Learn Audacity

Introduction

Audacity is a free and open source application, its easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems. The interface is translated into many languages.

ICT Competency

Its a Generic audio resource creation tool.

Educational application and relevance

We can use this tool to create own voice recordings, modify existing audio's as per our academic requirements and we can mix multiple audio's together to create educational resources.

Version

Audacity 2.1.2

Configuration

Its part of Ubuntu custom and no need to configure.

Overview of Features

• Importing and exporting of WAV, AIFF, MP3 (via the LAME encoder, downloaded separately), Ogg Vorbis, and all file formats are supported.
• Recording and playing back sounds.
• Editing via cut, copy, and paste, with unlimited levels of undo.

Other similar applications

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Wavosaur Wavosaur is a free sound editor, audio editor, wav editor software for editing, processing and recording sounds, wav and mp3 files. Wavosaur has all the features to edit audio (cut, copy, paste, etc.) produce music loops, analyze, record, batch convert.

Traverso DAW Traverso DAW is an audio recording and editing program which is very well suited to record a single voice, a band, an ensemble, a whole orchestra or any other source of music! Both the home and professional user will find Traverso attractive, it's clean interface is easy to learn, and enables you to work quickly and efficiently!

Development and community help

Audacity Team

Working with the application

Functionalities

Step 1 -This can be opened from Applications > Sound & Video > Audacity	Step 2 -When we open the Audacity application, it will show the window like this.
Step 3- To Start Recording, Click the red record button in Transport Toolbar then begin talking or playing. Continue for as long as you want. When you feel you've recorded enough, click the Stop button.	Step 4 -To Add new track, choose Tracks menu > Add new > Audio track
Step 5-add Multiple tracks, we can add more tracks as per requirements	Step 6-To import audio, From the main menu, select File > Import > Audio. The audio selection window will display. Choose the music file from your computer, and then click on Open. A new track will added to your project at the very bottom of the project window.
Step 7- To delete, copy or cut the part of track, select the area of track to and then press DELETE button from keyboard to delete, right click and choose copy or cut to make copy or cut. Once you choose the copy or cut option, then move your mouse cursor to wherever you want to add in track. then right click on track and choose PASTE.	Step 8- After you have completed your recording and editing work, Click "File"> "Export", here "Save as" box will appear, rename your track to whatever you want to call it. Select file format (for Ex: .wav, .mp3 etc) and then click SAVE. Once you click on Export, then you can also enter some metadata about the audio.

Saving the file

After completing the editing task, if we need a output final file, then go to FILE from menubar and select EXPORT option and the select file format as MP3 and click export. We can also save as project to continue the edits, for this go to FILE from menu bar and select SAVE .

Export and publishing files

Can export its file as MP3, WAV, AMR etc

Advanced features

• Record live audio
• Record computer playback on any Windows Vista or later machine
• Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs
• Edit WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP2, MP3 or Ogg Vorbis sound files
• AC3, M4A/M4R (AAC), WMA and other formats supported using optional libraries
• Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together
• Numerous effects including change the speed or pitch of a recording
• And more! See the complete list of features: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about/features

Installation

Method of installation	Steps
From Ubuntu software Centre	Go to Ubuntu Software Centre and type Audacity in search box and Click on INSTALL
From Terminal	Open Terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T), and then type below command. sudo apt-get install Audacity
From the web	click here to download from website
Web based registration	Not Applicable

The application on mobiles and tablets

FOSS Android Apps on Fdroid - Ringdroid

Google Play store - WavePad Audio Editor - Ringtone cutter

Ideas for resource creation

You can use this tool to create own voice recordings, modify existing audio's as per our academic requirements and you can mix multiple audio's together to create educational resources.

References

Audacity Team Audacity Tutorial