Audacity is a computer program which can be used with Windows, Linux or Mac computer system that has the ability to record and edit all forms of audio contents. Audacity can be used in either the household or in a recording studio setting along with the required hardware such as speakers, headphones or microphones. This article will show you how you can utilize Audacity to edit whatever sound you like.
Things you will need
- Audacity
- Audio file
- Speakers
- Headphones
Instructions
- Buy or download the Audacity program, follow the procedure and install it. Open the program from the shortcut icon or from your program files. Ensure that either your speakers or headphone jacks are connected to hear the sound you are going to edit. If you wish you may also have your microphone connected.
- When the program is opened, use your mouse and select an option at the top right corner, you can choose between the microphone or stereo mix option. If you like to open and source the audio file to just edit, click stereo mix, otherwise if you would like to record sounds or vocals, click microphone.
- If you decide that you want to use Audacity to record vocals, you may want to record the vocal as a raw accapella or over a track. Go to the ‘Project’ option and click ‘Import Audio’ then source the file and open the audio you want to record over, and then click the red circle while the person records through the microphone. Audacity will show an image of a wave format so it can be edited.
- If you decide to edit this recorded audio, you can use the cursor to select the file by holding down the left click and highlighting the wave file. You can apply effects onto the file by going to the ‘Effect’ options. You can adjust the volume and intensity of the sound; you may also want to fade the end of the track by going back to the ‘Effect’ option using the ‘Fade out’ option. Feel free to experiment with the effects to get different results when editing.
- If you would like to just bring in an audio file into Audacity, to be edited, follow the same procedure of import the audio file. As before go to the ‘Project’ option and click ‘Import Audio’ then source the file and open the file and edit the file as you see fit. You also have the option of importing and editing MIDI files.
- When you have done with all your recording and/or editing, go to the ‘File” option at the top and use the mouse to click ‘Save Project’ or ‘Save Project As’ to name the file and find the location and save it. This will allow you to re-open and re-edit the file at a later date, as you see fit.
- When you are finished saving the file, you will want to extract the audio file so it can be played or saved in another medium. Go to the ‘File’ option and select the ‘Export’ option the audio file as either a MP3 or Wave file to the desired location on the hard drive.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Always save the file during the process of recording and editing. If this is not done, the file can be lost and all the recordings and adjustments will be lost and have to be re-done.
