Audacity workshop for Langara Journalism

Introduction to Audacity & audio editing

Duncan McHughMultimedia DeveloperFaculty of Land & Food Systemsduncan.mchugh@ubc.ca

Langara JournalismFebruary 4th, 2011

Introduction to Audacity & audio editing

･ Know your recording devices･ Tips on getting a good recording･ Extremely basic audio editing･ Somewhat complex audio editing･ Audacity troubleshooting

What do you use for recording sound?

Zoom H2

Marantz PMD 660solid state recorder

Tips on gettinga good recording

Editing can only do so much

Tips on gettinga good recording

･ Know the space ･ Consider the room size, number

of participants and ambient noise ･ Use the appropriate equipment

･ Check equipment beforehand ･ Check your levels

･ Bring headphones & keep them on

Audio editingapplications

Free:Windows:Sound Recorder

Mac:Garage Band

Open Source:Audacity

Pro:Adobe Audition

Dalet

Burli

Using Audacity

To the beginning

Play

Record

Pause

Stop

To the end

Selection Tool: selects a segment of a track

Envelope Tool: allows quick adjustments of volume

Draw Tool: for very minute adjustments

Zoom Tool: allows you to shift your view

Time Shift Tool: moves clips along the timeline

Multi-Tool Mode: everything at once

Cut/Paste/Trim

Undo/Redo

Zoom

Exercise I: Basic audio editing

Step 1 ･ Record 30 seconds of you speaking ･ Record only one track ･ Make sure to include a bunch of ohhs and

ummms, and other things you won’t want to keep in your recording

Exercise I: Basic audio editing

Step 2 ･ Use the Selection Tool to edit unwanted sounds ･ Use the Envelope Tool to adjust the volume of

the recording ･ Play it back and bask in auditory joy

Beyond basic･ Effects; some useful, some crazy

･ Multiple tracks

･ Additional tools

Post-production ･ Handling & archiving files ･ Formats

If you’re planning on exporting to mp3,make sure to download the plug-in

･ Adding metadata

Exercise II: Audio storytelling

･ Download clips from your recordersExtra clips here: https://files.me.com/learning.centre/ix0fmd

･ Create a multi-track recording ･ Integrate vocals, music* and sounds ･ Work on the volume and transitions between tracks ･ Try out a few effects and see what affect they have

Online Audacitytutorials

The Official Audacity tutorial:http://www.lifelonglearner.us/other/audacity/

Educause’s screencast tutorial:http://www.educause.edu/Screencasts/Audacity/Untitled.html

Daniel James’s tutorial: http://quicktoots.linuxaudio.org/toots/audacity/

Everything you wanted to know…

The Audacity wiki:http://audacityteam.org/wiki/

*“Podsafe”: Sounds that are safe to use

･ Wikipedia: Podsafe ･ http://www.freemusicarchive.org/ ･ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Sound ･ www.podsafeaudio.com/

･ Creative Commons Canada: www.creativecommons.ca ･ http://www.creativecommons.ca/blog/wp-content/

uploads/2007/06/podcastinglegalguideforcanada.html ･ http://www.ccmixter.org/

Thanks!

Duncan McHughduncan.mchugh@ubc.ca

http://blogs.landfood.ubc.ca/duncan/