DS4OERS/Audiographic/Sound editing

In this section, you will practise how to record audio using Audacity or a mobile device.

Basic recording and editing using Audacity

In this short video, Susy Cox demonstrates how to create a basic podcast. Although you won't be creating a podcast, the process for recording an audio track for an audiographic is similar. You will need to know:

1. How to record audio using Audacity
2. How to import a music track into your project
3. How to perform basic edits using cut and paste
4. How to save your Audacity file
5. How to export an audio file from Audacity

Watch the video below to find out:

Alternatives for recording audio

If you do not have access to a computer with a microphone and speakers, you can record audio using a smart-phone or tablet. In some cases, it might be more convenient to record in this way, particularly if you need to be mobile (for example, when interviewing someone where computer access is impractical). You can then transfer the file from your phone or tablet to a computer, when you have access. Your audio file can then be imported into Audacity.

Recording audio using a smart-phone

Pre-installed applications

Most mobile phones and tablets (Android and IOS) have an audio-recording application (or 'app') pre-installed on the device (the specific app might be different from device to device). You can use these apps to record audio, and then share the recorded file via e-mail or download it from your device onto a computer.

Open source options

In this course, we recommend the use of Free and Open Source Software. If you don't have a recording app on your device, or would prefer to use an open-source alternative, you can download and install one of the following apps from the Google Play Store on your mobile device:

• Simple Voice Recorder by Simple Mobile Tools
• Audio Recorder by Productivity
• Audio recorder (no ads) by Innody, Co.

The Android apps listed above are published under open-source software licences, and any of them would be suitable for recording audio in this course.

Mini-challenge

Practise recording audio

Purpose: Practise recording and saving an audio file

Audacity toolbar

1. Input microphone
2. Output device (e.g. speakers or headset)
3. Monitor microphone input levels (after clicking to start monitoring)
4. Transport bar with main recording functions (Buttons: Pause, Play, Stop, Record, Go to start, Go to end, Record)

Option 1: Record using Audacity

1. Check that you have either an active internal microphone or an external microphone plugged into the computer before you launch Audacity. If you are having difficulty, check your audio settings or ask a friend for help. If you plug in the microphone after launching Audacity, start it again
2. Open Audacity on your computer
   • At the bottom of the toolbar, go to the input pull-down menu (Number 1 in the key above). If you have more than one microphone plugged into your computer, choose the one you want to use. For example, you may have a webcam that has a built-in microphone, or you may prefer to use a headset with a microphone. Alternatively, choose 'default' for the in-built microphone used by your operating system
   • Check your output settings (Number 2 in the key above) for where you want to play the sound (e.g. computer speakers, headset...). Alternatively, choose 'default' for the sound settings used by your operating system.
3. 'Click to start monitoring' (Number 3 in the key above) to see if your microphone is working. When you speak into your microphone, you should see moving green bars showing the level of input
4. Record a short piece of audio by speaking into your microphone:
   • Click on the 'Red circle' button to record (Number 4 in the key above) to start recording
   • Click on the 'Black square' button to stop
5. Play your recording
6. Move your cursor to the beginning of the sound-wave track displayed in Audacity
7. Click the 'Black arrow' button to start playback (Number 4 in the key above)
8. The recording should play through the output option you selected
9. Export the audio-recording as a sound file, and save the file on your computer
   • From the main menu in Audacity, select: File --> Export and choose a file format
     • Use MP3 for lower quality, but a smaller file size (a compressed audio format)
     • Use WAV for better quality, but a larger file size
10. Open your file manager, find the audio file you saved, and play it back on your computer

Option 2: Record using a mobile app
Use this option if you don't have a microphone on your computer, or if you want to experiment with a mobile device (smart-phone or tablet) for recording audio

1. Find the audio-recording app pre-installed on your smart-phone or tablet. For Android users, if you don't have an app, download and install one of the audio-recording apps listed above
2. Start the audio-recording app, click on the 'record' button, and record a short piece of audio
3. Transfer the audio file to your computer:
   • You can often do this by using the 'share' option to send the file to your e-mail address (data charges may apply)
   • Alternatively, connect your phone to your computer (with a USB connection cable) and download the file from the device
4. Launch Audacity and import the file
5. From the main menu in Audacity, go to: File --> Import --> Audio, and choose the file you saved on your computer
6. You should now see the audio track represented by sound-waves in Audacity