creating sound files with audacity

Creating Sound Files with Audacity

Marsha ChanMission College

Santa Clara, CA, USA

What is Audacity?

Audacity® is free, open source, cross-platform software for recording and editing sounds.Audacity is available for Windows®, Mac®, GNU/Linux® and other operating systems.

You can use Audacity to: Record live audio. Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs. Edit MP3, WAV, AIFF, and other sound files. Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together. Change the speed or pitch of a recording…and more!

When you access the website, you'll see the latest updates.

Download Audacity softwarehttp://audacity.sourceforge.net/

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Download LAME mp3 encoder

Audacity Manuals

Installers include a built-in copy of the Manual.

You can also view the Manual online.

Getting started

1. Plug in your microphone.

2. Launch Audacity.

3. Open Audacity Preferences.

4. Select your recording and playback device(s), e.g., built-in audio or external mic.

5. Select record in Mono.

6. Set default sample rate at 11025 Hz.

7. Set default sample format at 16-bit.

8. From the File menu, Save Project with an appropriate filename in a place where you will be able to find it easily. Example: Joanne_ch07c.aup

Getting started

1. Plug in your microphone.

2. Launch Audacity.

3. Open Audacity Preferences.

4. Select your recording and playback device(s), e.g., built-in audio or external mic.

5. Select record in Mono.

6. Set default sample rate at 11025 Hz.

7. Set default sample format at 16-bit.

8. From the File menu, Save Project with an appropriate filename in a place where you will be able to find it easily. Example: Joanne_ch07c.aup

Getting started

1. Plug in your microphone.

2. Launch Audacity.

3. Open Audacity Preferences.

4. Select your recording and playback device(s), e.g., built-in audio or external mic.

5. Select record in Mono.

6. Set default sample rate at 11025 Hz.

7. Set default sample format at 16-bit.

8. From the File menu, Save Project with an appropriate filename in a place where you will be able to find it easily. Example: Joanne_ch07c.aup

Getting started

1. Plug in your microphone.

2. Launch Audacity.

3. Open Audacity Preferences.

4. Select your recording and playback device(s), e.g., built-in audio or external mic.

5. Select record in Mono.

6. Set default sample rate at 11025 Hz.

7. Set default sample format at 16-bit.

8. From the File menu, Save Project with an appropriate filename in a place where you will be able to find it easily. Example: Joanne_ch07c.aup

Getting started

1. Plug in your microphone.

2. Launch Audacity.

3. Open Audacity Preferences.

4. Select your recording and playback device(s), e.g., built-in audio or external mic.

5. Select record in Mono.

6. Set default sample rate at 11025 Hz.

7. Set default sample format at 16-bit.

8. From the File menu, Save Project with an appropriate filename in a place where you will be able to find it easily. Example: Joanne_ch07c.aup

Record your project

Click Record and other buttons on the main tool bar:Click on the red Record button to begin recording. Click on the blue Pause button to pause the recording. Press it again to continue. Click on the yellow Stop button to stop recording. The cursor will return to its previous position, before the recording was started. Click on the green Play button to listen to the audio in your project. Click on the purple Go to Start button to place the cursor at the start of the project. Click on the purple Go to End button to place the cursor at the end of the project.

Edit volume

Check the amplitude (volume) of your recording. If it is low, select the sound clip (or a portion of it).

Then select Effect > Amplify. Audacity calculates an appropriate amplification rate with the default Don’t allow clipping. Click OK.

Save your project

If you plan to do a lot of editing, File > Save Project often. Example: skiing_with_my_family.aup

Export your project as an MP3

An MP3 file is a compressed file that occupies much less space than the original or a WAV file. For example, an Audacity project of 14.6 MB is exported as an MP3 of only 3 MB.

From your Audacity project, select Edit > Export As MP3.

Name the file. Example: skiing_with_my_family.mp3

Ways to use mp3 files

Import the file into a multimedia project.

Send the file to students as an email attachment.

Upload the file to a web server and link to it on a web page.

Burn the file to an audio CD and play it in the classroom.

There are lots and lots of options.

Online demonstration

Marsha’s screen recording, a tutorial on how to record and edit a sound file in Audacity Several tips and tricks for using Audacity,

e.g. deleting sections, adding and mixing tracks, fading out, etc. (Created in Apple iMovie and Quicktime)

http://youtu.be/fI6U5qgAzII

Have fun speaking with Audacity!

Marsha ChanMission College

Santa Clara, CA, USAmarsha_chan@wvm.edu

marsha@sunburstmedia.com

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