name of XYZ.

If I work up 3 breakpoints in Trackmaker and then click the button named "Create Tracks", 4 new files would be created in the same directory:

XYZ01.mp3
XYZ02.mp3
XYZ03.mp3
XYZ04.mp3

 

[0roo0roo]

ipod seeks very efficiently with wheel

 

[JonnyBlaze]

try this: http://www.yaosoft.com/

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: JonnyBlaze
try this: http://www.yaosoft.com/

Cool, thanks! There's a free (um, not free!) MP3 splitter there and it says you can use it to join MP3's, too, something I've wanted to be able to do but been unable to now. I'm downloading right now!

Um, looks like it's not "free." It has a link labled "Free download" but it's a trial version and they want $10 to go beyond the trial period. What the trial period is is anybody's guess! I see nothing in the software or on the page.

 

[yelo333]

Try mp3splt for splitting. I've never used the graphical version of mp3splt, but I have used the command line version for some batch processing for a couple years now.

If you want it to, you can even set it up to do something like "split at a silence point about every X minutes". Works great for voice recordings.

For putting multiple mp3's into one, try mp3wrap. I've never used it, though. Command line only.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: yelo333
Try mp3splt for splitting. I've never used the graphical version of mp3splt, but I have used the command line version for some batch processing for a couple years now.

If you want it to, you can even set it up to do something like "split at a silence point about every X minutes". Works great for voice recordings.

For putting multiple mp3's into one, try mp3wrap. I've never used it, though. Command line only.

This looks very promising and interesting. I will be looking into this. Thanks!