Compressing an Audio File under Windows

If you are a Windows user, get CoolEdit 96. You can freely download it. This shareware version is not limited, neither in terms of time nor in functionality. On the other hand, you must select two options in the application features list and access them only during the session you have activated.

For our example, select the first option: Save, External Clipboard Functionality and Sample Converting. You can also download the last version of CoolEdit (CoolEdit 2000) at the publisher site. This one is limited to 30 days and the licence costs about 69 dollars.

1. After the installation, start the application by selecting Start > Programs > Syntrillium > Cool Edit 96 (the default selection path).
   
   
2. Select File > Open As.
   
   
3. In the browsing dialog box, select the Windows PCM option in the Type drop-down menu.
   
   
4. Select your file and click on OK.
   
   
5. CoolEdit immediately proposes that you convert it:
   
   
- Select 22050 in the sampling rate list

- Check the option boxes Mono and 8 bits.


6. Validate your choice by clicking on OK.
   
   
The wave form is displayed in the window.


7. To listen to the result, click on the Play button located at the bottom of the window.
   
   
CoolEdit also allows you to quickly "normalize" the signal in order to give it a saturation-free maximum amplitude.


8. Select Generate > Normalize.
   
   


Figure 2: At this stage of the process, you can "normalize" the signal


9. In the dialog box that appears, keep the default value (100%) and validate it by clicking on OK.
   
   
The signal amplitude is redrawn in the main window.


10. Listen to the new result
    
    
Our converted file size is now 65 KB and has reached a sufficient quality for an online experience.