Bug 1904 - Audio offset not honored in Export/Export Multiple/Export Selection

src/export/Export.cpp

@@ -554,9 +554,23 @@ bool Exporter::ExamineTracks()
       return false;
    }
 
-   if (mT0 < earliestBegin)
+   // The skipping of silent space could be cleverer and take 
+   // into account clips.
+   // As implemented now, it can only skip initial silent space that 
+   // has no clip before it, and terminal silent space that has no clip 
+   // after it.
+   if (mT0 < earliestBegin){
+      // Bug 1904 
+      // Previously we always skipped initial silent space.
+      // Now skipping it is an opt-in option.
+      bool skipSilenceAtBeginning;
+      gPrefs->Read(wxT("/AudioFiles/SkipSilenceAtBeginning"),
+                                      &skipSilenceAtBeginning, false);
+      if (skipSilenceAtBeginning)
          mT0 = earliestBegin;
+   }
 
+   // We still skip silent space at the end
    if (mT1 > latestEnd)
       mT1 = latestEnd;
 

src/prefs/ImportExportPrefs.cpp

@@ -93,6 +93,10 @@ void ImportExportPrefs::PopulateOrExchange(ShuttleGui & S)
       S.TieCheckBox(_("S&how Metadata Tags editor before export"),
                     wxT("/AudioFiles/ShowId3Dialog"),
                     true);
+      /* i18n-hint 'silent space' is space on the tracks with no audio in it*/
+      S.TieCheckBox(_("S&kip silent space at the beginning"),
+                    wxT("/AudioFiles/SkipSilenceAtBeginning"),
+                    false);
    }
    S.EndStatic();
 #ifdef USE_MIDI