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. It is recommended for this simple type of audio recording using Audacity to set the input device from computer's "Sound Preferences". 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.

Launching Audacity

To launch the Audacity application, simply click on the Main Menu, then select SOUND & VIDEO -> AUDIO -> AUDACITY. It may take several moments for the application to properly launch.

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 By default, this application uses the computer system's default input device (which you selected earlier). To record your voice, simply click the record button in the transport toolbar, and start recording your voice. You should notice a track that appears as you are recording your voice. When you have completed recording, then click the stop button. It is recommended that you click the rewind button (contain in the transport toolbar) to return the pointer to beginning of the recording. The track that you just created has some buttons on the left-hand side of the track, which have the following functions: Increase / Decrease the output volume of the track during playback. Pan the track to the left, right, or somewhere in between the left and right. Delete the track (The "X" button) Mute the track (don't play track during playback) Make the track SOLO (don't play any other tracks than SOLO track during playback) Change or set the track characteristics (eg. stereo, mono, etc) Inserting New Tracks To be completed ... Editing Recorded Tracks To be completed ... Adding Effects To be completed ...

Recoding a single vocal track Pointing and clicking in another area to add in second vocal track Copying and pasting second track

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 ...