DLS Tutorials

You may need to convert your file to a format that Audacity supports (Audacity's documentation gives a list of supported formats).

Install the FFmpeg extension (this is the easiest solution)

Follow the directions on Audacity's documentation here: Installing FFmpeg

OR

Converting files to mp3 format on a Mac using Music:

1. Open the file in Music.
2. Click on the file.
3. In the Music menu bar at the top of the screen, select File > Convert > Create mp3 version.
4. Let Music convert the file, then drag it onto your desktop to use. 
5. Open the file in Audacity and begin editing.

OR

Converting files on a PC:

• Download a free conversion program and follow its directions.
• Once the file is in a format that Audacity supports, open the file in Audacity and begin editing.

You can also record in Audacity directly by clicking the red record button.

1. Open your audacity application.
2. Drag audio files onto the screen.
3. Drag over audio with mouse to select specific sections of your clip.

Specific tips:

• Splitting Clips: “Command + I”
• Adjusting Volume: lower the volume of a track by using the adjustment tools to the left of the track you are attempting to make louder or quieter.
  • It is often best to go quieter rather than go louder since you generally don’t want the audio to be too loud.
• Deleting a Section of Audio: To remove a specific section of a track, select the section, split it from the rest of the track (Command + I), and then use the “Delete” key to remove it. Once you have deleted it, Merge the Track.
• Merging the Track: Drag the two split clips together, and then click on the line that separates them. If this does not work, go to the “Edit” tab, then hover over “Audio Clips,” then select “Join.”

In the top bar of your computer, click on “file,” then “export,” then “mp3” and save your audio!

You're finished!

Getting Started:

• Audacity manual: google “audacity getting started” 
  • Should come up every time you open audacity unless disabled 
• Basics 
  • Red button to start 
    • Shift and red button if you want to record a new track, or Tracks (in menu) → add new
  • Pause to temporarily pause recording 
  • Black box to stop
  • If you make a mistake: select the time in the recorded clip where you made the mistake, transport (in menu) > recording > punch and roll record or use shift+D
    • It will playback the prior 5 seconds, then start recording again  
    • Undo and redo if you are unsatisfied 

Menu 

• File - boring stuff: start a new project, open an old one
  • When you save, it's only in a format which can be opened to edit again
  • If you want to listen outside of audacity, export 
• Edit - undo, redo, cut, copy, paste 
• Select - if you want to edit a specific track, point in time on a group of tracks, a part of a track, or an audio clip, you will need to select it first
• View - edit the interface to best suit your needs ex. Fitting your project on one screen 
• Transport - playback, recording, and looping playback 
• Tracks - add, align, and label audio tracks 
• Generate - add tones, noise, or silence to an existing track 
  • Can add at the cursor position, creating a break in your audo 
  • Can select any amount of audio and replace it with something from generate 
• Effect - audio processing 
  • Ex. reverb, distortion, speed 
• Analyze - get information about you audio or label key features 
  • Determine difference in volume between foreground and background 
    • Helpful for auto duck 
  • Label sounds 
• Window ( MAC ONLY) - display and zoom project windows 
• Tools menu…? 
• Extra - commands for track focus
  • Most helpful for those with visual impairments or trouble with mother skills related to moving the mouse 
• Help - get to the audacity manual and find tutorials 

Grace's favorite features: 

• Auto duck 
  • Reduces the volume of one or more selected tracks when the volume on a control track reaches a certain volume 
    • Imagine background music that gets louder when there is no talking 
  • Effect > volume and compression > auto duck
    • Select the track that you want to duck (the background track) 
    • Deselected the control track, the track directly underneath your selected track will become the control 
    • Adjust parameters to your needs 
• Sync lock
  • Allows you to keep audios synced through insertions, deletions, changes to speed or tempo
  • First select tracks then go to Tracks (in menu) > sync lock tracks
• Change speed and pitch 
  • Effect > pitch and tempo > change speed and pitch 
  • When you reduce speed, all frequencies become lower and vice versa 
• Noise reduction 
  • Effect > noise removal and repair > noise reduction 
  • Trial and error until you find the appropriate noise reduction parameters 
  • Works best for constant low level background, like a fan in the room with you

Other applications for podcast production 

• Audition tutorials on the DLS libguide
• Podcasting Resources on the DLS libguide