Using Audacity- for C4K

1. Using Audacity
An audio editor and recording tool

2. Objectives
• Users should be able to record an audio file, edit
files using copy and paste, and apply basic
special effects.
• Users should be able to save their files for future
use in student projects.

3. What is Audacity?
• Free, open source software for recording and editing
audio
• Available for Mac, Windows, and Linux
You can:
• Record live audio
• Import iTunes files, CDs or any MP3
or WAV files for editing
• Cut, copy, and mix sounds
• Change the speed or pitch of a
recording
• Export for using later

4. What can I use this for?
• After recording your own voice, or editing a song
you can import your new file into a number of other
software tools.
• Some ideas?
o Dreamweaver – Record yourself for your website
o PowerPoint- Edit background music for your slides
o iMovie or Movie Maker - Create a song
montage for your movie or change the speed of
your favorite song to better fit the feel of the
movie

5. Recording audio
• Save as a new • Video
project.
• For now it can only
be opened and used
in Audacity. We’ll
export it later.
• Check preferences
• Ready to record!

6. Importing audio and
playback
• Create new project
• Import file
1. Simply drag and
drop the audio
file in to the
Audacity
window.
2. Select Import
Audio ... in the
File menu.
• Playback

7. Basic Audio
Editing
• Making a
selection
• Copying or
Cutting that
selection
• Silencing
unwanted parts
• Duplicating

8. Special Effects
• Change
speed
• Change
pitch
• Fade in/ out
• Echo

9. Exporting and Importing
When you have
finished making
any edits to
your recording,
you are ready
to export your
file to an audio
file so it can
later be
imported into
another
software tool.

10. Exporting and Importing
• There are a
number of tools
to import your
audio file into.
• If you are going
to insert your
file into a
project, make
sure you save it
in the same
folder as all of
the other files.

11. Review
One key to remember is that you not only need to
save your Audacity file in your folder, but also export
the file into and audio file, such a WAV file. Only then
can it be imported into another tool.
It’s fun to play around with the different effects. Use
the preview button to see how it will sound before
making any changes.

12. Other Resources
• This just went over the basics of what you can do
with Audacity. If you are interested in creating
greater effects or edits like splits and sub-
mixes, there are great resources on the web.
• Try here for more beginner techniques
• Or here for more advanced options