View source for Performance In Process - Audacity

__NOTOC__
[[Image:Audacity-logo.jpg|100px|left]]Audacity is developed by a team of volunteers and released under an open-source license and is the only audio editing software that is run on Mac's, PC's, and Linux computers. Go to http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ to download the most current version 1.3.13 Beta.<br>
===Getting Started===
Open Audacity found in the applications folder.

====Importing audio====
'''File > Import &gt; Audio''' navigate to the audio files that you want to import

====Save your project====
# '''File &gt; Save Project''' 
#navigate to your hard drive and create a folder with your name and save it to that folder.
#*This folder will contain all your audio files and edit information so you can continue to work on different computers so keep this folder and it's information contained.
#*Save Often! preferably after every edit

===Tools===

'''Transport Toolbar''' - controls playback and recording
[[File:Audacity-transport-toolbar.png]]

'''Tools Toolbar''' - chooses various tools for: 
*selection or "I-beam" tool
*volume adjustment or envelope tool
*zooming - 
*time-shifting - move audio waveforms horizontally within your project
*multi-function tool

[[File:Audacity-tools-toolbar.png]]



'''Meter Toolbar''' - displays levels for playback and recording

[[File:Audacity-meter-toolbar.png]]

'''Mixer Toolbar''' - controls the mixer settings of the sound card

[[File:Audacity-mixer-toolbar.png]]

'''Transcription Toolbar''' - plays audio at a slower or faster speed, affecting the pitch

[[File:Audacity-transcription toolbar.png]]

'''Edit Toolbar''' - cut, copy, paste, trim, silence, undo, redo, sync-lock, zoom

[[File:Audacity-Edit-Toolbar.png]]

===Tracks=== 
'''Tracks &gt; Add new &gt; Audio track, Stereo track, Label track, or Time track'''

'''Mono track'''
-this is one audio file recorded with one microphone
[[File:Audacity-mono-track.png]]

'''Stereo track'''
-this is one audio file with a left and right track recorded with a stereo microphone
[[File:Audacity-stereo-track.png]]


'''Label track'''
-this track allows you to add markers or regional markers to the whole project or individual tracks
[[File:Audacity-labeltrack.png]]

'''Track Control Panel''': allows you to 
*rename the track
*provides sample information
*mute or solo the track,
*increase volume for the track
*pan left-right function
[[File:Audacity-Track-Panel.png]]

<br>

====Tips for organizing your project====
*keep a copy of your original track 
*use labels to identify portions of a recorded track
*Copy portions from your original track and paste into a new audio track - this will become your working track
*Mute your original track when you're done with it

===Editing===

'''Listen to your project'''  hit the spacebar on your keyboard to Stop or Play 

'''Label tracks and take notes of your project'''
Listen to your audio and make labels. 

Go to '''Tracks > Add New > Label Tracks'''

'''Zooming In/Out'''
helps you make accurate selections of your waveform.

[[File:Audacity-zoom-tools.png]]

Highlight a portion of audio using your Selection Tool  
[[File:Audacity-I-Beam-tool.png]]

[[File:Audacity-highlighted-audio.png]]

'''Tracks > Add Label at Selection'''

Name your label.


Use '''Tab''' on your keyboard to select forwards to the next label, and '''SHIFT+Tab''' to select backwards to the previous label.


'''Editing Audio'''

Open a blank track - this will be your working pallet.
'''Tracks > Mono track or Stereo Track'''

Choose the '''Selection tool''' [[File:Audacity-I-Beam-tool.png]] in the Tools Toolbar. 

Highlight your audio then '''Edit menu > copy'''

Select a point in your empty track then '''Edit menu > paste'''

'''File > Save Project'''

===Effects=== 


====Equalization====
Allows you to increase or decrease desired frequencies.

[[File:Audacity-Graphic-EQ.png|400px]]

====Noise Removal====
Removes unwanted background noise.

[[File:Audacity-Noise-Removal.png]]

====Normalize====
Increases the overall volume of your waveform equally.

[[File:Audacity-Normalize.png]]

====Envelope====
Let's you control a tracks volume changes smoothly over time.
[[File:Audacity-envelope.png]]

Select the envelope tool.
Click a beginning, end, and middle point on your audio waveform.
Click and hold on a point to increase or decrease the volume.

===Exporting===
#Mute all the tracks you don't want to be apart of your final mix
#'''File > Export''' - exports the entire project except muted tracks
#*or '''File > Export Selection''' - exports only selected portion of your project
#Name your project. When exporting your final mix, name the file with "mix" so you can easily differentiate it from other source audio files.
#Choose your Audio File Format
#*Select .wav for a high quality uncompressed file but bigger file size.
#*Select .mp3 for a lower quality, compressed, but small file size. This is the format you should use to upload to your class Moodle site.


[[category:Audacity]]

 [[category:2011-2012]]