This document provides instructions for using the free audio editing and recording software Audacity to create podcasts. It explains how to download and install both Audacity and LAME, an MP3 encoder. It then walks through the basics of recording and editing audio, including adding music or sound effects, adjusting volume levels, adding fades, and exporting the final audio as an MP3 file. It recommends sharing the finished podcast on Podomatic, a website for hosting podcasts.

1. Audacity and Podomatic
 How to use them
without getting
confused in the
intent.
 Audio material
edition and its
publication on the
web.

2. What is audacity?
Audacity is a free digital audio editor and
recording application.
Thus, it is possible to download it to your
computer and create your own material.
But what for? (that’s the question, perhaps
you have made it so). For instance, to
create auditory material to improve
speaking fluency and communication skills.
All this in a podcast! (which can be posted
eventually on Podomatic)
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/

3. Three versions are available, so that, according to
your computer operating system, (this presentation
will be for MAC); just click on the needed one. After
this, a new window will open up, there, you have to
click on the latest version.

4. Once you have got Audacity, download LAME, the audio MP3
encoder for Mac OS X which is for publishing your audio material
on the web.

5. Once you have downloaded both programs, save them in
your computer anywhere you had decided it. I really
recommend on desktop; so you can visualize them easily.
First, click twice on the respective documents.
A “disc icon” will appear
next to them.
Again a double
clicking on these
“discs”.

6. After this, two
windows will
show up; let’s
click on the little
box Lame
Library, and the
installation
procedure
window for
LAME will be
opened up;
Hit on NEXT
each time until
finishing the
process.

9. You have already installed Audacity and its encoder, now,
let’s begin with the use of it; first it is important to learn its parts.

11. Let’s learn what the basic tools do for our projects
after being recorded.
At this point, it is important that you try to record and
edit a simple piece, so you have a wider idea on
how to drive this program.

12. Click on the recording botton
and begin, when finished it, stop it.

13. If you need to add music, special background sounds
or so, it is possible to do it, just press the recording
bottom again and a new layer will be created below
the previous one.
Remember, this program allows you to generate a
complete project, so any tiny detail you want to add
to your audio product could be there.

14. For adding some
music or special
sound effects that
you may have in a
file on your
computer, just go to
the top bar of
Auacity “FILE” and
then click on
“IMPORT”, then on
“AUDIO”, a window
will open up and
allows you to choose
from your files.

15. Once you have
inserted the
audio music, hit
on the SYNC-
LOCK, with the
TIME-SHIFT tool
move music
graphic to the
right of the track,
so you can select
the part you do
not want to and
delete it.
Afterwards put
back the track to
synchronize with
the previous audios

16. Now you have the
audio material, but it is
important to give it a
finish detail, the fade
out of the audio, so it
will not sound cut off.
Select “EFFECT” on the
top tools, then click on
FADE OUT and you will
have your project with
a nice sound ending, of
course you can select
the section before
doing it.

17. As you have reviewed your audio, you have noticed
that the music volume is louder than your voice, in this
case we count with the ENVELOPE tool, that help us to
edit the level of the volume in any of the tracks.
Just need to click on “Envelope” and set the limits,
then move the tool along the track until you have got
the desired volume.

18. Great! You have done an
audio, now just need to
play the recording to
review it… Well, finally you
have to save the project,
go to FILE and click on
SAVE PROJECT AS… Add
name and destination, and
save the material.

19. Now, let’s export as MP3 file.
Again go to FILE, click on
Export, a new window will
open, there, you have to fill in
at least name and artist
(doer); afetrwards just click on
OK and wait for the
exportation.

20. Good job!! Now, you know how to record and export an
audio as MP3 file; here is the final product on the desktop
(place I choose to post at).
But, where to share in?, well there are many sites for this
purpose; I would like to show you PODOMATIC, a very
reliable site where you can do this.