Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!

Subject: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: harpgirl
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 09:39 PM

I know that many of you (like BillD) have already discovered this program from SoundForge, which is free. But I installed it last night and tonight I am burning CD's with sound effects mixed in, and with mistakes and breathing easily taken out. This is a very simple program for recording and mixing using just a basic microphone on a Windows 98 platform. I am wild about it! With a stereo mic like one used for MiniDisc recording I think the sound will be pretty darn good!

Once I save the project, I just transmit it to wav with one click in the program and import it to Windows Media Player and burn a CD! A monkey could do it! So I will be putting at least one of Marion's songs onto CD to send to her.

I finally found a program that is super easy!!!! Cool! (and free)

But Art knows how long it takes me to get the stuff into a mailer and out of my house.....

any comments from other users?

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Jeep man
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 12:01 AM

Hey, Harpgirl. Where can I get this program? I sorely need it. Jim

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: harpgirl
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 12:13 AM

Look here, JM : Audacity download page

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 07:48 AM

yep...my wife's been using it to make CDs from mini-disk recordings and editing out the garbage as she goes...great program! I have several projects in mind.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: MMario
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 08:56 AM

love it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 09:47 AM

It is certainly easy to use and there is a newer version now available. I have not found any differences so far in the older version I had been using. This one might save to MP3 format.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: treewind
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 03:18 AM

It's always been able to save in MP3 format but you have to install the MP3 encoding library separately. (done that way to prevent Audacity's creators from getting involved in any patent/licencing disputes: MP3 encoders are supposed to be licenced by Fraunhofer Labs)

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 03:22 AM

How do you send the MP3's to a website though? I've been trying desperately to get some music on my site...

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 03:46 AM

I love the program, too, harpie and I found out about it in an old thread right here at Mudcatland! I've been using it to record old reel-to-reel to my harddrive. When I have more time, I'll look into using the bells and whistles to do some clean up.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 04:05 AM

How many times am I gonna have to answer that question for you Chris?

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: GUEST,harpgirl
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 10:23 AM

How do you do that kat? Can you give the steps?

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: GUEST,Uncle Jaque
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 10:57 AM

I downloaded Audacity last night, but can't seem to get it to open any of my .MIDI or Mp3 files - or anything else, for that matter.

Sometimes it puts a jiggelly line on the window, but when I click "play" it just "clicks" - then silence.

I downloaded the accessory thing, but it seems to be in a ZIP format, so I'll have to look for my unzipping utility.... provided I have one.

Was using "PicoZip" trailware for about 2 years before it went nutz on me and I uninstalled it - will have to look for the MS zip thing, whatever that might be...

Will that Mp3 thing self-install after it is unzipped?

I also noticed that it has issues with Norton protected Recycle Bin; although I replaced Norton with E-Secure AV some time ago, my RB still says "Norton Protected" on it.   Is that a problem with Audacity?
How do I "un-protect" said RB if it is?

It looks like an interesting utility if I can ever figure out how to make it work.   Having tried several such virtual recording - studio programs, I have yet to find one that I've been able to make any sense out of, much less been able to actually use them for anything.

Now I'm beginning to sense that Audacity just might be another one of 'em.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 12:13 PM

I didn't ask you Clint...

: )~

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: treewind
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 12:53 PM

Try 7Zip for your zip handling requirements (free Windows software)

Audacity doesn't do anything much with MIDI, and needs the extra MP3 library to handle MP3s. There's a link from the Audacity site.

You should be able to record and read .WAV files without any problems.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From:
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 06:40 PM

From PC Pro Magazine

Audacity Tutorial Page1
Audacity Tutorial Page2
Audacity Tutorial Page3
Audacity Tutorial Page4

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From:
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 07:41 PM

More tutorials. This time from PC Plus Magazine

Introducing Audacity

Recording With Audacity

Digital Effects With Audacity

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Amos
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 07:55 PM

Chris:

You need access to a directory on the web somewhere (meaning on a computer that is serving files for the world-wide web). You place the MP3s in that directory. This can be done with a FTP application. If you have a Mac it can be done by drag-and-drop.

Once you know the path to the MP3 files, you edit your web page with an HTML link that say <_href_=http_://URL_of_server/directory/mp3filename.mp3_>Name of Song

(You don't use those underscor4es -- I just put them in so the browser won't think the line above is supposed to be a link in thios post).

When someone looking at your web page clicks on such a link, the browser will send a message to the server indicated asking for the MP3 file to be sent, and it will start to download.

A

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: harpgirl
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 01:35 AM

...thanks for the links, George. I discovered compression last night and it solved lots of problems. Still trying to figure out how to do multitracks with this. Any advice?

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 01:41 AM

Amos, I'm about as far from an HTML expert as you can get, but shouldn't there be an "a" and a space after the first angle bracket and before "href"? That's the way it works here in mudcatville, anyway. Then "/a" within angle brackets at the end.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Ed.
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 03:59 PM

You're right Mark, but it's only a typo on Amos's part, I'm sure. It doesn't really matter, as Chris has been given numerous clear explanations on other threads but doesn't (or is unable to) follow simple instructions.

Oh yes, I think Audacity is really excellent too.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 12:54 AM

I'd LOVE to know who Ed thinks he is trying to put me down like that!
Golden Raspberry to YOU my boy...
= )~

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Amos
Date: 12 May 07 - 05:34 PM

Quite right, an omission on my part.

1. Create the MP3
2. Transfer the MP3 to a known directory on a computer that is running a webserver.
3. Edit your HTML links to point to that file using the standard ahref= construction.

For details on writing the links see the Mudcat HTML instructions thread.
To do transfers use any simple FTP client (stands for File Transfer Protocol).

Once you get one right you'll be free forever.


A

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Jim Lad
Date: 12 May 07 - 05:59 PM

Been keeping you awake at nights for two and a half years I'll bet.
Cheers, Amos.
Jim

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 13 May 07 - 01:17 AM

I am learning to play Bluegrass banjo. I discovered Audacity quite some time ago. I first used it to record myself practicing. However, I have been using it more to slow down recordings of banjo tunes that I am trying to learn. It is a great tool.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Jim Lad
Date: 13 May 07 - 01:56 AM

So anybody: Why is my audio coming through the speakers alright but Audacity isn't picking it up? I've tried Microphone & Line options but it's not coming through. It did record once or twice but with very poor quality.
AAAAaaaaaaaaargh!

I'm okay!
Jim


I'll be fine.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 May 07 - 03:22 AM

Check your soundcard options - we had the opposite problem where it played the Audacity files but nothing else. Manitas poked it about a bit and now it's OK.

I'm a Luddite myself, so 'poked about a bit' is as technical as I get.

LTS

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Jim Lad
Date: 13 May 07 - 01:12 PM

Check your soundcard options .. Will do as soon as I know what that means. In the meantime, it's mother's day. I promised them a trip to the beach!
Thank You.
Jim

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Peace
Date: 13 May 07 - 01:25 PM

"I'm a Luddite myself, so 'poked about a bit' is as technical as I get."

It's a bit too high-teck for me. If the hammer doesn't work, get a bigger hammer.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: danensis
Date: 13 May 07 - 03:35 PM

Is there something similar for Linux? Most of the things I've looked at so far need lots of poking around in the Colonel, which sounds very messy,

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 May 07 - 10:01 PM

It was originally written for Linux. A search will turn it up - even for Fedora 6 - it should show up in one of the potential packages than can be added in Yum or Yumextender if you have that.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 May 07 - 10:05 PM

Audacity, very easy recording...you gotta be KIDDING me. Audacity is NOT user friendly. The Help file is useless, the link in the Help file doesn't work, neither the Help File nor the actual website (finally found with Google) address the issues I need,.....sheesh. There must be another program somewhere.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Bill D
Date: 13 May 07 - 10:40 PM

wow, Sorcha...do you have something strange to do? Audacity usually cooperates fine for folks.

Did you look here?

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Jim Lad
Date: 13 May 07 - 10:55 PM

She did, Bill and pm'd the link to me. Sorcha's probably frustrated from trying to help me. The link is good though & I've registered for the forum which is full of people who know as little as I do being helped by people like you.
Cheers!
Jim

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 May 07 - 03:39 AM

I found Polderbits quite good when I needed to record some stuff form analogue tape (as WAVs) then edit it into tracks then save as MP3s to email to people. It has a 14 day free trial with all features enabled and I got considerable email support during that period. After the 14 days it is not expensive to buy and I am considering whether to do that.

I have also used Audacity to record and then QuickAudio to convert to MP3, but I have not tried any of the really clever bits of Audacity.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 14 May 07 - 06:53 AM

I use Audacity for recording music clips for a local quiz. It works like a dream for equalisation, compression, fading in/out and the odd bit of editing. I've used it every week now for 60 weeks and it's never let me down.
Bob Webb and I also use it in his studio for editing CD tracks in the form of WAV files and it can work wonders. Highly recommended.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Grab
Date: 14 May 07 - 08:38 AM

The lack of a proper VST user interface in Audacity bugs me. VST plugins can do their stuff, but it doesn't give them the hooks to display the interface properly. This means that most of them come up with a couple of dozen sliders with non-helpful names, and this makes most VST plugins unusable.

I also don't like the fact that you can't move (timeshift) sections of track, only the complete track. Often enough, there's one chord which is slightly off the beat, and I just want to shuffle that across a bit. But in Audacity, that requires a bunch of copy-and-pasting which is just a pain.

Still, I'll keep using it because I can't justify spending on anything better yet. :-/

Graham.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Jim Lad
Date: 14 May 07 - 10:42 AM

One word: Vista!
I'm running updates right now to see if I can get my Lightscribe driver back. Audacity showed up as being incorrectly installed and incompatible with Vista in its current form.

Good Morning All!
from the bright & sunny Highlands.
Jim

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 May 07 - 12:14 AM

I could never get Audacity to work right. It didn't pick up anything (no doubt the sound card problem.) Are there updates that might be more user friendly now?

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Jim Lad
Date: 15 May 07 - 01:10 AM

(no doubt the sound card problem.) ???
I was thinking that myself but I'm getting sound out of the speakers.
Also, I've taken a signal from the 1/8" stereo output on the interface and plugged that into the line in. Audacity can record me now but there'll be no real quality in it.
Therefor: I would guess that the problem lies in my configuration. Audacity & the Soundcard seem fine.
I'm happy now but will be happier when the interface does what it's supposed to.
Thanks for your help, yous!

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: JohnB
Date: 15 May 07 - 09:29 AM

It has worked great for me all the time I have used it. Whatever is coming out of the speakers at the time can be recorded through Audacity.
You can then play with it(the recording) as much as your desires and abilities will allow. The minimum you should do is to trim the ends of the track to get rid of what you don't want and to "Normalize" the whole track.
Audacity needs an extra programme to produce MP3's, all you need to do is follow the instructions and that works fine too.
Good Luck sorting it out, JohnB

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Jim Lad
Date: 15 May 07 - 09:43 PM

Could my hard drive be too small now that I have Vista?
Is that the problem?

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 15 May 07 - 10:11 PM

oooooooo...

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Bill D
Date: 15 May 07 - 11:28 PM

for any serious audio/video recording & editing, you do need a bit of free space to manipulate things. With fairly new computers, this isn't 'usually' a problem, as spacious HDs are the norm. (I have 160 GIGS, and that is not huge)..You really should be offline also, and close all unnecessary programs so as to give your editing processes priority.

There are various things that might keep you from hearing sound...(that is, volume controls can be turned off in several places....check all menus and controls). Making sure Audacity is set right: just open Project: import audio, and load some file you know works, and play a bit..if you get sound, you go on to your project.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Jim Lad
Date: 16 May 07 - 12:10 AM

If that's disc C, I have 9.86GB free on a total of 37.2.
That's not a good thing then?
$$$

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: GUEST,RamblinStu
Date: 16 May 07 - 06:18 AM

I only discovered this thread yesterday. Then I downloaded Audacity last night, and made my first recording last night as well, and it works fine.

Obviously I will need to be some tweaking and adjusting to improve the quality but I am very pleased with the system. Thanks Mudcat

While I'm here, does anyone have any advice as to what type of microphone would be best to use?

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 May 07 - 08:08 AM

"what type of microphone would be best to use? "

Normally, the brief answer to that has been 'the best you can afford', however these days I have noticed what appear to be 'Chinese made' plasticy looking mikes intended for 'karaoke' style use which are amazingly cheap. I don't know about the quality, has anybody tried them seriously?

You will also get lots of varying advice on all sort of construction types of mikes, which various people swear by (and some at!) for various purposes.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: treewind
Date: 16 May 07 - 08:42 AM

Yes, I've used a mic that looked and sounded like it came out of a Christmas cracker. You get what you pay for.

Seriously, there are a lot of cheap Chinese mics that are incredibly good value for money, but they are very variable and the Chinese still haven't got all of the manufacturing secrets of the likes of Neumann, Schoeps, Sennheiser, Beyer and Audio-Technica.

First thing: what are you plugging the mic into? Does it have phantom power? If it does, get a condenser.
The Audio Technica AT2020 is a fairly foolproof jack-of-all trades mic that doesn't cost a fortune.

You can also get a long way with a pair of Shure SM57's and a decent low noise preamp. It what you do with them that counts, just like musical instruments.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 May 07 - 09:19 AM

"It what you do with them that counts"

... as the actress said to the bishop...

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Jim Lad
Date: 16 May 07 - 10:12 AM

AKG is my affordable choice. I have an AKG C100S which uses a wide range of phantom power but also takes a 9 volt battery and the AKG Perception 100 which must have 48 volt phantom power to operate.
Both are around the $200 but cut that price in half for online purchases.
AKG parts are manufactured in Austria or Germany and assembled in China, thereby keeping the price down.
As for the Chinese knock-offs. You really do get what you pay for.
Lots of opinions on mikes around here. Good luck with it.
A bright sunny good morning to all,
from the Highlands.
Jim

p.s. I got my Lightscribe back. Making steady progress here.

Subject: RE: Tech: Audacity: Very easy recording!
From: Jim Lad
Date: 16 May 07 - 06:42 PM

Audacity is starting to shape up now. Thanks all of you for your help.