Langara Audacity workshop

Introduction to Audacity & audio editing

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

Langara JournalismOctober 20th, 2008

Introduction to Audacity & audio editing

･ Know your recording devices

Introduction to Audacity & audio editing

･ Know your recording devices ･ Tips on getting a good recording

Introduction to Audacity & audio editing

･ Know your recording devices ･ Tips on getting a good recording ･ Extremely basic audio editing

Introduction to Audacity & audio editing

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

What do you use for recording sound?

USB microphone and headset

Zoom H2

The M-Audio MicroTrack 24/96

Introductionto Audio Editing

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

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

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 ･ Test your levels

･ Bring headphones

Audio editingapplications

Windows:Sound Recorder

Mac:Garage Band

Open Source:Audacity

Using Audacity

Using Audacity

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

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 ･ Multiple tracks

･ Additional tools

･ Effects; some useful, some crazy

Exercise II: Audio storytelling

･ Download clips from http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/learningcentre/duncan/sound_effects/

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

Exercise II: Audio storytelling

･ Download clips from http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/learningcentre/duncan/sound_effects/

･ Write out a script for a brief introduction ･ Create a multi-track recording ･ Integrate vocals, music* and sound effects ･ Work on the volume and transitions between tracks ･ Try out a few effects and see what affect they have ･ Please consider:

･ Your audience: who’s listening? ･ How long does this take?(!?)

Post-production ･ Handling & archiving files

･ Adding metadata

･ Photos & slideshows

Online Audacitytutorials

The Official Audacity tutorial:http://www.edhsonline.org/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 ･ www.podsafeaudio.com/ ･ http://www.freemusicarchive.org/ ･ http://www.quietamerican.org/

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

uploads/2007/06/podcastinglegalguideforcanada.html ･ http://cchits.ning.com/hits/ ･ http://www.ccmixter.org/

Thanks!

Duncan McHughduncan.mchugh@ubc.ca

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