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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesUse File > Import > Raw Data only when the file contains headerless or otherwise unrecognized uncompressed audio. For ordinary supported audio, use File > Import > Audio; for many less-common compressed formats, use Audacity’s optional FFmpeg library. The right route depends on how the file is encoded—not simply on whether its extension looks unfamiliar.
Choose the import route that matches the file
| File type or situation | Audacity route | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Recognized audio such as most WAV and AIFF PCM, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, or MP2 | File > Import > Audio, or drag the file into the project | This adds the audio as a track in the current project. Format support can vary by Audacity build. Audacity: Import audio |
| Headerless or unrecognized uncompressed audio data | File > Import > Raw Data | You must provide or verify how the bytes represent samples. Audacity: Import Raw Data |
| Other compressed or less-common formats, such as AC3, M4A, MP4, or WMA | Use an Audacity build with the optional FFmpeg library available | FFmpeg also supports most non-DRM video files; DRM-protected files cannot be imported by this route. Audacity: Installing FFmpeg |
A failed ordinary import does not prove that a file is raw. Some portable-recording devices produce WAV files containing proprietary compressed audio; Audacity’s manual advises against importing those as Raw Data. If the format is supported by FFmpeg, use that route instead.
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Import a headerless file with Raw Data
Raw audio has no header describing its encoding or layout. Audacity therefore needs the right interpretation settings to turn the bytes into sound. Look for details in the recorder, exporter, or other software that created the file; the Raw Data dialog does not provide universal settings that work for every file.
- Open the dialog: in Audacity, choose File > Import > Raw Data, then select the file.
- Try Detect: use the dialog’s Detect option for an initial guess. Treat the result as a guess, not confirmation.
- Check the parameters: compare the detected or selected values with reliable information about the file. The dialog provides controls for encoding, byte order, number of channels, start offset in bytes, percentage of the file to import, and sample rate.
- Test a portion if uncertain: the percentage control lets you import less than the whole file. Listen to the result and check that its duration and playback speed make sense before building a longer workflow around it.
- Import and review: if the settings match the file’s known format, proceed with the import and check the resulting track.
The Raw Data dialog supports sample rates from 100 Hz to 384,000 Hz, according to the Audacity manual. This is the range accepted by that dialog, not a recommendation for a particular recording.
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Recognize signs of incorrect Raw Data settings
Wrong parameters can make valid audio bytes sound or appear wrong. A result that plays at an implausible speed, has an unexpected duration, or sounds severely distorted is a reason to re-check the interpretation rather than assume the file itself is damaged.
- Encoding: determines how sample values are represented. Confirm it from the file’s source or export settings where possible.
- Byte order: matters for formats in which sample bytes can be stored in different orders. A mismatch changes how those values are read.
- Channels: set the number of channels actually present in the data. A wrong channel count changes how samples are grouped.
- Start offset: specifies how many bytes to skip before interpreting audio data. Use a known value rather than guessing at a header or other leading data.
- Percentage to import: controls how much of the file is read; it is useful for a limited test when settings remain uncertain.
- Sample rate: tells Audacity how quickly the samples should be played. A mismatch affects playback speed and duration.
Keep source, raw-import, and project sample rates distinct
The sample rate entered in Raw Data is part of interpreting headerless bytes. It is not the same thing as the project sample rate. Audacity imports supported audio at its original sample rate, while the project sample rate is a separate setting that affects playback, newly created tracks, and exported audio. Audacity: Sample rates
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Likewise, a displayed 32-bit-float sample format does not necessarily mean the recording was originally captured at 32-bit. Audacity generally uses 32-bit float as the default imported sample format, even when the source has lower bit depth; how WAV and AIFF resolution is handled can depend on preferences and source bit depth. Audacity: Sample formats
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Troubleshoot an import that does not work
- Try ordinary import first for a recognized format. Use File > Import > Audio or drag the file into the project.
- Determine whether the file is compressed. If it is a less-common compressed format, check whether FFmpeg support is available in your Audacity installation.
- Do not infer “raw” from an unfamiliar extension or an error. Confirm that the file is headerless or uncompressed audio data before choosing Raw Data.
- For genuine raw data, check metadata and test the interpretation. Use Detect as a starting point, verify the settings against information about the file, and test a portion if needed.
- Check version and build differences. Menu labels, native format support, and optional library availability may differ by Audacity version, operating system, and build.
Raw Data is a way to interpret uncompressed bytes when ordinary file information is absent or unusable; it is not a general-purpose repair tool or a way around DRM.
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