how to merge two audio files

Do you want to get some of Audio (mp3) files merged altogether such that when you play the merged file later, the initial song will be played first followed the succeeding ones?

Users generally prefer using some third party applications to do this; but you can execute this task, simply by using the 'Command prompt' interface in 'Windows'.

the procedure is simple as it takes the help of a single command line & just few handy seconds to get executed. At the end, you,ll have a unique, enlarged mp3 file comprising of all your mp3s in a sequence that you want.

Here we'll merge two .mp3 files.

Steps:

1) Create a New folder anywhere on your drive, say "Big mp3" in the D: drive.
2)Move any two .mp3 files, which you want to merge, in the recently made "Big mp3" folder. rename those mp3 files as 1.mp3 and 2.mp3. By renaming like this, you'll get 1.mp3 first followed by 2.mp3 in the output merged file.
You can also reverse a naming to get the reverse sequence of the files in the output merged file.
3) Holding the 'Shift' key from keyboard and right click on the "Big mp3" folder. → You will now see a new menu option 'Open Command Window here'. → Click on it.

4) The 'Command Prompt' window will now open at the "Big mp3" folder path. Now, enter the following code in the 'Command Prompt' :

copy  /b  *.mp3  Merged.mp3

The /b parameter in the command ensures that the files are copied in the binary format. The asterisk (*) plays a wildcard here and selects all the mp3 file present in a directory alphanumerically.
You can also add mp3 files individually. To do so, type the file-names separated by the '+' symbol in the copy command.

copy  /b  1.mp3  +  2.mp3  Merged.mp3

Now navigate to the "Big mp3" folder on the D: drive, you will see a large new mp3 file named "Merged.mp3". This single file contains both the 1.mp3 and 2.mp3 files.

While at times, it may take longer to use the command line for the purpose of merging mp3 files, but it is something that is always available if you are working on a Windows Personal Computer.

Notes:
1) While using the command 'copy /b *.mp3 Merged.mp3', it is possible to limit the selection of mp3 files by adding letters or numbers to the command, e.g. a*.mp3 in the command will join all mp3s starting with the letters.
2) if step three (3) doesn't work on your Personal Computer, migrate to the "Big mp3" folder in the 'Command Prompt' window by following the steps as shown below and then input 'copy' command.
[Press 'Windows' + 'R' key from keyboard → Then 'Run' command box will come → Write down 'CMD' in the 'Run' command box → Press 'Ok' → Then 'Command Prompt' window will come → Write down the code:
a) Type 'd:' (without '') in the 'Command Prompt' window to migrate to D: drive.
b) now type 'cd Big mp3' to draft to the "Big mp3" folder.

The copy command can be inputted in another way to get your merged file at preferred location:

The time-code may get corrupted; mean that, though the size of the merged output file containing all the input files is enlarged, the output file may show the duration or playing time of the inputted first file only.

So when the Media Player plays the outputted Audio/Video file, don't be in the delusion that the file consists of only inputted first file.
You can also merge files having following extensions:
*.txt, *.html, *.mpeg, *.mpg, *.flv, *.vlc, *.avi (sometimes) etc.
you may try this procedure on other file-formats too.

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Hide Files behind the Pictures

This is a perfect way to conceal single or multiple files within an JPEG Picture file but the precondition is that the file(s) must be in a .zip or .rar archive or if it isn't, you must zip or rar it using 'WinRAR' or any other secondary file-compression application.

Ingredients:
a) A single and simple command line.
b) A good quality .jpg image (Here name: 'Bird.jpg')
c) Zipped/Rared private files (Here zip file name: 'Personal.zip')

Steps:

1) You can also use the default 'Compressed (zipped) Folder' option in 'Windows' to zip the files [Select all your private files at once → Right click on any of the selected files → Select the 'Send to' option from the context menu → Click on the 'Compressed (zipped) Folder' option then.]

Then four files are compressed into '.zip' file. Then give the file name like : 'Personal'. Then you can delete your four simple files.

2) keep the archive ('Personal.zip') and the JPEG image ('Bird.jpg') that you want to use for hiding the files to the folder ('Test' folder)  of your choice.
See the screenshot below : The archive "Personal.zip" containing some top-secret files and the image "Bird.jpg" are kept in the "Test" folder of the E: drive.

3) Launch 'Command Prompt' & using DOS commands, navigate to that folder (here: "Test") [Press 'Windows' + 'R' key from keyboard → write down : 'cmd' → Click at 'Ok' button.]

OR

Use extended context menu to open 'Command Prompt' at that folder (here: "Test"). [holding the 'Shift' key, right click on the 'Test' folder → Click on 'Open command window here' option present on the menu (may work only on 'Windows Vista' and up.]

Once there, input the copy command:

copy  /b  some-file.jpg  +  some-archive.zip  New.jpg

Where,
New.jpg → Final image file that will hold the archived Personal files.
For hiding the archive, "Personal.zip" within "Bird.jpg", the command to be inputted will be:

copy  /b  "Bird.jpg"  +  Personal.zip  Bird2.jpg

[Here "Bird2.jpg" is final image file that will hold the archived Personal file.]
Please note that, "Bird.jpg" in the command is enclosed with in "" as it contains white-space.
Press 'Enter' to execute the command.
You will now get a message in the 'Command Prompt' that "1 file(s) copied". Close the 'Command Prompt'. It is done now.

Now navigate to the folder (here: "Test") and have a look at the newly born image file.

When you open it, it gets opened just like any normal JPEG picture.
You may open the "Bird2.jpg" as a thumbnail inside the folder or in a Photo-editing /Photo-viewing Software and it will be difficult even for anyone to make out that the modified photo is different from the standard one.

To unhide the archive within the image file, follow the below steps:
Steps:
a) To access the hidden zipped/rared file, change the extension of "Bird2.jpg" to the extension of the archive file (in this case: .zip) and access it with "WinRAR". I recommend using "WinRAR" only as other file compression system may show the zipped file as corrupt sometimes.
b) Restore the file's extension to jpg after accessing archived files.
[To rename the extension, use 'WinRAR' or make sure that 'Hide extensions for known file types' option is unchecked in the 'View' tab of the 'Folder Options'. Run 'control folders' (without '') to open 'Folder Option'. Then double click on newly created jpg file (here: Bird2.jpg. Follow the screenshot bellow:]. 

↓

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OR

c) Open "Bird2.jpg" with 'WinRAR' directly. [Right click on "Bird2.jpg" → Select 'Open with' from the context menu → Select 'WinRAR' → You will see original files.]

↓

Notes:
1) Please note that, for these process you have to installed the 'WinRAR' in your personal Computer.
2) Sometimes the outputted "Bird2.jpg" file gets corrupted but still you may be able to access your archived personal files. In this trick with any other .jpg image file.
3)You may try to hide the archive inside .pdf, .avi, .bmp, .png etc. files. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
4) Sometimes you may be able to conceal your personal file(s) within the JPEG image even without archiving.
5) The archive gets corrupted sometimes once you rotate the modified JPEG file in a standard image-viewer.

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How to hide your files and folders

Steps:

1) First of all, its better to keep all the personal files in a single folder on a separate drive (Please don't mixed them with system drive). Give a cunning name for the personal folder; something like "MSOCache" or "ServerLog" will go. Here folder name is "ServerLog".

2) Open 'Command Prompt' [Press 'Windows' + 'R' key from keyboard → 'Run' command window will come → Write down : 'cmd' in the 'Run' command box. → Click 'Ok' button → 'Command Prompt' window will come] and type:

attrib  +r  +a  +s  +h  "Path of the folder\*"  /s  /d 

[please note that after write down the command press Enter key (↲) from keyboard].

For a folder named 'ServerLog' in the E: drive, the command would be:

attrib  +r  +a  +s  +h  "E:\ServerLog\*"  /s  /d

Result:

All the contents of the 'ServerLog' folder will be hidden now. But the above command may not hide the folder itself.

To hide the folder itself, input the following command:

attrib  +r  +a  +s  +h  "Path of the folder"

For a folder named "ServerLog" in the E: drive, command would be:

attrib  +r  +a  +s  +h  "E:\ServerLog"

Similarly for hiding a file, the command to be inputted will be:

attrib  +r  +a  +s  +h  "Path of the File"

If File name is 'Book.docx' and Path of File is: "E:\Book.docx", then command is :

attrib  +r  +a  +s  +h  "E:\Book.docx" 

Even if someone searches for the concealed file/the concealed folder and its contents, anywhere on your Personal Computer, he/she surely won't get to it.

In this case, if any suspicious user tries to search "Book.docx" or the "ServerLog" folder on your Personal Computer, he is surely not get to it.

No search result for 'Book.docx'

No search result for 'ServerLog' folder

Unhide the File and Folder:
To access the folder and its contents you have to unhide them. To do so replace the '+' with '-' in the attrib commands.

attrib  -r  -a  -s  -h  "Path of the folder\*"  /s  /d

attrib  -r  -a  -s  -h  "Path of the folder"

If path is "E:\ServerLog", then commands are :

attrib  -r  -a  -s  -h  "E:\ServerLog\*"  /s  /d

attrib  -r  -a  -s  -h  "ServerLog"

Similarly to unhide a file, the command will be:

attrib  -r  -a  -s  -h  "Path of the file"

If 'Book.docx' file path is "E:\Book.docx", then the comman is:

attrib  -r  -a  -s  -h  "E:\Book.docx"

OR

No need to carry out unhiding the folder and its contents or unhiding the file, if you know the path.
Just type the path of the file/folder in the 'Address Bar' of the 'Explorer' window and it will get opened.

But the inputted path do gets stored sometimes in the 'Address Bar' history (See the screenshot below).

To delete the 'Address Bar' history, right click on the empty area of the 'Address Bar' and select the 'Delete History' option from the popped-up menu.
Please note that the address/path within the 'Address Bar' doesn't get highlighted or the 'Delete History option won't get displayed in the menu.

Notes:
1) The attrib command thus allows you to change the properties associated with file/folder.

2) Files/Folders accessed by you get stored as shortcuts in the "History" and "Recent" folder. Sometimes your super-hidden files and folders may be seen in Search results too due to this.
So run recent or 'shell:recent' (to open 'Recent' folder) and 'shell:History' (to open "History" folder) via "Run" and clear these auto-saved shortcuts.
3) If you are on 'Windows 7' and up , do also clear your recently accessed files from the 'Jump List' menu (Right click the program's icon on the 'Taskbar'. You will see the list of recently or frequently opened items, tasks etc. → To remove an item from the list, right click on the item, and then click 'Remove from this list' option).
4) Make sure that either one/both of the below mentioned settings is made in the 'Folder Option, or your super-hidden files and folders will be both easily visible and accessible:
a) Checked 'Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)' option.
b) Checked 'Don't show hidden files, folders or drives' option
(Run 'control folders' (without ' ') via 'Run' to open 'Folder Options' dialog).

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Secret Transparent Folders

Here I reveal a humble, handy trick, which will make your folder invisible. See, how I make a folder named "Student" totally unseen here.

Steps:

1) Right click on  the "Student" folder → Click at 'Properties'.

Then 'Student Properties' dialog box will come. → Click at 'Customize' tab. → The current folder icon will be shown → Click at 'Change Icon...' button.

Then you will see 'Change Icon for Student Folder' dialog box. → Scroll the bottom horizontal Scroll Bar till you see some free area called transparent icons in the Dialog box. → Select any of the transparent icon → Click at 'Ok' button.
Follow the picture below:

'Change Icon for Student Folder' dialog box

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Transparent icons present in the 'Change icon for Student Folder' dialog box

Then click on 'Apply' in the 'Student Properties' dialog box → Click at 'ok' button.

Preliminary Result:

Transparent 'Student' Folder

Now, we should hide the folder name as well, i.e. "Student" here.

2) Select the "Student" folder. Press the 'F2' Function key from keyboard to rename it. → Press 'Alt' + '255' or 'Alt' + '0160', '255' or '0160' from NumPad on the right side of the keyboard → Press 'Enter' key from keyboard. [You won't actually see those '0160' or '255' numbers while typing them. Just make sure to hold down the 'Alt' key while typing the '255' or '0160'.

Ultimate Result:

Notes:
1) no. '255' or '0160' should be selected from NumPad only. This trick won't work if you press nos., given on the top of the alphabetic characters of the keyboard.

2) What if you want to create another transparent folder in the same directory ?.
For this, again select any of the transparent icons as your folder-icon and type '0160' or '255' two times while naming the folder each time holding the 'Alt' key. That's it.
3) You may not be able to input '255' or '0160' easily while holding 'Alt' while renaming, if 'Mouse Keys', 'Sticky Keys' etc. Features are turned-on on your Personal Computer.
4) Remember that not every keyboard has a numeric keypad although there is usually a way of temporarily making a set of keys on the normal keyboard behave as if they were the numeric keypad.


Visible the Folder again:
Steps:
1) Right click on secret transparent folder ('Student' folder) → Click at 'Properties'.

Then 'Properties' window will come → Select the 'Customize' tab → Click at 'Change Icon' button. → Select the 'Folder' icon picture → Click at 'Ok' button. → Click at 'Apply' button → Then click at 'Ok' button.

Then the Folder will look like this:

2) Then select the folder → Press 'F2' key from keyboard → Then write down the folder name like: 'Student'.

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Customize the send to menu in Windows 10, 8, 7

➤How to add Folders to 'Send to' menu:

'Send to' : A pretty useful tool for directly sending file(s)/folder(s) to the Pen-drive that you have just plugged in instead of performing that historical 'Ctrl' + 'C' and 'Ctrl' + 'V'.

You can also use the 'Send to' menu to:

1) Create a zipped archive of the selected file(s)/folder(s).

2) Create shortcut of selected file(s)/folder(s) on the 'Desktop'.

3) Send file(s) as an attachment via default e-mail client.

4) Send file(s) to a Fax recipient and Bluetooth devices.

You can easily customize the 'Send to' option.

.Steps:

1) At first create a new folder on 'Desktop' and give the name like: My Locker.

2)Now press 'Windows' + 'R' key from keyboard. → Then 'Run' command window will come → In the 'Run' command box, write down: shell:sendto → Click on 'ok'

3) Then 'Send to' folder will open → Right click in the free area of the  'send to' folder → Click at 'New' → Then select 'Shortcut'.

Then 'Shortcut' window will come. → Click on 'Browse..' button.

Then 'Browse For Files and Folders' Window will come → Select the New folder (My Locker) which created on Desktop. → Click at 'Ok' button.

Please note that the 'Desktop new folder (My Locker) location is: C:\Users\{User Name}\Desktop\My Locker

Here target folder (My Locker) location is:

 C:\Users\KOUSHIK\Desktop\My Locker 

[User name is: KOUSHIK].

Then click at 'Next' button → Click at 'Finish' button.

↓

Now 'My Locker' shortcut folder created in 'Send to' folder. →Then close the 'Send to' folder.

4) Now right click on any file(s) or folder(s) from any place in the Computer (except 'My Locker' folder). → Then click at 'Send to'.

Then you will see the 'My Locker' folder on your 'Send to' menu. → Click at 'My Locker'.

Result:

You will see the picture file (.jpg) in the 'My Locker' folder on 'Desktop'.

➤Modify Windows Send to menu:

Hold down the 'Shift' key while selecting the destination from the 'Send to' menu and your file/folder will be moved instead of getting copied (For 'Windows XP' and up).

[Right click on any file/folder → Click on 'Send to' → Press and hold 'Shift' key from keyboard + Select the destination drive/folder]

Results:

The picture file (mouse.jpg) has been moved (cut) to the destination folder (My Locker).

➤'Shift' magic in Windows Vista and up:

Hold down the 'Shift' key → Right click on the desired folder/file  → Discover the 'Extended Context Menu', i.e context menu with some secret option. These secret options include:

1) 'Open in new process'

2) 'Open command window here'

3) 'Copy as path' [stores the address/path of the selected file/folder in the Notepad]

4) Some extra, secret items in the 'Send to' menu.

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