Book Image

Getting started with Audacity 1.3

Book Image

Getting started with Audacity 1.3

Overview of this book

Using the Audacity software as the starting off point, we discuss what the software is, what it can do, how you can use it, and where you go to get started installing it. All of this information is grounded in some basic audio editing terminology and background for those that aren't so technology inclined.Then we'll start digging into a sample project! You'll learn about how to set up a project, create a voice track, record an interview with Skype, and basic audio editing techniques. All of this done in an easy to follow, task based approach with lots of examples. Here, we plan to go a step further, we teach how to wrap all of these steps together and create a podcast that can be posted on your own website or blog.There's always more you can do with Audacity! The last portion of the book is dedicated to just that - discussing more advanced editing and mixing techniques, using affects, adding music, adding additional plug-ins to the software. All still incorporating examples and easy to follow tasks you can try on your own audio projects.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Getting started with Audacity 1.3
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
Preface
9
Giving Your Audio Some Depth: Applying Effects
Toolbar, Menu, and Keyboard Shortcut Reference
Glossary of Terms
Index

Working within the project


As you begin editing in Audacity, you'll need to review your changes, and make sure that your recording sounds exactly the way that you want it to. Here's the basics on playback, rewinding, fast forwarding, selecting, magnifying, and adjusting project views in Audacity.

Playback

You'll become very familiar with your audio track as you listen to, and edit it. After each change, you'll likely want to play it back to make sure that it sounds just right. To play back the track (or a portion of it), simply click on the Play button.

Tip

Not hearing playback?

It's possible that you're stuck at the end of your audio track. Click on the Skip to Start button move to the beginning of the timeline, and then click on the Play button.

As you begin your edit, you'll play back your audio track many times over, as you adjust and make changes to get it just right. Try listening to the playback on headphones, as well as separately on a set of external speakers. All of this playback on...