Using Audacity involves a series of steps. Here's an overview of workflow, with tips to make your task easier.
1. Set up Your Audio
- Plug in headset/microphone. Allow computer to recognize any new hardware. This can take a few minutes.
- Open Audacity (on Earlham lab computers, ALL PROGRAMS >> AUDACITY).
- Select EDIT >> PREFERENCES.
- Check your preferences to make sure that the headset/microphone has been recognized. Fiddling might be required.
- If you want to hear yourself as you record, select EDIT >> PREFERENCES >> PLAYBACK >> SOFTWARE PLAYTHROUGH (this will distort the sound, though!).
- Select OK.
- Make sure microphone is not muted and volume is on -- look at your headset wire; look at the computer audio settings.
2. Start Recording
- Select RED BUTTON to start recording.
- Select YELLOW BUTTON to stop recording.
- Select PURPLE ARROW ON LEFT (back button), then GREEN ARROW (play button) to hear yourself from the beginning of your file.
3. Sound Editing Basics
- Do you want to delete a section of your recording?
- Highlight the portion of the track you want to replace and hit the delete key.
- Do you want to replace or add to a section of your recording?
- Decide what section you want to replace or add to.
- Move the playhead to a clear space at the end of the track to record new material.
- Record (RED BUTTON) the new material.
- Stop recording (YELLOW BUTTON).
- Highlight, then COPY the new material.
- PASTE the new material where you want it to go, with the playhead as your cursor.
4. Ask Yourself: "Am I finished with my work?"
- Yes, finished? Proceed to "Export as an .mp3" below.
- No, not finished? Proceed to "Save as a Project" below.
4a. Export as an .mp3 (This is the Final Version of the File)
- Select FILE >> EXPORT AUDIO >> Save as Type MP3
- Save in [you choose].
- Assign file name (e.g. Annie).
- Select SAVE.
- In pop-up window, EDIT METADATA, fill in the following form information:
- Artist Name: Your name (e.g. Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift)
- Track Title: Assignment Name (e.g. Big Project)
- Album Title: Course name (e.g. Super Spanish)
- To listen, right click on your file, then OPEN WITH ITUNES or use another program on your personal computer..
4b. Save as a Project (This is not the Final Version of the File)
- Select FILE >> SAVE PROJECT.
- Assign file name (e.g. Chris).
- Select SAVE.
- You can then go back to that computer to open it in Audacity at any point in time.
4b - Follow-up: Convert Your Saved Project to an MP3 File
- Open your project file.
- Select FILE >> EXPORT >> SAVE AS TYPE = MP3 FILES
- Save in [you choose].
- Assign file name (e.g. Ana).
- Select SAVE.
- In pop-up window, EDIT METADATA, fill in the following form information:
- Artist Name: Your name (e.g. Idriss Elba)
- Track Title: Assignment name (e.g. Homework for 9/16)
- Album Title: Course Name (e.g. Spanish 101)
- To listen, right click on your file, then OPEN WITH ITUNES.
5. Upload Your MP3 File to Moodle
- Sign-in to the Moodle course page.
- Select the assignment link.
- Select UPLOAD THIS SINGLE FILE.
- Select BROWSE, find your file, then select UPLOAD.
- Want to substitute another sound file for the one you already uploaded to Moodle?
- Make another .mp3 file using Audacity.
- Upload the second file into your Moodle assignment, use the same name, and your first file will be overwritten.
