---
name: "qwavsilence"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "quelcom"
version: "0.4.0-16"
release: "Debian 12 (Bookworm)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/qwavsilence"
---

# qwavsilence(1)

detect and shrink silence sequences in wav files

## NAME

qwavsilence - detect and shrink silence sequences in wav files

## SYNOPSIS

**qwavsilence** \[*option*\]... *file*...

## DESCRIPTION

**qwavsilence** reads a list of wav files looking for silence sequences.

## OPTIONS

- **-d** \<*duration*\>\[\<*format*\>\], **--duration**=\<*duration*\>\[\<*format*\>\]

  *duration* is a positive integer that specifies the minimum duration of a silent sequence on a file to be reported. the value is treated as a sample number unless a format specifier is used. see the **FORMATS** section below for information. the default value is one second.

- **-h**, **--help**

  show a brief help and exit.

- **-S**, **--shrink**

  when this option is set, all the silent sequences greater than *duration* will be shrinked down to *duration* and the file size truncated accordingly.

- **-t** \<*threshold*\>, **--threshold**=\<*threshold*\>

  *threshold* is a percentage value respect the maximum (absolute) sample value. samples whose value is under the given *threshold* are considered silent. for example, a value of 2 means that all samples with absolute value under the 2% will be treated as silent samples. the default value is 0.

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  show more detailed info.

- **-V**, **--version**

  show version and exit.

## FORMATS

the following modifiers are provided:

- **j**

  value is interpreted as milliseconds.

- **m**

  value is interpreted as minutes.

- **s**

  value is interpreted as seconds.

- **b**

  value is interpreted as bytes.

- **k**

  value is interpreted as kbytes (1024 bytes).

- **M**

  value is interpreted as megabytes (1024 kbytes).

in either case, the values specified will be rounded to get an integer number of samples.

## BUGS

tests has been done only with 44100 Hz 16 bit stereo files, though it may work with mono/stereo 8/16 bits files.

## AUTHOR

dmanye@etse.urv.es\
 http://www.etse.urv.es/~dmanye/quelcom/quelcom.html

## SEE ALSO

[**qwavinfo**(1)](/qwavinfo/1.md), [**qwavjoin**(1)](/qwavjoin/1.md), [**qwavcut**(1)](/qwavcut/1.md), [**qwavfade**(1)](/qwavfade/1.md), [**qwavheaderdump**(1)](/qwavheaderdump/1.md)\
 [**qmp3info**(1)](/qmp3info/1.md), [**qmp3join**(1)](/qmp3join/1.md), [**qmp3cut**(1)](/qmp3cut/1.md), [**qmp3check**(1)](/qmp3check/1.md), [**qmp3report**(1)](/qmp3report/1.md)