Lab #6: Audacity Digital Sound Editing

TH 1551
Sound for the Theatre

Lab #6
Audacity Digital Sound Editing

I. Purpose: To accurately use Audacity sound editing software to complete a 30 second commercial recording. The goal is to import music underscoring created in GarageBand and add tracks of voice over, static, and at least one spot cue to the final product.

II. Required software for lab

Download Audacity 1.2.6 Mac OSX
Download Audacity 1.2.6 Windows

(There are subtle differences between these versions but nothing that will affect the lab. Do not install the Beta version, as it is not yet stable software.)

III. Functions this lab will demonstrate:

A. Importing *.mp3, *.wav, & CDs
B. Basic editing
C. Basic effect usage
D. Recording
E. Utilizing Multi-track editing for effect elongation
F. Exporting to *.wav 44.1kHz/16bit

***Software must be installed before the first day of lab.***

Part 1 – Importing and selecting a 30 sec section of music from the Garage Band Project. (The length can be shortened or extended using the Time-stretch effect in Audacity to create the required 30 sec clip. Do not choose a clip 5 sec shorter/longer than 30 sec or the audio will distort noticeably.)

Export to wave file Lastname_Audacity_1

Part 2 – Recording text with onboard laptop microphone into a mono file. Export only voice mix to wave file Lastname_Audacity_2. (USB microphones may also be available.)

Part 3 – Export a final mix of parts 1 and 2 with a layer of static or a spot cue effect to file Lastname_Audacity_3.

Complete online software tutorials can be found at <http://audacity.sourceforge.net/manual-1.2/tutorials.html> if you need further assistance, or have interest in more advanced options within Audacity.

Other Audacity Tutorials for specific effects can be found at <http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php?title=Tutorials>

Terminology

Click = left click on PC mouse or a mouse click on a Mac

Initial setup for Audacity (Mac)

Click on Audacity in the top program bar and select preferences
Click File Formats and select “Make a copy if the file before editing.”
Select Interface and select -96 under the minimum dB section
Click Ok

Initial setup for Audacity (PC)
1. Click on Edit in the top program bar and select preferences
2. Click File Formats and select “Make a copy if the file before editing.”
3. Select Interface and select -96 under the minimum dB section
4. Click Ok

Part 1

1. Click Project from the top menu bar and select Import Audio. Find your GarageBand file and select Import to open it.
2. Save your project by going to file and selecting Save As and selecting where it is placed.
3. Click and drag the pointer over the portion of the waveform you want to select.
4. Copy selection with Apple C (Mac) or Control C (PC)
5. Click Project from the top menu bar and select New Stereo Track.
6. Paste (Apple V) audio selection into the new stereo track.
7. If the length needs to be changed Click Effect and Change Tempo. Change as necessary.
8. Click Mute on the original file.
9. Save project.
10. To export *.wav file click on File on the top menu bar and select Export Selection as Wav. Save the file with the correct name.

Part 2

1. To record your voice click the Red circle near the top of the program.
2. Recite your text.
3. Stop recording by pressing Space or by clicking on the Yellow square beside the Record button. Do as many takes as you need. If you don’t like the takes, click on the X on the upper left of the wave-form.
4. Trim the recording to the appropriate length by clicking and dragging over the wav form and press Delete.
5. Click Mute on the music track.
6. Save project.
7. To export *.wav file click on File on the top menu bar and select Export Selection as Wav. Save the file with the correct name.

Part 3

1. Find a recording of static or a spot cue by going to the Sound Effects web site at <http://www.d.umn.edu/~mharvey/websitesound.html> to download and import the file. Make sure they are the same bit rate as the project (44.1 KHz).

Note: The bit rate of a track can be changed by clicking on the name of the track, going to Select Rate and clicking on the correct one. The project rate is displayed on the lower left corner of the screen. The track can also be renamed using this process.

2. Select and Copy your static (or spot cue).
3. To extend static, click on the end of the effect and Paste it. Continue till desired length of cue is achieved.
4. Repeat step 3 in a new track.
5. Click on the Double Arrow button from the toolbar in the upper left.
6. Click and drag second static effect line over to cover dips in the first track. (Similar function in ProTools is called Slip.)
7. Un-mute the 30 sec music clip.
8. Balance the track volume levels to prevent clipping in playback and exporting by moving the plus/minus slider in the track’s tool area (on left). The Master volume can be changed by moving the plus/minus slider besides the speaker symbol on the upper tool bar.
9. Once a balance is achieved Save the project.
10. To export *.wav file click on File on the top menu bar and select Export Selection as Wav. Save the file with the correct name.

Part 4

1. Label 30 second commercial as <yournamecommercial.wav>.

1. Playback commercial recording for class with appropriate mix, including underscore music from GarageBand, voice over, static and/or spot cue, and any other tracks you would like to include.

2. Email commercial as an attachment to mharvey @d.umn.edu.