Creating Sound Files
   with Audacity

       Marsha Chan
        Mission 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 software
       http://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 Chan
           Mission College
        Santa Clara, CA, USA
       marsha_chan@wvm.edu
      marsha@sunburstmedia.com



                                 
You may also be interested
       in Marsha Chan’s


Using Audacity
   to Give Oral
      Feedback
    to Students
                             

Creating sound files with Audacity

  • 1.
    Creating Sound Files with Audacity Marsha Chan Mission College Santa Clara, CA, USA 
  • 2.
    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.
  • 3.
    Download Audacity software http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ http://audacity.sourceforge.net /
  • 4.
  • 5.
    Audacity Manuals  Installers include a built- in copy of the Manual.  You can also view the Manual online.
  • 6.
    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
  • 7.
    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
  • 8.
    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
  • 9.
    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
  • 10.
    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
  • 11.
    Record your project ClickRecord 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.
  • 12.
    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.
  • 13.
    Save your project If you plan to do a lot of editing, File > Save Project often. Example: skiing_with_my_family.aup
  • 14.
    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
  • 15.
    Ways to usemp3 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.
  • 16.
    Online demonstration  Marsha’sscreen 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
  • 17.
    Have fun speakingwith Audacity! Marsha Chan Mission College Santa Clara, CA, USA [email protected] [email protected]
  • 18.
    You may alsobe interested in Marsha Chan’s Using Audacity to Give Oral Feedback to Students 