Audacity is a powerful and robust open source program that allows you to record and edit audio. In addition, this software allows you to do many things that you would not think about being free. Its interface is a bit complex to handle at first, so it can be a bit overwhelming to start working with this program.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Recording
Step 1. Turn on your computer
In the instrument preferences, set the output channel of your instrument. Adjust the Audacity input to match the output of your instrument. In this example, the signal is routed through the Soundflower interface, a software synthesizer plugs into Audacity's audio input.
- While the sound card and interface may vary, it is good to monitor your instrument to prevent possible latency problems. Due to latency you should always keep an eye on the recorded signal, and it is sometimes difficult to find the right settings. In Audacity, configure your preferences as shown below:
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Step 2. Confirm the connection
Make sure the inputs and outputs are correctly positioned well. Go to the drop-down menu below the input meters (icon with microphone) and select Start Monitoring. Then play the instrument.
- The meters at the LR input should respond.
Use Audacity Step 2Bullet1 - If the meters indicate 0dB, use the input volume icon to reduce the input level so that the meters only get close to 0 during the loudest sounds.
Step 3. Choose the way to activate the recording
When everything is well connected, and you set the proper levels, you are ready to record. You have two options:
- Hit record and start playing. It will not be silent at the beginning of the track. This can be trimmed when you finish recording.
Use Audacity Step 3Bullet1 - Alternatively, you can enable sound recording by activating the recording preferences. Check the “Sound Recording On” checkbox, and then set the sound activation level (dB) - a low number, the sound will be cleaner when recording is activated. This is useful if, for example, you are in a room and you don't want a long silence at the beginning of the track.
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Step 4. Record your track
Regardless of the method you use, the moment of truth has arrived! Hit the red "Record" button (or hit "R", and when you're ready, start playing. You'll see the waveforms in the program as you play.
Note: if you've done all of the above, there should be no problem recording. However, if when recording you see that the wave line is straight, that means that the program is not receiving a signal from the instrument. Please confirm the connections and try again
Step 5. Stop recording
When you're done, hit the stop recording button. Then you will see something similar to what is shown in the image below.
- If you choose to record a sound on, Audacity will stop recording automatically when the sound falls below the specified threshold.
- To add more tracks while listening to previously recorded tracks, be sure to select the “Overdub” recording option: play other tracks while recording a new one.
Step 6. Set a recording date and time
There is an alternative recording option that most programs that record sound do not have: timer recording.
- In the "Transport" menu, select the scheduled recording, or press Shift / T. In the resulting window you can set the date and time of the start and end of the recording, or its duration. This allows you to set the recorder to turn on when you are not present. Why do this? Well, because you can do it!
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Step 7. Expand your recording
If you want to add more material to your recording, press the Shift / Record or, Shift / R keys, and the new track will be added to the end of the existing recording.
Method 2 of 4: Playback
Step 1. Review the recording
When you're done, listen to the result. Click the play button (or hit the space bar). Your track will play from the beginning, and it will automatically stop at the end of the track.
- Press Shift while pressing "Play" or the space bar, and the track will play until you click the stop button or press the space bar again.
Use Audacity Step 8Bullet1 - To repeat a specific section, make sure the selected tool is activated, click and drag over the section of the track that you want to loop cyclically. Note: After making your selection, press the "Z" button to have the software automatically search for the zero cross point: the point where the start and end have zero wave amplitude. Depending on the nature of the loop and the source material, you will often get a clean loop.
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Step 2. Change the playback speed
You can easily modify the playback speed, something that can be useful if you are working on a solo, or if you are trying to learn a complex piece of music.
- Drag the speed control to the left to slow down the track, or to the right if you want to speed it up, then press the green button to "Play" the track at the new speed. To make new changes, adjust the speed and hit the play button again.
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Step 3. Choose how to view the track
The default view shows the wave in linear form. Without going into details, the linear scale is considered as a sample of the percentage of level between 0 –or silence- and 1, or maximum level. You can also view the track in other formats:
- Waveform (dB), which displays the waveform in decibel level. It will generally appear "larger" than linear vision.
Use Audacity Step 10Bullet1 - Spectrogram, is a colorful FTT (Phase Fourier Transfer) view of audio.
Use Audacity Step 10Bullet2 - Pitch, which shows high tones in the upper part of the track, and low tones in the lower part. It is very interesting, with when we reproduce rich textures and chords.
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Step 4. Tracks alone
If you have multiple tracks playing, and you only want to hear one of them, click the "solo" button in the track control area, to the left of the wave screen.
The rest of the tracks, except those you have selected, will be muted. This option is useful if you want, for example, to achieve a good level between bass and drums
Step 5. Mute tracks
If you have multiple tracks playing, and you want to mute one or more, click the "Mute" button in the control area, to the left of the wave screen.
All other tracks, except those that you have muted, will play. This option, for example, is useful if you want to compare two recordings, or to see how they are temporarily mixed
Step 6. Set the "Pan" and level
The "Pan" control places your sound in the stereo field, from right to left, anywhere between those two. The level control adjusts the volume of that track.
Method 3 of 4: Edit
Step 1. Cut out your track
If you've recorded more than necessary, to save editing time, trim the track. Start by making a backup, in case something goes wrong, and do the following:
- Select the tool from the toolbar. Select the audio you want to save. Choose Play Loop (Shift + Space) and listen to your edit to make sure it's okay. Adjust as much as necessary to get everything perfect, and then from the Edit menu, select Remove Audio and then select Trim, or just hit Command-T (Control-T on a PC). Audio on either side of the selection will be removed from the track.
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After trimming, move the audio, if necessary, to the correct location with the “Time Shift” tool and drag the sound to the correct location.
Step 2. Apply effects
A wide variety of effects can be applied, from those offered by Audacity, the VST effects and the ones native to your operating system.
- With the selection tool, select all or part of the track.
- In the "Effect" menu, select the desired effect. For example, we are going to use the effect called "Echo", as applied to a single track.
- Set the parameters required by the effect, listen to it in preview and when you want, click OK. The effect will be processed and it will show you the result. This will add an echo to your track.
- You can process the same track with many other effects, although it may amplify the waveform too much, which in the end is ugly and distorted. If that happens, remove the last change, and apply an amplifier effect, set to 3dB. If the next process is also distorted, remove the effect and the amp effect, and then perform the amp effect again at a stronger level, at 6dB.
- Note. It is always a good idea to duplicate a track before doing any edits on it.
Step 3. Experiment freely
Try the filters, see what it does and how the sound changes progressively.
Step 4. Save the sound file
When you've finished editing, mixing, cutting, and polishing your file, you'll need to save it. In the File menu, select Export, and choose the desired format, from AIFF to WMA, among many others.
Method 4 of 4: Dig Deeper
Step 1. Audacity may be free, but it is a good application and it is immensely powerful
In it you can use effects, you can generate sounds and it has a fairly flexible editing system. When you start to master this tool, you will be able to do incredible things.
Advice
- Look online for sound effects that you can use. There are many websites that offer a wide range of free sounds to use.
- You can record and play instruments by downloading software. Then select the stereo mic input and record as you play. An example of software can be a simple Piano.