Simple Recording with Audacity

Purpose

This WIKI explains how to use the Audacity application to create simple recordings.Audacity is an easy-to-use digital multi-track audio recorder and processor. This application is also available in Windows and MAC OSX due to its popularity.

In this tutorial, we will only concentrate on recording a voice via the computer lab's webcam, and importing and some background music. The artist and performer of this song has given permission for this song to be used in these Westminster YouTube videos.

The Audacity application is an easy way to create, edit and produce music...

YouTube Video

If you want to see the visual steps for "Simple Recording with Audacity",

Here is a link to a customized YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uppLRSh2RCI

Written Instructions

Below are the instructions on how to create a simple recording (eg. commercial) using the Audacity application:

WARNING: YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO USE COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL WHEN USING ANY APPLICATION IN THE WESTMINSTER COMPUTER LAB WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE ARTIST. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE MUSIC YOU CREATE BE "HOME-MADE", OR USE PUBLIC DOMAIN MUSIC.

In the Sound Preferences dialog box, select the WebCam as the default input device

Set-up Prior to Using Audacity (Optional)

In this tutorial, we will keep the recording session simple:

• No recording of instruments
• Recording from a simple microphone (WebCam)

Since there may be several input devices connected to the computer system, never assume that the recording input device is the WebCam. We need to check and if possible, change the sound settings on the computer system to select the WebCam as the audio recording device. We can select the input device from the Audacity application, but we can also set the default input device from the operating system. Below is the procedure to select the default input device for operating system under "Sound Preferences":

Go to the main menu and select: PREFERENCES -> SOUND

In the "Sound Preferences" dialog box, click the Input tab, and select LifeCam Cinema Analog Mono by pointing and clicking on the radio button. Refer to diagram on the right to confirm. When finished, click the CLOSE button.

Main Elements of the Audacity Application

The Audacity application window has several elements or "toolbars". It is important to take some time to study and experiment with these toolbars in order to be more flexible and efficient when using the Audacity application.

Here is a table displaying all toolbars:

Element	Description	Diagram
Menubar	Containing all operations for recording, editing and producing an auditory product.
Transport Toolbar	This toolbar contains button to control the recording and playback of an auditory product. There are buttons to stop or pause recording or playback. In addition, there are buttons to move to the beginning or end of the auditory file.
Mixer Toolbar	Containing slider controls the mixer settings on the sound card/device.
Meter Toolbar	Audio meter to display and used to help control recording and playback volume levels.
Device Toolbar	Used to select the soundcard, webcam, USB devices for input and/or playback.
Selection Toolbar	Contains "indicators" to show and allow the user to select "points" and "ranges" in a numerical fashion as opposed to clicking and dragging.
Transcription Toolbar	Allows the user to adjust the speed of the auditory product (affecting the pitch). Note: if you wish to change the speed without affecting the pitch, see the section below under the section labelled "Interesting Features".
Tools Toolbar	Contains various tools for object selection, volume adjustment, object zooming, and object time-shifting.

Recording Vocals

To be completed ...

Editing Recorded Tracks

To be completed ...

Adding Effects

To be completed ...

Saving Project / Exporting to Other Sound Formats

To be completed ...

Interesting Features

Importing Music into Audacity

To be completed ...

Reducing Tempo (Without Affecting Pitch)

To be completed ...

Additional Resources

Tutorials

To be completed ...