If you have a long audio file, such as a recording of a radio program, or an imported album, you may wish to divide it into shorter files. Fission enables you to split your file up quickly, easily, and with no loss in quality. Splits can be done manually, or using the Smart Split tool.
Manual Splits
Above, you can see three split points at around 8:00, 10:30 and 18:00. These split points have created four separate clips. When the audio is saved out, each clip will be saved as a separate file. This is very useful for breaking a long file into multiple smaller and shorter files.
Inserting Split Points
There are two ways to insert split points and create clips. The most accurate method is to play the audio, then pause when you reach the portion at which you wish to split. Use the arrow keys to move the playhead in small increments forward and back, and the space bar to pause the playback. Once you reach the desired spot, use the Split At Playhead option to insert a split point exactly where the playhead is located.
Alternately, you can enter Split mode and click the waveform or the ruler wherever you wish to place a split point. You can then move the split point by clicking it and moving it with the mouse.
Removing Split Points
To remove a split point, simply highlight it by clicking either of the triangles on its end. Once highlighted, just click Delete on your keyboard to remove the split point and re-merge the two clips.
Run-Through
Let's run through the steps to manually split a file into multiple files.
Step 1) Open your audio file and enter Split mode.
Step 2) Insert splits at the desired points. Play the audio, then pause at the desired point and use the Split at Playhead option in the Clips menu to insert a split point. Alternately, simply click the waveform or the ruler where you wish to place a split point. You can move split points by dragging them.
Step 3) When you've placed all your split points and have checked your clips, save the audio out with the Save Audio button. Now you'll have multiple files, one for each section. Enjoy!
Smart Split
Fission's Smart Split feature looks for "silence" in the audio file, as defined by the settings. When you click the Split button split points will be inserted at these locations. This will create multiple clips in the file, which can be tweaked if needed. When the audio is saved out, a separate file will be created for each clip.
In the above image, you can see Smart Split in action, working on a file imported from a vinyl record. The green lines visible in the main window are suggested split points. Smart Split will insert 12 splits with the current settings, creating 13 clips, one for each track on the record.
Presets
Smart Split's presets are useful for Analog recordings such as those from records and tapes (which will likely have more line noise during "silence"), as well as Digital recordings where silence needs to be more strictly defined. These presets are merely a starting point - you can then adjust the controls as needed. Once you find settings that work, you can also add your own Presets for future use.
Controls
Smart Split's two controls will adjust exactly what Smart Split considers to be "silence".
Length
The length setting determines the length a section needs to be in order to be considered silence. Increasing this value will cause fewer silences to be found, as well as preventing brief lulls in audio from being considered silence.
Sensitivity
The sensitivity setting adjusts how soft the audio needs to be in order to be considered silence. Decreasing the sensitivity will result in more silences being found.
Run-Through
Let's run through the steps to use Smart Split on a file.
Step 1) Open your audio file and access the Smart Split window from the Tools menu.
Step 2) Adjust the settings and watch the main window. Here, you'll see the split points that will be inserted once you click Split.
Step 3) Click Split, and then have a listen to each clip. The Preview Beginning and Preview End options in the Playback menu will be helpful here. Move, adjust, or delete splits as needed.
Step 4) Save the audio out, and you'll get a file for each clip as seen in the main window. You're done!