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Te a c h I T.                                  Fordham IT Instructional Technology Academic Computing
                                               Faculty Technology Centers


   FTC Tech Tip                                                    Audacity Quick Reference Guide

Audacity is a free, cross-platform digital audio editor and recording application.

Downloading Audacity
Choose the download that works with your operating system: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
You will also need to download a LAME file to be able to export your audio as an .mp3 file: http://lame.buanzo.com.ar/

Caution: when you save the LAME file, make sure that you make note of where you have downloaded it because you will need to
select the lame.dll file when exporting audio to a .mp3 file for the first time


Recording Directly into Audacity
1. Make sure that your microphone has been set up correctly and is the default recording device for your computer
2. Click the red “Record” button to start recording and “Pause” when you need to take a break
3. Click “File” and then choose “Save Project As”.                         Most of the commands you’ll be using appear
                                                                                               under the Edit menu at the top. These include
                                                             The Time Shift tool
                                                                                               Cut, Copy, Paste, Split, Delete, Join, and Undo.
                                                             allows you to move
Using Audacity to Edit Audio                                 the entire waveform
                                                                                                               The playback controls:
                                                             back and forward in
                                The Selection tool                                                             Play, Record, Pause.
                                                             time (left and right),
 The Magnifying Glass tool      is used to create                                                              Set the playback point by
                                                             relative to another
 is used to expand or           selections for cropping,                                                       clicking with the selection tool.
                                                             track.
 reduce the size of the         deleting or copying.
 audio wave form.

 Click the area you want
 magnified to get a closer                                                                                                    The fuzzy caterpillar is a
 view. This tool is useful                                                                                                    visual representation
 when trying to crop out a                                                                                                    of your sound record-
 specific portion of audio.                                                                                                   ing. The size of the peaks
                                                                                                                              refers roughly to the
                                                                                                                              volume of the audio file.

 Another way to boost
 your output sound level is
 by moving the gain slide
 bar to the right, which
 only affects a single track.



 You can mute, solo
 (i.e. mute all the other
 tracks), or adjust the                                                  To boost the sound wave (make the fuzzy caterpillar look larger), use the
 balance of each track                                                   Select all > Effect > Amplify command. Positive numbers
 individually.                                                           boost/increase the sound waves, negative numbers reduce them. If you
                                                                         amplify too much—e.g. over 10.0—then the volume of the background
                                                                         noise (the‘hiss’) will also get louder.


Exporting Audio as a .MP3 File:
The first time you export audio as an MP3 file (File > Export as MP3) you will need to locate the LAME file that you
downloaded. Audacity will prompt you to browse for this file- this will be the only time that you will have to locate
the LAME file.


                                                     ftc@fordham.edu | Rose Hill 718-817-2289 | Lincoln Center 212-636-7788 | Westchester 914-367-3177
Checklist	
  
            	
  
            	
  
            ☐ Placement	
  
            just	
  outside	
  of	
  your	
  breath	
  range	
  below	
  and	
  off	
  to	
  the	
  side,	
  but	
  pointing	
  directly	
  at	
  your	
  mouth	
  
            	
  
            ☐ Avoid	
  plosives	
  
            speak	
  over	
  the	
  mic	
  to	
  avoid	
  pushing	
  air	
  into	
  it	
  
            	
  
            ☐ Liquids	
  
            Yes:	
  	
  water,	
  tea	
  (room	
  temp	
  is	
  best!)	
  
            No:	
  	
  coffee,	
  soda,	
  milk	
  
            	
  
            ☐ Posture	
  

            ☐ Breath	
  deep	
  

            ☐ Quiet	
  place	
  

            ☐      Practice	
  reading	
  
            	
  
            ☐      30	
  seconds	
  of	
  silence	
  
            	
  
            ☐      "Testing,	
  Testing,	
  1,	
  2,	
  3"	
  
            	
  
            ☐      Use	
  headphones	
  to	
  test	
  recording	
  



Notes	
  

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Audio handout

  • 1. Te a c h I T. Fordham IT Instructional Technology Academic Computing Faculty Technology Centers FTC Tech Tip Audacity Quick Reference Guide Audacity is a free, cross-platform digital audio editor and recording application. Downloading Audacity Choose the download that works with your operating system: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/ You will also need to download a LAME file to be able to export your audio as an .mp3 file: http://lame.buanzo.com.ar/ Caution: when you save the LAME file, make sure that you make note of where you have downloaded it because you will need to select the lame.dll file when exporting audio to a .mp3 file for the first time Recording Directly into Audacity 1. Make sure that your microphone has been set up correctly and is the default recording device for your computer 2. Click the red “Record” button to start recording and “Pause” when you need to take a break 3. Click “File” and then choose “Save Project As”. Most of the commands you’ll be using appear under the Edit menu at the top. These include The Time Shift tool Cut, Copy, Paste, Split, Delete, Join, and Undo. allows you to move Using Audacity to Edit Audio the entire waveform The playback controls: back and forward in The Selection tool Play, Record, Pause. time (left and right), The Magnifying Glass tool is used to create Set the playback point by relative to another is used to expand or selections for cropping, clicking with the selection tool. track. reduce the size of the deleting or copying. audio wave form. Click the area you want magnified to get a closer The fuzzy caterpillar is a view. This tool is useful visual representation when trying to crop out a of your sound record- specific portion of audio. ing. The size of the peaks refers roughly to the volume of the audio file. Another way to boost your output sound level is by moving the gain slide bar to the right, which only affects a single track. You can mute, solo (i.e. mute all the other tracks), or adjust the To boost the sound wave (make the fuzzy caterpillar look larger), use the balance of each track Select all > Effect > Amplify command. Positive numbers individually. boost/increase the sound waves, negative numbers reduce them. If you amplify too much—e.g. over 10.0—then the volume of the background noise (the‘hiss’) will also get louder. Exporting Audio as a .MP3 File: The first time you export audio as an MP3 file (File > Export as MP3) you will need to locate the LAME file that you downloaded. Audacity will prompt you to browse for this file- this will be the only time that you will have to locate the LAME file. ftc@fordham.edu | Rose Hill 718-817-2289 | Lincoln Center 212-636-7788 | Westchester 914-367-3177
  • 2. Checklist       ☐ Placement   just  outside  of  your  breath  range  below  and  off  to  the  side,  but  pointing  directly  at  your  mouth     ☐ Avoid  plosives   speak  over  the  mic  to  avoid  pushing  air  into  it     ☐ Liquids   Yes:    water,  tea  (room  temp  is  best!)   No:    coffee,  soda,  milk     ☐ Posture   ☐ Breath  deep   ☐ Quiet  place   ☐ Practice  reading     ☐ 30  seconds  of  silence     ☐ "Testing,  Testing,  1,  2,  3"     ☐ Use  headphones  to  test  recording   Notes