<p>If the files have no content then it's enough to key on size. A totally "empty" WAV file will have just a header and will almost certainly be less than 200 bytes. So it's probably enough to delete any files smaller than that. I would sort the folder by increasing size. You will probably see a sharp change from very low values to a series of much larger files. Bulk delete above that point (shift-select, delete).</p>

<p>If the files have some length but contain only silence, you need a more rigorous test. But from your question it doesn't sound like that's the case.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-08T13:58:11.630Z
2015-09-08T13:58:11.630Z
Jim Mack
<p>There are some wav files that are empty (though their size is not 0 bytes). Their duration is also 00:00.</p>

<p>When you open these files, nothing happens even if you hit the play button again and again.</p>

<p>Is there a way to filter all such files from a collection of (say 10000) .wav files?</p>

<p>Equivalently, could you help me in filtering all .wav files of duration less than or equal to 2 seconds from a huge collection of files?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-10T09:47:26.307Z
Welcome Snowbell :) If Jim does not solve your issue, might be a good idea to provide some test files to play with... Anyway, enjoy video.se!
p2or
<audio-recording>
how to detect empty wav files
Upendra01
# how to detect empty wav files

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-08)

There are some wav files that are empty (though their size is not 0 bytes). Their duration is also 00:00.

When you open these files, nothing happens even if you hit the play button again and again.

Is there a way to filter all such files from a collection of (say 10000) .wav files?

Equivalently, could you help me in filtering all .wav files of duration less than or equal to 2 seconds from a huge collection of files?

**Tags:** audio-recording

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome Snowbell :) If Jim does not solve your issue, might be a good idea to provide some test files to play with... Anyway, enjoy video.se!  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-09-08. Score: 2

If the files have no content then it's enough to key on size. A totally "empty" WAV file will have just a header and will almost certainly be less than 200 bytes. So it's probably enough to delete any files smaller than that. I would sort the folder by increasing size. You will probably see a sharp change from very low values to a series of much larger files. Bulk delete above that point (shift-select, delete).

If the files have some length but contain only silence, you need a more rigorous test. But from your question it doesn't sound like that's the case.


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