Wrong documentation about importing files and bit depth? #27

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Octech6711 · 2025-09-09T19:40:52-05:00

Octech6711 commented

2025-09-09 19:40:52 -05:00

Originally created by @NightProgramming on GitHub.

Bug description

The manual says: "Generally, Audacity imports files at the sample format (bit depth) specified at Default Sample Format in Audio Settings Preferences." But the actual behavior is different.

Using Audacity 3.3.3

Steps to reproduce

In Audacity set "Default Sample Format" to "24-bit" (under Edit -> Preferences -> Audio Settings).
Import a 24 bit wav file.

Expected behavior

What the manual says (Audacity should import the file using the specified default sample format, 24 bit in this case).

Actual behavior

File is imported with 32 bit depth.

Audacity Version

latest stable version (from audacityteam.org/download)

Operating system

Windows

Additional context

Also the table below the quoted statement in the docs contradicts the quoted statement.

Originally created by @NightProgramming on GitHub. ### Bug description The [manual](https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/importing_audio.html) says: "Generally, Audacity imports files at the sample format (bit depth) specified at Default Sample Format in Audio Settings Preferences." But the actual behavior is different. Using Audacity 3.3.3 ### Steps to reproduce 1. In Audacity set "Default Sample Format" to "24-bit" (under Edit -> Preferences -> Audio Settings). 2. Import a 24 bit wav file. ### Expected behavior What the manual says (Audacity should import the file using the specified default sample format, 24 bit in this case). ### Actual behavior File is imported with 32 bit depth. ### Audacity Version latest stable version (from audacityteam.org/download) ### Operating system Windows ### Additional context Also the table below the quoted statement in the docs contradicts the quoted statement.

Octech6711 commented

2025-09-09 19:40:53 -05:00

@LWinterberg commented on GitHub:

If you scroll down a bit more, it'll also tell you this:

Edit: NVM, this issue is about the specific sentence in the manual, not the general concept.

@LWinterberg commented on GitHub: If you scroll down a bit more, it'll also tell you this: ![image](https://github.com/audacity/audacity/assets/87814144/3ac4e9d8-c2da-49b3-a404-3a8fccbfc450) Edit: NVM, this issue is about the specific sentence in the manual, not the general concept.

Octech6711 commented

2025-09-09 19:40:53 -05:00

@NightProgramming commented on GitHub:

Yes, it's just about the one sentence (sorry if this was not very clear). As a newbie I read the sentence and then looked at the table, and was confused and thought the table must be wrong, and then tried it out and found out the sentence is wrong. So the overall experience was a bit confusing (and time consuming).

@NightProgramming commented on GitHub: Yes, it's just about the one sentence (sorry if this was not very clear). As a newbie I read the sentence and then looked at the table, and was confused and thought the table must be wrong, and then tried it out and found out the sentence is wrong. So the overall experience was a bit confusing (and time consuming).

Octech6711 referenced this issue

2025-09-09 19:41:03 -05:00

[PR #27] [MERGED] Audacity Support Issue 11 #73

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Reference: audacity/audacity-support#27