Audacity is a powerful, free, open source sound recorder and editor. You can perform a variety of sound editing operations in Audacity -- far from what you think when you hear "free sound processing apps." Audacity's interface is a little confusing, so you might find it difficult the first time you use it.
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Method 1 of 4: Recording Sound
Step 1. Connect your equipment
In the instrument settings, select the instrument output destination. Set the Audacity input to use the input from the instrument. In this example, the signal is routed from the software's "synth" output to the Audacity audio input via the SoundFlower interface.
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Although sound card interfaces vary, we recommend monitoring your instrument to prevent latency issues. Since latency is always a factor when monitoring a recorded signal, you'll have a hard time keeping your rhythm while playing music. In Audacity, use the following settings:
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Step 2. Confirm the relationship
Check that your audio input and output are set up correctly, by selecting "Start Monitoring" from the popup menu below the input meter (next to the microphone icon), then start playing the instrument.
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The LR meter will start responding.
Use Audacity Step 2Bullet1 - If the meter reaches 0dB, use the Input Volume slider to decrease the input volume so that the meter only reaches 0dB at its loudest.
Step 3. Choose how to activate the recorder
Once you've connected all the devices and set the input level, you're now ready to record. You have two options:
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Click "Record" and start playing music. Generally, there will be a slight silence at the beginning of the track which can be cut off after recording is complete.
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You can also enable the "Sound Activated Recording" option in the Recording settings. Check the "Sound Activated Recording" checkbox, then set the sound activation level (dB). The lower the decibel, the lower the sound required to start the recording. This option is useful if, for example, you're recording in another room and don't want to hear the long silence at the beginning of the track while you're setting up the recording.
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Step 4. Record the track
Now is the time to start recording, no matter which method you choose. Click the red Record button (or press "R"), and start playing when you're ready. You will see sound waves on your track as you play music.
Note: While generally the following doesn't happen if you've set all the inputs correctly, if your sound waves are still flat after you start recording, it means that a sound signal isn't being recorded from the instrument to the track. Check the connection to the instrument, then repeat the recording
Step 5. Stop recording
When you're done, click the yellow box-shaped Stop button. You will see an image like the following:
- If you enable the sound-based recording activation option, Audacity will stop recording when the sound doesn't reach a certain decibel.
- To add a new track while listening to a previously recorded track, tick the “Overdub: Play other tracks while recording new one” option in Preferences: Recording.
Step 6. Set the recording date and time
The following time-based recording options are not available for most recording software.
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Select the "Timer Record…" menu from the Transport menu, or press Shift+T. In the window that appears, you can set the recording start date and time, recording ending date and time, or recording duration. With this option, you can record even when you're not around. Why did you do it? Because you can!
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Step 7. Extend your recording
If you want to add a new record to an existing record, press Shift+Record, or Shift+R. Your new material will be recorded at the end of the recording on the current track.
Method 2 of 4: Playing Back the Record
Step 1. Watch the recording
After you finish recording, listen to your recording. Click the green triangular Play button (or press the spacebar). Your track will be played from the beginning, and will stop at the end of the track.
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Pressing Shift+Play or Shift+space will replay the track continuously until you click the Stop button or press the spacebar again.
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To play back a specific part of the track, make sure you have the Selection Tool activated. Then, click and drag the section you want to replay. Note: Once you have selected, press "Z" to automatically define the zero point (the 0 points at the start and end of the sound wave). This method can provide very clear results, without distracting noise, depending on the type of recording and the part of the song.
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Step 2. Change the rotation speed
You can change the playback speed, which can be useful if you're working on a solo project or are learning certain difficult music.
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Slide the "Playback Speed" bar to the left to slow down the track, or right to speed up the track, then click the "Playback at Speed" arrow to play back the track at a new speed. To change the speed, adjust the bar and click the back button.
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Step 3. Change the track view
The initial view of the track is a sound wave in linear form. In short, a linear scale is a percentage level between 0 (silence) and 1 (maximum). You can view tracks in other formats:
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Waveform (dB), which displays the waveform in decibels. This view will be larger than the linear view.
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Spectrogram, which is a color FFT (Fast Fourier Transfer) display of audio.
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Pitch, which displays the highest note at the top of the track, and the lowest note at the bottom of the track. This look is very attractive with rich textures and chords.
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Step 4. Play tracks solo
If you are playing several tracks at once but only want to hear one of them, click the Solo button in the Tracks control area (to the left of the sound wave).
Other tracks will not play. This step is especially useful if you want to adjust the volume of your guitar and drums, for example
Step 5. Silence the track
If you are playing several tracks at once but want to mute one of them, click the Mute button in the Tracks control area (to the left of the sound wave).
Other tracks will not make a sound. This step is especially useful if you want to compare 2 records or "thin" a temporary record
Step 6. Adjust the "pan" and volume level
The Pan control will place the sound in the stereo column, from left to right, or in between, and the Level control will adjust the volume of the track.
Method 3 of 4: Editing Sound
Step 1. Shorten the track
If you record too much, trim the track until it contains only the footage you want to save editing time. Start by backing up your tracks just in case, then follow these guidelines:
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Choose the Selection Tool from the toolbar. Select the audio portion you want to save. Select "Loop Playback" (Shift+space), then listen to your edits a few times to make sure they're good enough. Adjust the edits as necessary, then from the Edit menu, select "Remove Audio" > "Trim". You can also press Cmd+T (or Control+T on PC). The audio to the left and right of your selection will be removed from the track.
Use Audacity Step 14Bullet1 - After trimming, move the audio if needed to the correct time using Time Shift. Drag the audio to the right time.
Step 2. Apply effects
You can apply a variety of effects, either built-in Audacity or VST effects and operating system built-in effects.
- Select part or all of the track with the Selection Tool.
- From the Effect menu, select the desired effect. In this example, we're using Echo for a simple "click" track.
- Set the parameters requested by the effect, then listen to the preview. If you feel comfortable with the effect, click OK. The effect will be processed and the result will be displayed. The example below is the original "click" track above, and the track with the Echo effect below.
- You can process the same track with different effects. However, you can amplify the sound so badly that it causes unpleasant distortion. If distortion occurs, remove the effect you applied before the distortion occurs, and apply the Amplifier effect with the -3db setting, instead of applying the effect you want. If the process still leaves some distortion, increase the Amplify effect setting, for example -6dB.
- Note: We recommend that you duplicate the track (Cmd+D or Ctrl+D) before making any edits that change the sound waves.
Step 3. Experiment freely
Try all the filters, and notice the results and sound when combined with your source material.
Step 4. Save the edited audio file
Once you've finished editing, mixing, trimming, and beautifying your sound file into great music, you'll want to save the file for archival purposes (or even fame!). Select "File" > "Export…", then choose the format you want. You can choose from a variety of formats, from AIFF to WMA.
Method 4 of 4: Enjoy
Step 1. Audacity is free, but very powerful
This program has a lot of effects, a sound generator, and a fairly flexible editing system. Once you understand how to use it, you can make great music!
Tips
- Look for sound effects on the internet. Various internet sites provide sound effects for free. You can also buy a CD with sound effects.
- You can record and play instruments by downloading virtual piano software, such as Simple Piano. Then, select the Stereo Input input on the microphone, and let Audacity record your performance.
