simple wav file mixing (i think)

[lazycarrot]

Feeling way out of my depth here - even in the newbie forum! I just want to perform what i think must be a very simple mixing of 2 audio files into 1. Here's what I'm trying to achieve. I have a 'live' recording (ie with audience applause between tracks etc). I want to reduce the gap between tracks to a more enjoyable length (cutting out the bits where they spend 5mins changing broken strings etc!), but keep the audience applause 'flowing' so it still sounds like a continuous recording. To do this I want to fade the audience applause out at the end of one track and fade in at the beginning of the next and then 'blend' (is that mix down?) the fade in/fadeout on top of each other so the sound level remains consistent (normalisation right?).
Ok - I use Nero for burning - I don't think I can do what I'm trying to do with Nero. If I can.. could someone point me in the right direction, if I can't can someone suggest a really simple and economical solution.
This is for 'home' listening - I'm not looking to get any promo / radio airplay etc with this so low-fi isn't a serious problem....
And finally just wanted to try out a smilie to see what it looked like.

[adam_in_audio]

what you need is a two-track wave editor like Sound Forge (this is what I use). It will give you everything you want to do including fades, blends, special mixing, trimming, etc... I've even been able to "draw" out pops and clicks with it. You may be able to do this off the demo, I"m not really sure. It is definitely a good investment though, and what might normally take you hours will only take you minutes!!

There are other programs that are similair such as: Cool Edit, Samplitude (multitracking and editing), Wavelab, and Bias Peak (Mac). Check em' out!

[gordone]

Nero has a built in wav editor which can do cut/paste, and fades.

[TimOBrien]

http://audacity.sourceforge.net

FREE and works on Windows, Mac or Linux.

[lazycarrot]

Thanks for the responce - I'll check out Sound Forge. It's such a lifeline to have a starting place to begin looking... Much appreciated

[lazycarrot]

Originally Posted by gordone

Nero has a built in wav editor which can do cut/paste, and fades.

The automated fades in Nero are simple enough to use and they give you a choice of fading 'algorithms' that you can suck and see. Cutting and Pasting is simple too but as far as i can see you can only insert sections next to each other. So you can fade 1 track out and fade another straight in but laying the fade in section over the fade out section and blending them together i can't figure out....

[lazycarrot]

Originally Posted by TimOBrien

http://audacity.sourceforge.net

FREE and works on Windows, Mac or Linux.

Ahh now that's the kind of budget I really like....

BTW this is the first time I've used a forum like this - hope i'm following the right protocols. It's been a great experience - after countless hours of endless wandering around google finding a bunch of really helpful people has really lifted my spirits - got a feeling i could get hooked!

Only embarrasing bit is that I now realise the icon i used for my original message was 'cool' which seems a bit egotistical not to mention about as far off target as i could possibly get

Cheers for now....