Using Audacity to Capture and Edit Audio

Audacity is a free, cross-platform software application for audio recording, editing and exporting.  You can download Audacity from http://audacity.sourceforge.net/.  One note, you will need to also download the LAME MP3 encoder for your version of Audacity.  This can be found in the "Optional Downloads" area of the Audacity download page.  If you do not install the LAME encoder you will not be able to export your audio as an MP3.

1. Open the Audacity program
2. Pull down the WAVE OUT MIX pull down menu to select the source of your audio.
   • Wave Out: When you want to record what is currently playing on your computer
   • Line In: When you want to record from any input device that may be attache dto your computer
   • Microphone: When you wan to record your voice from a microphone attached to your computer
   • CDPlayer: When you want to capture audio from a CD
3. Most likely you will use MICROPHONE to capture your voice.

   

    

4. Click on the RED RECORD button and speak in to your computer's microphone

   

    

5. You will begin to see an audio wave represented in BLUE where your voice is recorded.
6. When you have recorded 10-15 seconds click on the YELLOW STOP button.

   

    

7. Rewind your recording to the beginning by clicking on the REWIND button

   

   
   

8. Play back your recording by clicking on the PLAY button (green traingle). Make sure your computer speakers are not muted.

   

    

9. Check your recording for VOLUME. If your recording is too low, adjust the MICROPHONE LEVEL by moving the SCRUBBER BAR to the right.

   

    

10. Once you are happy with the recording volume level record your audio and save the project file to your computer by going to FILE and choosing SAVE PROJECT AS

    
    

1. To clean out noise and unwanted audio pieces of your audio track make sure you have the SELECTION tool chosen.

   

    

2. Click and keep holding at the location where you want to start cutting audio and drag until you have highlighted the unwanted audio clip. Hit the DELETE key on your keyboard to discard unwanted audio clip.
3. Repeat as often as needed to discard unwanted audio clips and unnecesary noise or distractions.

1. Select the ENVELOPE tool (2 triangles with a blue line between them).

   

   
   

2. The ENVELOPE tool lets you change the volume of the track gradually over time by adding a number of control points to the track. With the ENVELOPE tool selected, click on the beginning control point. You should see 4 white dots.
3. You may place as many control points as you wish for the desired effect.
4. You can manipulate the magnitude of each control point by clicking and dragging up or down.

   

    

1. Click on the FILE menu and select EXPORT AS MP3 (you must have the lame.dll file in the Audacity application folder).
2. Name the file and select location to save.
3. Click SAVE.