GuidetoUsingAudacity

TableofContents
GettingStarted.................................................................................................................... 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.Youwill
needsoftwarethatcanrecordaudiotoaccomplishthis.Thistutorialcoversrecording
audiousingaprogramcalledAudacityasimple,freeprogramforrecordingand
editingaudio.

ThisguidewillwalkyouthroughtheentireprocessofusingAudacitytorecordaudio
andexportMP3files.

Features

Recordandeditaudioclips.
Convertrecordedaudiotomp3format.

QuickStart

Let'ssayyouneedtorecordanaudiopresentationanduploadittoanonlinecourse.
Here'saquickoverviewofwhatyouneedtodo:

1. Setupmicrophoneandconfigureaudiosettings.
2. DownloadandinstallAudacityandLame.
3. Recordandeditaudio.
4. Convertaudiotomp3fileformat.
5. Uploadmp3filetoonlinecourse.

TechnicalRequirements
Hardware

Usingaheadsetmicrophonewillprovidethebestresults.TheCenterforTeachingand
LearningwithTechnology(CTLT)onlyofferstechnicalsupportforUSBheadset
microphones.Analogmicrophonesandbuiltinmicrophonesonlaptopsarenot
supported.

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GuidetoUsingAudacity

Software

BecauseAudacityisafreeapplication,noteverythingyouneedisincludedinasingle
download.YoumustfirstdownloadandinstallAudacity,andtheninstallapieceof
softwarecalledLAMEthatwillletAudacitycreateMP3files.Instructionsfor
downloadingandinstallingbothprogramscanbefoundinthisguide.

Youshouldalsomakesurethatyourcomputeralsomeetstheminimumrequirements
listedontheeLearningsite.

Setup
ConfigureRecordingSettingsforMac
MakesurethatyourUSBheadsetisconnectedtoyourcomputerandthattheheadset
itselfisnotsettomute(iftheoptionisavailable)beforefollowingthestepsbelow.

1. OpenSystemPreferencesandclicktheSoundicontoopenyoursoundoptions.

2. ClicktheInputtab.



3. BesuretochooseyourUSBmicrophone.

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GuidetoUsingAudacity

4. Youcanadjustthevolumesliderasnecessary.Whenyouspeakintothe
microphonewhilethiswindowisopen,theinputlevelmetershouldreachpast
thehalfwaypointasyouspeak.

ConfigureRecordingSettingsforWindowsXP
MakesurethatyourUSBheadsetisconnectedtoyourcomputerandthattheheadset
itselfisnotsettomute(iftheoptionisavailable)beforefollowingthestepsbelow.

1. OpentheStartmenuandgotoAllPrograms.
2. GotoAccessoriesandthenEntertainment.
3. SelectVolumeControl.
4. Intheupperleftcornerofthedialogboxthatopens,clickOptionsandthen
Properties.

5. InthePropertieswindow,makesureyourUSBheadsetmicischosenasyour
mixerdevice.ThenselectMicrophoneunderShowthefollowingvolume
controls.

6. BesuretoclickOKatthebottomofthedialogbox.
7. Ontheboxthatpopsup,youcanusetheslidercontrolontheVolumeswitchto
adjustthevolumeasyoubegintorecord.

ConfigureRecordingSettingsforWindowsVista/7
MakesurethatyourUSBheadsetisconnectedtoyourcomputerandthattheheadset
itselfisnotsettomute(iftheoptionisavailable)beforefollowingthestepsbelow.

1. OpentheStartmenuandselectControlPanel.

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GuidetoUsingAudacity

2. ClicktheClassicViewlinkontheleftsideofthewindowandthendoubleclick
Sound.

3. ClicktheRecordingtab.
4. Makesureyourheadsetmicischosenandsaysthatit'sworking.

5. Doubleclickyourheadsetmic.

6. ClicktheLevelstab.
7. Usethemicrophoneslidertosetthevolume.

8. ClickOK.

AdjustandTestMicrophone
Theonlinemicrophonetesterisaconvenientwaytotestwhetheryourcomputeris
gettinginputfromyourmicrophonebeforeyourecord.AUSBconnectionlookslikethis:

Note:theCenterforTeachingandLearningwithTechnologyonlyofferstechnical
supportforUSBmicrophones.

1. MakesurethatyourUSBheadsetisconnectedtoyourcomputerandthatthe
headsetitselfisnotsettomute(iftheoptionisavailable)beforefollowingthe
stepsbelow.

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GuidetoUsingAudacity

2. ThemictesterwillletyouknowthatyourUSBmicrophonehasbeendetected
withthedialogueshownbelow.ClickStartTesttobeginthetest.Ifyouare
gettingamessagethatitappearsyoudon'thaveaUSBheadsetmicrophone
connected,butyouaresurethatyoudo,viewtheconfigurerecordingsettings
instructionsforyouroperatingsystem.Ifyoustillwanttotestyourmicrophone,
clicktheTestAnywaybutton.

3. Whenprompted,clickAllowtogivethemicrophonetestpermissiontopickup
soundfromyourmicrophone.

4. Speakloudandclearintothemicrophoneforatleast5seconds.After5seconds,
thetesterwillgiveyoufeedbackonyourmicrophone'svolume.Ifyour
microphonevolumeistoohighortoolow,youwillgetoneofthesemessages:

Tolearnhowtoadjustyourmicrophone'svolume,pleaseviewtheconfigure
recordingsettingsinstructionsforyouroperatingsystem.

5. Whenyourinputisacceptable,youwillgetthebelowmessage.ClicktheStop
Testbuttontoendthetest.

DownloadandInstallAudacityforMac
ThistutorialcoversinstructionsfordownloadingandinstallingAudacity1.2.6toan
IntelbasedMacsincethatisthemostprevalentMacinuseattheSchool.Ifyouhavea
PPCbasedMacorarerunningMacOS10.6,pleasefollowdirectionsontheAudacity
site.

1. GototheAudacityWebsiteathttp://audacity.sourceforge.net/.
2. ClickthelinkthatcorrespondstoyourMac.

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GuidetoUsingAudacity

3. Oncethedownloadhascompleted,openyourDownloadsfolder,thenopenthe
Audacityfolder.

4. DragtheAudacityiconintoyourApplicationsfolder.Thendoubleclickthe
Audacityicontolaunchtheprogramforthefirsttime.
5. ChoosethelanguageyouwantAudacitytouse.ClickOK.

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ThisistheAudacityinterface.Youcannowbeginrecording

Beforerecording,checkyouraudacityaudiosettingstomakesurethatyourrecording
andplaybackdevicesareselected:

1. ClickPreferencesfromtheAudacitymenu.
2. ClicktheAudioI/Otab.
3. SelectyourrecordingandplaybackdevicesfromthePlaybackDeviceand
RecordingDevicedropdownlists.
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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GuidetoUsingAudacity

5. ClickOKtoopentheexecutablefile.

6. RuntheAudacitySetupWizardbyclickingNext.

7. IfyouchoosetolaunchAudacity,theinterfacewillappearandyoucanbegin
recording.

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ThisistheAudacityinterface.Youcannowbeginrecording

Beforerecording,checkyouraudacityaudiosettingstomakesurethatyourrecording
andplaybackdevicesareselected:

1. ClickPreferencesfromtheEditmenu.
2. ClicktheAudioI/Otab.
3. SelectyourrecordingandplaybackdevicesfromthePlaybackDeviceand
RecordingDevicedropdownlists.
4. ClickOK.

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GuidetoUsingAudacity

DownloadandInstallLameforMac
ThistutorialcoversinstructionsfordownloadingLametoyourMac.UseLametoexport
yourAudacityrecordingtomp3formatsothatitcanbepostedonline.

1. ThefreeLamedownloaderfortheMaccanbedownloadedfromtheSchool's
servershere.

Note:PPCbasedMacuserswillneedtodownloadtheLameLibCarbon3.91.sit
filefromtheAudacitysiteandfollowinstructionsfromthere.

2. Onceyou'vedownloadedtheLamedmgfile,doubleclicktheLameLibrary
v3.98.2forAudacity.pkgfile.

Note:ifprompted,doubleclicktheLame_Library_v3.98.2for
Audacity_on_OSX.dmgfiletorevealthepkgfile.

3. Theinstallerwizardwindowopens.ClickContinue.

4. Ifprompted,choosethelocationwhereyouwanttosavethefile.ClickChoose.
ThefirsttimeyouexportyourrecordingfromAudacity'sfileformattomp3,you
willhavetolocatethefile.Don'tforgetwhereyousavedit.

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5. Thelocationnowappearsintheinstallerwindow.Selectthevolumewhereyou
wanttoinstalltheLamesoftwarethenclickContinue.

6. ClickInstall.Enteryourcomputerpasswordifprompted.

7. YouhaveinstalledLAMEsuccessfully!ClickClosetocompletetheinstallation.

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GuidetoUsingAudacity

DownloadandInstallLameforWindows
ThistutorialcoversinstructionsfordownloadingLametoyourPCusingFirefox.Use
LametoexportyourAudacityrecordingtomp3formatsothatitcanbepostedonline.

Note:Ifyouuseadifferentbrowser,wordingandpicturesmaybeslightlydifferent.

1. ThefreeLamedownloaderforthePCcanbedownloadedfromtheSchool's
servershere.
2. Whenprompted,chooseSaveFile,andthenclickOK.

3. Doubleclickthedownloaderfileinthelocationwhereitwassaved.
4. Thedownloadercomesasacompressedzipfileandthefilesmustbeextracted.
Choosethedirectorywheretheextractedfilewillruntheextractionwizard.

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Note:Ifyoudonotseeawizard,selectandcopythefile(s)toyourdesktop.

5. Locatethefileonyourcomputerandclickit.
6. ChooseSaveFile.
7. Installtheprogramfileswhereveryouwant,butrememberwhereyousave
them.Audacitywillaskyoutofindlame_enc.dllthefirsttimeyouexporttomp3
format.

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GuidetoUsingAudacity

8. Openthefile,andthenclickOKtolaunchit.
9. ClickNexttoruntheLameforAudacitySetupWizard.

Note:thefirsttimeyouexporttomp3format,Audacitywillaskyoutofind
lame_enc.dll.

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Recording
RecordinginAudacity
Record

Usetherecord buttontorecordyouraudio.Onceyoupressrecord,speakclearly
intoyourmicrophonesothatyoucanseethewavesontheinterfacechangeaccording
toyourvoice.

Tip:Macusers,doyoureceiveanerrormessagewhenyouclicktherecordbutton?Ifso,
installthe1.2.6version.

Pause

Usethepause buttontotakeabreakfromrecording.Ifyoupresspause,youcan
comebacktotherecordingandstillrecordonthesametrack.

Note:Itisnotrecommendedthatyoupresspauseandwalkawayfromyourrecording
session,foranextendedperiodoftime,withoutsavingyourprogressfirst.Whileyou
areawayfromyoursession,somethingcouldgowrongwithyourcomputer,andyou
couldloseyourrecording.

Stop

Usethestop buttonwhenyouhavefinishedrecordingandarereadytosaveor
exportthefile.

Note:Ifyoupressstopbymistake,thentherecordbuttonagain,youwillbegin
recordingasecondtrackthatwillbeginatthesametimeasthefirstone.Thismeans
thatifyouexportthetracksastheyare,thenthetrackswillplaysimultaneously.For
moreinformation,pleaseseeStopvs.PauseinAudacity.

Tip:Audacity1.3userscanholddowntheshiftkeyontheirkeyboardwhileclickingthe
RecordbuttontocontinuerecordingonthesametrackiftheStopbuttonwaspressed.

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GuidetoUsingAudacity

Rightclickimagetoviewaudacityrecordingbasicsdemoinfullscreen

EditingRecordings
Generally,wefindthatitiseasiertorecordyourpresentationandtheneditoutthe
mistakesafteryou'vefinished.Whenyou'rerecording,andyoustumbleoverawordor
misspeak,justtakeabreath,keeprecording,andeditwhenyou'redone.

Onceyou'redonerecording...

1. Presstheplay buttontolistentotherecording.
2. Usethebaratthebottomofthewindowtogettotheareawhereyouwantto
edit.
3. Highlightasmuchaudioasyouwanttoremove.
4. ClickDeletefromtheEditmenu.Theareayouhighlightedhasbeenremoved
fromtherecording.Dothisasmanytimesasyouwantforanypartofthe
recordingyouwanttoremove.
5. Ifyoufindthatyouhavedeletedsomethingbymistake,clicktheEditmenuand
selectUndoDelete.Dothisasmanytimesasnecessary.
6. UsetheFilemenutoexportthefiletomp3format.

Tip:Ifyouarenotabletohearplaybackoftherecording,followinstructionsfromthe
DownloadAudacityforMacorDownloadAudacityforWindowssectionsonhowto
changeaudiosettingswithinAudacitypreferences.

Ifthisisthefirsttimeyou'veexportedtomp3format,you'llhavetodownload,andthen
locatetheLamelibraryfile.Instructionsonhowtodownloadthefilecanbefoundinthe
Setupsection.TolocatetheLamelibraryfileviewtheestablishexportsettingssection.

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Stopvs.PauseinAudacity
TheStopandPausebuttonsfunctionquitedifferentlyinsideAudacity.

Generally,youshouldusetheStopbuttonwhenyouarecompletelydonerecordinga
track,andwanttoedit,orexportittomp3format.YoushouldalsousetheStopbutton
ifyouwanttosuspendarecordingandstartfresh.

UsethePausebuttontotakeabreakfromrecordingatrack.

IfyoupresstheStopbuttonbymistake,andthenpressRecord,anothertrackwill
record.Whenyouexportthesetrackstomp3format,thetrackswillbecompiledintoa
singleaudiofile,andwillplaybacksimultaneously.

Tip:Audacity1.3userscanholddowntheshiftkeyontheirkeyboardwhileclickingthe
RecordbuttontocontinuerecordingonthesametrackiftheStopbuttonwaspressed.

Rightclickimagetoviewstopvspausedemoinfullscreen

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GuidetoUsingAudacity

Avoidingsimultaneousplayback

1. Insidethefirsttrack'sfield,placethecursorwhereyouwanttocontinue
recording.
2. ClicktheRecord button.

3. ClicktheStop buttonwhenyou'refinished.Thetwotrackswillbeexported
togetherasusual,butwillplayasonecontinuoustrackbecausetheaudio
doesn'toverlap.Beforeexportingtomp3format,youmaywanttoeditthe
audiosothatitwillplaybacksmoothly.

Tip:Audacity1.3userscanholddowntheshiftkeyontheirkeyboardwhileclickingthe
RecordbuttontocontinuerecordingonthesametrackiftheStopbuttonwaspressed.

Rightclickimagetoviewavoidingsimultaneousplaybackdemoinfullscreen

Ifthisisthefirsttimeyou'veexportedtomp3format,you'llhavetodownload,andthen
locatetheLamelibraryfile.Directionsonhowtodownloadthefilecanbefoundinthe
Setupsection.TolocatetheLamelibraryfileviewtheestablishexportsettingssection.

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Takingabreakduringrecording

1. ClickPause .

2. ClickthePause buttonagaintoresumerecording.Therecordingwillpickup
whereitleftoff.Youmaywanttoplayitbackandedititasnecessarybefore
exportingtomp3format.

Note:Yourfileisnotautomaticallysavedwhenyoupauseyourrecording.Youstillneed
tosaveyourfile.Wedon'trecommendpausingarecording,goingawayforafewhours,
andthencomingbacktotherecording.Theremaybeaproblemwiththecomputerin
theinterimthatcouldcaseyoutolosetherecording.

RerecordingUsingAudacity
Let'ssaythatyoumadearecordingandyoudon'twanttokeepit.Belowarestepson
howtorerecordusingAudacity.

1. PresstheStop button.
2. OpentheEditmenu.
3. ClickUndoRecord.Therecordinghasnowbeenerased.

4. ClicktheRecord buttonagaintorerecordtheaudio.

5. Whenyou'rehappywithit,pressStop .
6. OpentheFilemenuandselectExportasMP3toexportitasanmp3file.

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GuidetoUsingAudacity

Rightclickimagetoviewrerecordingdemoinfullscreen

Ifthisisthefirsttimeyou'veexportedtomp3format,you'llhavetodownload,andthen
locatetheLamelibraryfile.Directionsonhowtodownloadthefilecanbefoundinthe
Setupsection.TolocatetheLamelibraryfileviewtheestablishexportsettingssection.

CutandPaste
Let'ssaythatyouhaverecordedtwoseparatetracks,afterpressingStopthenRecord.
Youmaywanttoinsertallorpartofoneofthosetracksintotheother.Thetrackscan
thenbeexportedandwillplaysmoothlyasasingletrack.

Howtocutaudiofromonetrackandpasteitintoanother

1. Highlightthepartofthesecondtrackthatyouwanttocut.
2. OpentheEditmenu.
3. SelectCut.Thepartthatyoujusthighlightedhasbeenremovedfromthesecond
track.
4. Placethecursorinsidethefirsttrackwhereyouwanttopastethecutaudio.
5. OpentheEditmenu.
6. ClickPaste.
7. Repeatsteps16asmanytimesasyouwantuntilthetracksoundsthewayyou
want.

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8. Remembertoclosethesecondtrackbeforeexportingsothatanyleftoveraudio
isnotexportedwiththefirsttrack.Todothis,clicktheXinthesecondtrack's
field.

Rightclickimagetoviewcutandpastedemoinfullscreen

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Exporting
EstablishExportSettings
BeforeyoucanexportyouraudiousingtheLameencoder,youhavetomakesurethe
exportsettingsarecorrect.Youonlyhavetodothisonce;allothermp3swillgenerate
accordingtothesesettings.

Onceyouhaverecordedyouraudio...

1. OpentheEditmenu.MacuserswillopentheAudacitymenu.
2. SelectPreferences.
3. ClicktheFileFormatstab.
4. ClickFindLibrary.
5. FindtheLameencoderfilethatyousavedtoyourcomputerwhenyou
downloadedtheLAMEencoder.

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,youcanexportyourrecordingtomp3format
sothatitcanbepostedonlineandplayedinanmp3programsuchasiTunes.

1. OpentheFilemenu.
2. SelectExportasMP3.
3. Choosethelocationwhereyouwanttosavethemp3file.
4. ClickSave.
5. Enteratitleandartistfortherecording.Thiswillmakeiteasiertoidentifythe
recordinginamediaaudioplayersuchasiTunes.
6. ClickOK.

Thefileisnowinthelocationwhereyousaveditandcanbepostedonline.

Rightclickimagetoviewexporttomp3demoinfullscreen

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