Using+Audacity

Using Audacity
 * Audacity**

Audacity is an open-source //digital audio workstation//, sometimes referred to as a DAW. Essentially, a DAW allows you to edit audio much as a word processor lets you edit words onto paper. Because Audacity is open-source, it means that the world can see the underlying code and a community shares in the continual improvement of the software. Because it's open-source and no one owns it, the program is free to use.

Audacity is a multi-track, non-linear audio recording/editing application. It's available for free, at []. There are versions for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.You can import audio from existing files into it, record from a microphone and mix all of the various inputs into a finished product, releasing it as a .wav or .mp3 file for publishing on the Internet. //Multi-track// refers to the fact that you can "layer" several tracks of audio, like you hear in radio commercials into your finished product. //Non-linear// means that you can record or build your podcast in any order that's convenient. In fact, to a limited extent, you can go back and make changes after the project is finalized.

Editing and producing audio is not really more difficult than learning a word processor. There's a few new terms to learn and a couple of important concepts. Once you master these, you're well on your way to becoming a podcaster!


 * The Audacity interface**

On first glance, Audacity's graphical interface may seem ugly and sparse. The beautiful thing about it is that the interface is identical, regardless of the operating system it's used on.


 * Setting up to record**

While there are ways to hook up any microphone to your computer, this reference will assume you're using a USB microphone.

Hook up the microphone to the USB port and wait for Windows to say "Your hardware is installed and ready for use." Open up Control Panels - Sounds (and Audio Devices) and ensure that the microphone appears in the Audio tab. In OS X, go to System Preferences - Sound - Input to check the microphone and adjust levels (use 75% to begin and adjust, as below).

Open Audacity. When you click the big red button, you will be recording.

As you record, you will notice several things: The meters on the upper right of the window will flash green (and maybe red) as you speak. Also, the playhead will move as the waveform of your voice is being recorded. You will need to learn to keep track of all of these inputs. The meters should show a significant amount of green without too much red. If the meters flash red for a extended period, your microphone is "too hot" and needs to be adjusted downward. The waveform will appear bold and broad and pressed up against the edge of the "tunnel." Conversely, if the input is not high enough, the waveform will appear thin and the meters will barely show any green at all.

To adjust your recording levels (referred to as //gain//), first look at the slider below Audacity's red record button. Adjust it accordingly, recording as you do so you can see the adjustments reflected in the waveform and meters. If this fails to adequately adjust your levels, then go to the operating system and adjust your microphone settings in the panels provided.


 * Recording techniques**

Recording audio is easy. Recording //good// audio is more challenging! There are a number of tricks you can try to improve the sound of your recordings.

Some ideas are obvious: use the best microphone you can get; record in a quiet room; record close to the microphone. In addition to these, try these:
 * Don't record straight into the microphone; angle it away from you at a 45 degree angle and speak across the opening, not into it.
 * When you mess up, don't stop and start over. Instead, simply pause a second or two and keep going, even if you were in mid-sentence. Repeat the sentence after a clean break and keep going. You can edit the error and the pause easily.
 * If it helps you to use a script, then use one. Try to set it up so that you don't move in relation to the microphone too much.
 * Use headphones when recording. You won't always be able to hear yourself (and you can sometimes experience the unpleasant effect of //latency//, or delay in hearing your own audio) but you won't hear your audio in the recording so it's cleaner.


 * Adding audio**

Adding extra audio to your Audacity project file is easy. There are two methods to accomplish the task:
 * 1) Drag in a file icon (mp3, wav or various other formats) and Audacity will add the file at the location where the mouse is when you let go
 * 2) Select File - Import - Audio and browse to the file you'd like to add.

Your imported audio will be brought in on a new track.


 * Mixing**


 * Metadata**


 * Producing**

gasa