Audacity Basics

OverviewAudacity is a free, open source audio editing program that is available for PC, Mac, and Linux platforms. It allows users to trim, mix, and adjust the sound qualities of audio files to create sound compositions containing music, narration, and sound effects.

Installing Audacity

1. Download Audacity for Windows: http://www.audacityteam.org/download/windows/

2. Download Audacity for Mac: http://www.audacityteam.org/download/mac/

2. To have access to all of the effects and audio file formats, be sure to install the LADSPA plug-ins, LAME MP3 encoder, and the FFmpeg import/export library.See slide 18 for detailed installation instructions.

Gathering MaterialsGather all of the files you are planning to use in your project and put them in one folder. Audacity links to sound files used in a project. Sound files located outside of this folder may lose their links if you choose to move your project from one computer to another before creating your final mix down file.

Creating a Project

1. Open the Filemenu and select Save Project As.

3. Navigate to the folder that you created in the previous step. Name the Project File and click Save.

2. If you receive a warning, click OK.

Adding a File to a Project1. Open the File menu and select Import Audio.

2. Select a file and click Open.

3. Audacity opens the file in an Audio Track.

**If you have trouble importing WMA files, make sure that you have the FFmpeg import/export library installed. See Slide 8 for details.

Adding a Second Audio Track1. Open the File menu and select Import Audio.

2. Select a file and click Open.

**If you have trouble importing WMA files, make sure that you have the FFmpeg import/export library installed. See Slide 8 for details.

3. Audacity opens the second file in another Audio Track just below the first track.

Trimming Audio Files1. Click the Selection Tool button.

2. Click and drag to select the portion of the waveform that you wish to change.

3. Click the Cut button to delete the selected piece of audio.

4. Click the Trim button to keep only the selected audio in the track.

Splitting Audio Within a Track

2. Open the Edit menu and select Clip Boundaries Split.

1. Select a portion of the audio clip that you wish to detach from the original clip.

Moving Audio Within a Track

1. Select the Time-Shift tool.

2. Click and drag to move the split section of audio along the track.

Changing the Audio Volume Level of an Entire Audio Track

To raise or lower the volume of all audio files on a track, click and drag the track’s volume slider.

Changing the Audio Volume Level of a Section of Audio in a Track

2. Find the point on a particular track where you wish the audio adjustment to begin. Line up the space between the two arrows of the Envelope Tool between the shaded and non-shaded areas on the track..

3. Click on the border. Two white dots appear.

1. Click the Envelope Tool.

Changing the Audio Volume Level of a Section of Audio in a Track (continued)

4. Click and drag the white dot to lower of raise the volume at that point in the track.

5. Adding additional points will allow for gradual adjustments.

Creating a Self-contained Audio File for the Web or a CD

The Save option in Audacity creates a project file that can be opened in Audacity only. To turn a project file into a self-contained file that can be burned to a CD or uploaded to the web, you must export it as an MP3 or WAV file.

1. Open the File menu and select Export Audio.

Creating a Self-contained Audio File for a CD

1. To create a larger file with CD quality, select WAV from the Save as Type drop-down menu.

2. Name the file and click Save.

3. Enter relevant Metadata information and click OK.

4. Click OK to create a stereo file.

Creating a Self-contained Audio File for the Web

1. To create a smaller file, more suitable for the web, select MP3 from the Save as Type drop-down menu.

2. Name the file and click Save.

*If you don’t see the MP3 Files option, you need to install the LAME MP3 encoding library from Audacity Downloads webpage. See Slide 4 for details.

Creating a Self-contained Audio File for the Web (continued)

3. Enter relevant Metadata information and click OK.

4. Click OK to create a stereo file.

Installing Audacity

1. Download Audacity for Windows: http://www.audacityteam.org/download/windows/

2. Download Audacity for Mac: http://www.audacityteam.org/download/mac/

2. To have access to all of the effects and audio file formats, be sure to install the LADSPA plug-ins, LAME MP3 encoder, and the FFmpeg import/export library.

Installing LAME MP3 Library

2. Select Libraries.

1. Open Edit menu and select Preferences.

3. If MP3 export library not found, click the LAME MP3 Library Download button.

Installing LAME MP3 Library (continued)

5. Click LAME download page.

4. Select the LAME link for your operating system.

Installing LAME MP3 Library (continued)

6. Click Lame v3.99.3 for Windows.exe.

Installing LAME MP3 Library (continued)

7. Click the Locate button.

9. The LAME library should no longer say “library not found.”

8. Click No.

Installing FFmpeg Library

2. Select Libraries.

1. Open Edit menu and select Preferences.

3. If FFmpeg library not found, click the FfmpegImport/Export Library Download button.

Installing FFmpeg Library (continued)

5. Click download page link.

4. Click FFmpeg installation section link.

Installing FFmpeg Library (continued)

6. Click ffmpeg-win-2.2.2.exe link.

Installing FFmpeg Library (continued)

7. Click the Locate button.

9. The FFmpeg library should no longer say “library not found.”

8. Click No.

Further Audacity Resources

• Audacity Quick Help: http://manual.audacityteam.org/quick_help.html

• Audacity Manual: http://manual.audacityteam.org/