Recording Reading into Audacity

Downloading the Program

• http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Two Parts to Download

1. Installer

2. Mp3 encoder (LAME)

• Look for the yellow bar at the top of the window. • Click here for more options, and choose

Download file

1. Audacity Installer

• Save the installer to the Program Files• Find the .exe file and double click to install

2. LAME Mp3 Encoder• Go to LAME download page (See link on slide 3)

Save .zip file• Save the .zip file where you can find it (Program

Files)• Pay attention to the name of the file

Extract the .zip files• Double click on the .zip file that you just

downloaded• Allow the extracted file to be created in Program

Files

Open Audacity

• Use the icon on the desktop

• Or, find Audacity in the All Programs listing of the Start menu

Audacity – Adding mp3 Encoder• Choose Edit and Preferences• In the File Formats tab, choose

Find Library

• When the window above appears, choose yes, and browse to find the lame_enc.dll where you saved it in the folder of files extracted from the .zip folder (Program Files).

Recording in Audacity• Using an internal or external microphone, click

the button with the red circle to record and the button with the yellow square to stop.

Record

Stop

• For the best sound, adjust the volume to keep the soundwaves from filling the grey area.

• Use the button with the green arrow to play what you have recorded.

Editing• Highlight any sections of the recording that you do not

want, and use the Delete key on the keyboard to remove them

• The recording must be stopped, not paused, to remove sections

Saving Your Work

You can save as:

• A project file (.aup) so that you can continue editing the sound file

You can export the file as:

• A .wav file for use on your computer

• An .mp3 to be burned to CD or moved to an mp3 player

• All options can be found under File.

Export as mp3• After selecting Save as mp3, name the file

(keeping the .mp3 extension) and browse to a place to save it.

• Fill in the data for the mp3 tags. This will display on your computer, stereo, or mp3 player.

• Leave the format set to ID3v2

• This information is optional

• The window below will appear while the mp3 is being created

• Test the mp3 by finding where it is saved and double clicking to open it.

• It will probably open with Windows Media Player• You can right click on the file, mouse over Open

with, and choose Windows Media Player from the list

Burning to a CD• After opening the mp3 in Windows Media Player, choose

Burn from the upper toolbar.• Check the dropdown menu under Burn to be sure that it

is set to “Audio CD”

• Insert a CD and choose “Burn ‘Now Playing’” from the window on the right

• Remember to label the CD with a marker or printed sticker label

• The resulting CD can be played in a computer, or in a standard CD player

Final Tips