guide to using audacity
TRANSCRIPT
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GuidetoUsingAudacity
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TableofContentsGettingStarted.................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Features ...................................................................................................................... 1 QuickStart................................................................................................................... 1
TechnicalRequirements ................................................................................................. 1 Hardware .................................................................................................................... 1 Software...................................................................................................................... 2
Setup ................................................................................................................................... 3 ConfigureRecordingSettingsforMac............................................................................ 3 ConfigureRecordingSettingsforWindowsXP............................................................... 4 ConfigureRecordingSettingsforWindowsVista/7 ....................................................... 5 AdjustandTestMicrophone........................................................................................... 7 DownloadandInstallAudacityforMac.......................................................................... 9 DownloadandInstallAudacityforWindows ............................................................... 11 DownloadandInstallLameforMac............................................................................. 14 DownloadandInstallLameforWindows..................................................................... 16
Recording .......................................................................................................................... 19 RecordinginAudacity ................................................................................................... 19 EditingRecordings ........................................................................................................ 20 Stopvs.PauseinAudacity ............................................................................................ 21 RerecordingUsingAudacity......................................................................................... 23 CutandPaste ................................................................................................................ 24
Exporting ........................................................................................................................... 26 EstablishExportSettings............................................................................................... 26 ExporttoMP3Format .................................................................................................. 27
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GettingStarted
Introduction
Youhavemanyoptionswhenitcomestorecordingaudioforpostingonline.Youwillneedsoftwarethatcanrecordaudiotoaccomplishthis.ThistutorialcoversrecordingaudiousingaprogramcalledAudacityasimple,freeprogramforrecordingandeditingaudio.ThisguidewillwalkyouthroughtheentireprocessofusingAudacitytorecordaudioandexportMP3files.
Features
Recordandeditaudioclips. Convertrecordedaudiotomp3format.
QuickStart
Let'ssayyouneedtorecordanaudiopresentationanduploadittoanonlinecourse.Here'saquickoverviewofwhatyouneedtodo:
1. Setupmicrophoneandconfigureaudiosettings.
2. DownloadandinstallAudacityandLame.
3. Recordandeditaudio.
4. Convertaudiotomp3fileformat.
5. Uploadmp3filetoonlinecourse.
TechnicalRequirements
Hardware
Usingaheadsetmicrophonewillprovidethebestresults.TheCenterforTeachingandLearningwithTechnology(CTLT)onlyofferstechnicalsupportforUSBheadsetmicrophones.Analogmicrophonesandbuiltinmicrophonesonlaptopsarenotsupported.
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Software
BecauseAudacityisafreeapplication,noteverythingyouneedisincludedinasingledownload.YoumustfirstdownloadandinstallAudacity,andtheninstallapieceofsoftwarecalledLAMEthatwillletAudacitycreateMP3files.Instructionsfordownloadingandinstallingbothprogramscanbefoundinthisguide.YoushouldalsomakesurethatyourcomputeralsomeetstheminimumrequirementslistedontheeLearningsite.
http://ctlt.jhsph.edu/account/index.cfm/go/termsOfService/
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Setup
ConfigureRecordingSettingsforMac
MakesurethatyourUSBheadsetisconnectedtoyourcomputerandthattheheadsetitselfisnotsettomute(iftheoptionisavailable)beforefollowingthestepsbelow.
1. OpenSystemPreferencesandclicktheSoundicontoopenyoursoundoptions.
2. ClicktheInputtab.
3. BesuretochooseyourUSBmicrophone.
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4. Youcanadjustthevolumesliderasnecessary.Whenyouspeakintothemicrophonewhilethiswindowisopen,theinputlevelmetershouldreachpastthehalfwaypointasyouspeak.
ConfigureRecordingSettingsforWindowsXP
MakesurethatyourUSBheadsetisconnectedtoyourcomputerandthattheheadsetitselfisnotsettomute(iftheoptionisavailable)beforefollowingthestepsbelow.
1. OpentheStartmenuandgotoAllPrograms.
2. GotoAccessoriesandthenEntertainment.
3. SelectVolumeControl.
4. Intheupperleftcornerofthedialogboxthatopens,clickOptionsandthenProperties.
5. InthePropertieswindow,makesureyourUSBheadsetmicischosenasyourmixerdevice.ThenselectMicrophoneunderShowthefollowingvolumecontrols.
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6. BesuretoclickOKatthebottomofthedialogbox.
7. Ontheboxthatpopsup,youcanusetheslidercontrolontheVolumeswitchtoadjustthevolumeasyoubegintorecord.
ConfigureRecordingSettingsforWindowsVista/7
MakesurethatyourUSBheadsetisconnectedtoyourcomputerandthattheheadsetitselfisnotsettomute(iftheoptionisavailable)beforefollowingthestepsbelow.
1. OpentheStartmenuandselectControlPanel.
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2. ClicktheClassicViewlinkontheleftsideofthewindowandthendoubleclickSound.
3. ClicktheRecordingtab.
4. Makesureyourheadsetmicischosenandsaysthatit'sworking.
5. Doubleclickyourheadsetmic.
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6. ClicktheLevelstab.
7. Usethemicrophoneslidertosetthevolume.
8. ClickOK.
AdjustandTestMicrophone
Theonlinemicrophonetesterisaconvenientwaytotestwhetheryourcomputerisgettinginputfromyourmicrophonebeforeyourecord.AUSBconnectionlookslikethis:
Note:theCenterforTeachingandLearningwithTechnologyonlyofferstechnicalsupportforUSBmicrophones.
1. MakesurethatyourUSBheadsetisconnectedtoyourcomputerandthattheheadsetitselfisnotsettomute(iftheoptionisavailable)beforefollowingthestepsbelow.
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2. ThemictesterwillletyouknowthatyourUSBmicrophonehasbeendetectedwiththedialogueshownbelow.ClickStartTesttobeginthetest.Ifyouaregettingamessagethatitappearsyoudon'thaveaUSBheadsetmicrophoneconnected,butyouaresurethatyoudo,viewtheconfigurerecordingsettingsinstructionsforyouroperatingsystem.Ifyoustillwanttotestyourmicrophone,clicktheTestAnywaybutton.
3. Whenprompted,clickAllowtogivethemicrophonetestpermissiontopickupsoundfromyourmicrophone.
4. Speakloudandclearintothemicrophoneforatleast5seconds.After5seconds,thetesterwillgiveyoufeedbackonyourmicrophone'svolume.Ifyourmicrophonevolumeistoohighortoolow,youwillgetoneofthesemessages:
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Tolearnhowtoadjustyourmicrophone'svolume,pleaseviewtheconfigurerecordingsettingsinstructionsforyouroperatingsystem.
5. Whenyourinputisacceptable,youwillgetthebelowmessage.ClicktheStopTestbuttontoendthetest.
DownloadandInstallAudacityforMac
ThistutorialcoversinstructionsfordownloadingandinstallingAudacity1.2.6toanIntelbasedMacsincethatisthemostprevalentMacinuseattheSchool.IfyouhaveaPPCbasedMacorarerunningMacOS10.6,pleasefollowdirectionsontheAudacitysite.
1. GototheAudacityWebsiteathttp://audacity.sourceforge.net/.
2. ClickthelinkthatcorrespondstoyourMac.
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3. Oncethedownloadhascompleted,openyourDownloadsfolder,thenopentheAudacityfolder.
4. DragtheAudacityiconintoyourApplicationsfolder.Thendoubleclickthe
Audacityicontolaunchtheprogramforthefirsttime.
5. ChoosethelanguageyouwantAudacitytouse.ClickOK.
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ThisistheAudacityinterface.Youcannowbeginrecording
Beforerecording,checkyouraudacityaudiosettingstomakesurethatyourrecordingandplaybackdevicesareselected:
1. ClickPreferencesfromtheAudacitymenu.
2. ClicktheAudioI/Otab.
3. SelectyourrecordingandplaybackdevicesfromthePlaybackDeviceandRecordingDevicedropdownlists.
4. ClickOK.
DownloadandInstallAudacityforWindows
ThistutorialcoversinstructionsfordownloadingAudacitytoyourPCusingFirefox.Note:Ifyouuseadifferentbrowser,wordingandpicturesmaybeslightlydifferent.
1. GototheAudacityWebsiteathttp://audacity.sourceforge.net/.
2. ClicktheDownloadtab.
3. ClicktheAudacity1.2.6installerlink.
Note:Windows7userswillneedtodownloadthe1.3.12(Beta)version.
4. ClickSaveFileinthedialogbox.Savethefilewhereyouwish.
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5. ClickOKtoopentheexecutablefile.
6. RuntheAudacitySetupWizardbyclickingNext.
7. IfyouchoosetolaunchAudacity,theinterfacewillappearandyoucanbeginrecording.
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ThisistheAudacityinterface.Youcannowbeginrecording
Beforerecording,checkyouraudacityaudiosettingstomakesurethatyourrecordingandplaybackdevicesareselected:
1. ClickPreferencesfromtheEditmenu.
2. ClicktheAudioI/Otab.
3. SelectyourrecordingandplaybackdevicesfromthePlaybackDeviceandRecordingDevicedropdownlists.
4. ClickOK.
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DownloadandInstallLameforMac
ThistutorialcoversinstructionsfordownloadingLametoyourMac.UseLametoexportyourAudacityrecordingtomp3formatsothatitcanbepostedonline.
1. ThefreeLamedownloaderfortheMaccanbedownloadedfromtheSchool'sservershere.
Note:PPCbasedMacuserswillneedtodownloadtheLameLibCarbon3.91.sitfilefromtheAudacitysiteandfollowinstructionsfromthere.
2. Onceyou'vedownloadedtheLamedmgfile,doubleclicktheLameLibraryv3.98.2forAudacity.pkgfile.
Note:ifprompted,doubleclicktheLame_Library_v3.98.2forAudacity_on_OSX.dmgfiletorevealthepkgfile.
3. Theinstallerwizardwindowopens.ClickContinue.
4. Ifprompted,choosethelocationwhereyouwanttosavethefile.ClickChoose.ThefirsttimeyouexportyourrecordingfromAudacity'sfileformattomp3,youwillhavetolocatethefile.Don'tforgetwhereyousavedit.
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http://distance.jhsph.edu/support/installers/Lame_Library_v3.98.2_for_Audacity_on_OSX.dmg.ziphttp://wiki.audacityteam.org/index.php?title=Lame_Installation#Mac_Instructions
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5. Thelocationnowappearsintheinstallerwindow.SelectthevolumewhereyouwanttoinstalltheLamesoftwarethenclickContinue.
6. ClickInstall.Enteryourcomputerpasswordifprompted.
7. YouhaveinstalledLAMEsuccessfully!ClickClosetocompletetheinstallation.
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DownloadandInstallLameforWindows
ThistutorialcoversinstructionsfordownloadingLametoyourPCusingFirefox.UseLametoexportyourAudacityrecordingtomp3formatsothatitcanbepostedonline.Note:Ifyouuseadifferentbrowser,wordingandpicturesmaybeslightlydifferent.
1. ThefreeLamedownloaderforthePCcanbedownloadedfromtheSchool'sservershere.
2. Whenprompted,chooseSaveFile,andthenclickOK.
3. Doubleclickthedownloaderfileinthelocationwhereitwassaved.
4. Thedownloadercomesasacompressedzipfileandthefilesmustbeextracted.Choosethedirectorywheretheextractedfilewillruntheextractionwizard.
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Note:Ifyoudonotseeawizard,selectandcopythefile(s)toyourdesktop.
5. Locatethefileonyourcomputerandclickit.
6. ChooseSaveFile.
7. Installtheprogramfileswhereveryouwant,butrememberwhereyousavethem.Audacitywillaskyoutofindlame_enc.dllthefirsttimeyouexporttomp3format.
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8. Openthefile,andthenclickOKtolaunchit.
9. ClickNexttoruntheLameforAudacitySetupWizard.
Note:thefirsttimeyouexporttomp3format,Audacitywillaskyoutofindlame_enc.dll.
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Recording
RecordinginAudacity
Record
Usetherecord buttontorecordyouraudio.Onceyoupressrecord,speakclearlyintoyourmicrophonesothatyoucanseethewavesontheinterfacechangeaccordingtoyourvoice.Tip:Macusers,doyoureceiveanerrormessagewhenyouclicktherecordbutton?Ifso,installthe1.2.6version.
Pause
Usethepause buttontotakeabreakfromrecording.Ifyoupresspause,youcancomebacktotherecordingandstillrecordonthesametrack.Note:Itisnotrecommendedthatyoupresspauseandwalkawayfromyourrecordingsession,foranextendedperiodoftime,withoutsavingyourprogressfirst.Whileyouareawayfromyoursession,somethingcouldgowrongwithyourcomputer,andyoucouldloseyourrecording.
Stop
Usethestop buttonwhenyouhavefinishedrecordingandarereadytosaveorexportthefile.Note:Ifyoupressstopbymistake,thentherecordbuttonagain,youwillbeginrecordingasecondtrackthatwillbeginatthesametimeasthefirstone.Thismeansthatifyouexportthetracksastheyare,thenthetrackswillplaysimultaneously.Formoreinformation,pleaseseeStopvs.PauseinAudacity.Tip:Audacity1.3userscanholddowntheshiftkeyontheirkeyboardwhileclickingtheRecordbuttontocontinuerecordingonthesametrackiftheStopbuttonwaspressed.
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Rightclickimagetoviewaudacityrecordingbasicsdemoinfullscreen
EditingRecordings
Generally,wefindthatitiseasiertorecordyourpresentationandtheneditoutthemistakesafteryou'vefinished.Whenyou'rerecording,andyoustumbleoverawordormisspeak,justtakeabreath,keeprecording,andeditwhenyou'redone.Onceyou'redonerecording...
1. Presstheplay buttontolistentotherecording.
2. Usethebaratthebottomofthewindowtogettotheareawhereyouwanttoedit.
3. Highlightasmuchaudioasyouwanttoremove.
4. ClickDeletefromtheEditmenu.Theareayouhighlightedhasbeenremovedfromtherecording.Dothisasmanytimesasyouwantforanypartoftherecordingyouwanttoremove.
5. Ifyoufindthatyouhavedeletedsomethingbymistake,clicktheEditmenuandselectUndoDelete.Dothisasmanytimesasnecessary.
6. UsetheFilemenutoexportthefiletomp3format.
Tip:Ifyouarenotabletohearplaybackoftherecording,followinstructionsfromtheDownloadAudacityforMacorDownloadAudacityforWindowssectionsonhowtochangeaudiosettingswithinAudacitypreferences.Ifthisisthefirsttimeyou'veexportedtomp3format,you'llhavetodownload,andthenlocatetheLamelibraryfile.InstructionsonhowtodownloadthefilecanbefoundintheSetupsection.TolocatetheLamelibraryfileviewtheestablishexportsettingssection.
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Stopvs.PauseinAudacity
TheStopandPausebuttonsfunctionquitedifferentlyinsideAudacity.Generally,youshouldusetheStopbuttonwhenyouarecompletelydonerecordingatrack,andwanttoedit,orexportittomp3format.YoushouldalsousetheStopbuttonifyouwanttosuspendarecordingandstartfresh.UsethePausebuttontotakeabreakfromrecordingatrack.IfyoupresstheStopbuttonbymistake,andthenpressRecord,anothertrackwillrecord.Whenyouexportthesetrackstomp3format,thetrackswillbecompiledintoasingleaudiofile,andwillplaybacksimultaneously.Tip:Audacity1.3userscanholddowntheshiftkeyontheirkeyboardwhileclickingtheRecordbuttontocontinuerecordingonthesametrackiftheStopbuttonwaspressed.Rightclickimagetoviewstopvspausedemoinfullscreen
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Avoidingsimultaneousplayback
1. Insidethefirsttrack'sfield,placethecursorwhereyouwanttocontinuerecording.
2. ClicktheRecord button.
3. ClicktheStop buttonwhenyou'refinished.Thetwotrackswillbeexportedtogetherasusual,butwillplayasonecontinuoustrackbecausetheaudiodoesn'toverlap.Beforeexportingtomp3format,youmaywanttoedittheaudiosothatitwillplaybacksmoothly.
Tip:Audacity1.3userscanholddowntheshiftkeyontheirkeyboardwhileclickingtheRecordbuttontocontinuerecordingonthesametrackiftheStopbuttonwaspressed.RightclickimagetoviewavoidingsimultaneousplaybackdemoinfullscreenIfthisisthefirsttimeyou'veexportedtomp3format,you'llhavetodownload,andthenlocatetheLamelibraryfile.DirectionsonhowtodownloadthefilecanbefoundintheSetupsection.TolocatetheLamelibraryfileviewtheestablishexportsettingssection.
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Takingabreakduringrecording
1. ClickPause .
2. ClickthePause buttonagaintoresumerecording.Therecordingwillpickup
whereitleftoff.Youmaywanttoplayitbackandedititasnecessarybefore
exportingtomp3format.
Note:Yourfileisnotautomaticallysavedwhenyoupauseyourrecording.Youstillneedtosaveyourfile.Wedon'trecommendpausingarecording,goingawayforafewhours,andthencomingbacktotherecording.Theremaybeaproblemwiththecomputerintheinterimthatcouldcaseyoutolosetherecording.
RerecordingUsingAudacity
Let'ssaythatyoumadearecordingandyoudon'twanttokeepit.BelowarestepsonhowtorerecordusingAudacity.
1. PresstheStop button.
2. OpentheEditmenu.
3. ClickUndoRecord.Therecordinghasnowbeenerased.
4. ClicktheRecord buttonagaintorerecordtheaudio.
5. Whenyou'rehappywithit,pressStop .
6. OpentheFilemenuandselectExportasMP3toexportitasanmp3file.
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RightclickimagetoviewrerecordingdemoinfullscreenIfthisisthefirsttimeyou'veexportedtomp3format,you'llhavetodownload,andthenlocatetheLamelibraryfile.DirectionsonhowtodownloadthefilecanbefoundintheSetupsection.TolocatetheLamelibraryfileviewtheestablishexportsettingssection.
CutandPaste
Let'ssaythatyouhaverecordedtwoseparatetracks,afterpressingStopthenRecord.Youmaywanttoinsertallorpartofoneofthosetracksintotheother.Thetrackscanthenbeexportedandwillplaysmoothlyasasingletrack.
Howtocutaudiofromonetrackandpasteitintoanother
1. Highlightthepartofthesecondtrackthatyouwanttocut.
2. OpentheEditmenu.
3. SelectCut.Thepartthatyoujusthighlightedhasbeenremovedfromthesecondtrack.
4. Placethecursorinsidethefirsttrackwhereyouwanttopastethecutaudio.
5. OpentheEditmenu.
6. ClickPaste.
7. Repeatsteps16asmanytimesasyouwantuntilthetracksoundsthewayyouwant.
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8. Remembertoclosethesecondtrackbeforeexportingsothatanyleftoveraudioisnotexportedwiththefirsttrack.Todothis,clicktheXinthesecondtrack'sfield.
Rightclickimagetoviewcutandpastedemoinfullscreen
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Exporting
EstablishExportSettings
BeforeyoucanexportyouraudiousingtheLameencoder,youhavetomakesuretheexportsettingsarecorrect.Youonlyhavetodothisonce;allothermp3swillgenerateaccordingtothesesettings.Onceyouhaverecordedyouraudio...
1. OpentheEditmenu.MacuserswillopentheAudacitymenu.
2. SelectPreferences.
3. ClicktheFileFormatstab.
4. ClickFindLibrary.
5. FindtheLameencoderfilethatyousavedtoyourcomputerwhenyoudownloadedtheLAMEencoder.
Tip:OnaPC,thisfileisnamedlame_enc.dll.OnaMac,thisfileisnamed
libmp3lame.dyliborlamelib.
6. Openthefile.
7. OpentheBitRatedropdownmenuandsetthebitrateto48.
8. ClickOK.
YoucannowexportallfutureaudiofilesrecordedinAudacitytomp3format.Note:Windows7usersdonotneedtofollowthesestepsifusingAudacity1.3.12(Beta)orhigher.Rightclickimagetoviewexportsettingsdemoinfullscreen
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ExporttoMP3Format
Onceyouestablishyourexportsettings,youcanexportyourrecordingtomp3formatsothatitcanbepostedonlineandplayedinanmp3programsuchasiTunes.
1. OpentheFilemenu.
2. SelectExportasMP3.
3. Choosethelocationwhereyouwanttosavethemp3file.
4. ClickSave.
5. Enteratitleandartistfortherecording.ThiswillmakeiteasiertoidentifytherecordinginamediaaudioplayersuchasiTunes.
6. ClickOK.
Thefileisnowinthelocationwhereyousaveditandcanbepostedonline.Rightclickimagetoviewexporttomp3demoinfullscreen
Getting StartedIntroductionFeaturesQuick Start
Technical RequirementsHardwareSoftware
SetupConfigure Recording Settings for MacConfigure Recording Settings for Windows XPConfigure Recording Settings for Windows Vista/7Adjust and Test MicrophoneDownload and Install Audacity for MacDownload and Install Audacity for WindowsDownload and Install Lame for MacDownload and Install Lame for Windows
RecordingRecording in AudacityRecordPauseStop
Editing RecordingsStop vs. Pause in AudacityAvoiding simultaneous playbackTaking a break during recording
Re-recording Using AudacityCut and PasteHow to cut audio from one track and paste it into another
ExportingEstablish Export SettingsExport to MP3 Format