cut up sound files
 

I want to cut bits out of mp3 or other sound files. Is there a Linux software to do this?

Audacity can do that, but I think it needs to re-encode the cut bits, so there is some loss of quality.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

There is another program called 'mp3splt', that doesnt re-encode the cut bits and keeps the original quality, although I've not used it before. Actually you reminded me that I need to try it.

http://mp3splt.sourceforge.net/mp3splt_page/home.php

mp3splt is what I'd recommend for mp3 and vorbis files. I use it often. The gui front-end is particularly useful.

For other sound types, I'd probably use ffmpeg with the "copy" pseudo codec and the -ss and -t options for lossless extraction.

sox might be another option. I don't know if it can do fully lossless splitting though.

Thanks guys! mp3splt worked like a dream! Haven't tried Audacity yet. I am learning Chinese, and the bits from the CD that cause the most trouble to pronounce I want to cut to a short file, so I don't have to search and search, just play the mini mp3 on repeat.