Audacity Audacity® is free, open source, cross- platform software for recording and editing sounds. Audacity is available for Windows®, Mac®, GNU/Linux® and other operating systems.

Audacity Follow online instructions for download LAME MP3 encoder must be downloaded and installed to enable MP3 playback/recording ?s=install&i=lame-mp3 ?s=install&i=lame-mp3

How do I download and install the LAME MP3 encoder? Follow these instructions to use the free LAME encoder to export MP3 files with Audacity. Windows Go to the external LAME download page.LAME download page Under "For Audacity on Windows", left-click the link "Lame v for Windows.exe" and save the file anywhere on your computer. Do not right-click the link to the.exe file. Double-click "Lame v for Windows.exe" to launch it (you can safely ignore any warnings that the "publisher could not be verified"). Follow the "Setup" instructions to install LAME for Audacity. Do not change the offered destination location of "C:\Program Files\Lame for Audacity". The first time you use the "Export as MP3" command, Audacity will ask for the location of "lame_enc.dll". Navigate to "C:\Program Files\Lame for Audacity", select "lame_enc.dll", then click "Open" and "OK". If you prefer the Zip option for the LAME download, save the zip file to anywhere on your computer, extract "lame_enc.dll" to any location, then show Audacity where to find it as in Step 5 above.

How do I download and install the LAME MP3 encoder? Follow these instructions to use the free LAME encoder to export MP3 files with Audacity. Mac OS 9 or X Go to the external LAME download page.LAME download page Click to download either "Lame Library v for Audacity on OSX.dmg" or "LameLib-Carbon.sit", according to your operating system. Double-click the.dmg to extract "Lame Library v for Audacity on OSX.pkg" to Finder, or use Stuffit to extract "LameLib" from the.sit (either of these may happen automatically). Double-click the.pkg to install "libmp3lame.dylib" in /usr/local/lib/audacity, or save "LameLib" anywhere on your computer. The first time you use the "Export as MP3" command, Audacity will ask for the location of "libmp3lame.dylib" or "LameLib". Navigate to that location, then open the file and click "OK".

Needed Equipment Decide what to use with audacity. Option 1 – Use a USB microphone. They can be purchased for around $40. Option 2 – Use a microphone with a 3.5mm stereo plug. Connect the microphone to your computer next to the headphone input. These microphones are usual not the best quality. Option 3 (more advanced) - You may already have good microphones at your school or church. You can connect your microphones to a small portable 4, 6, or 8 channel mixer. The USB interface connects the mixer to your computer using two RCA (red, white) connectors (CD/Tape out). The other end is a USB cable that connects to the computer. USB interfaces can be purchased for around $25- $30. Small mixers cost between $50 - $95 dollars

Needed Equipment Best Buy – Behringer U Control – UCA222 USB audio interface - $29.99 Or Guitar Center

Behringer XENYX802 Guitar Center $65.00

USB Microphone USB-microphone i gc $33.99

USB Microphone Handheld-USB-Microphone-H i gc

Typical Set Up

Zoom ZH4N - Digital Recorder About $ Handheld digital recorders use an SD card to record in WAV and MP3 format. You can transfer the SD card to your computer to attach the audio files.

Audacity Recording Tips Plug in your recording device to your computer before you open Audacity (i.e. USB microphone, line microphone, or USB audio interface) Audacity will not recognize your recording device if you plug it in after you open Audacity You will need to select the “recording device” under the Edit menu. Select “preferences” from the Edit drop down menu.

Audacity Recording Tips The next window will show “Preferences: Devices” Click the drop down arrow on “Recording Devices” A list of input sources will be listed: 1. Internal Microphone (the built-in microphone on a laptop – normally not of good recording quality) 2. Microphone (3 – USB CODEC – used for USB Microphones or USB interfaces. Select this option if using USB microphone or interface. 3. Microsoft Mapper or Line – used for the 1/8” stereo plug microphone on the side of a laptop or on a desktop. Normally located next to the headphone output. Choose the device that you have connected to your computer and click OK

Audacity Recording Tips Use the recording controls at the top of the screen Record (red), Play (green), Pause (blue), Stop, Skip to start, Skip to end Press the record button to begin recording You will see wave lines appear on the screen

Wave lines appear when the recording begins.

You can adjust the recording level or Gain using the volume slide located under the “solo” and “mute” buttons on the left side of the audio track.

Audacity Recording Tips Once the recording has been made, you are ready to save the audio file as an MP3 file From the File menu, select “export” Select where to save the audio file: desktop or in a folder of your choosing. Many computers will default to “my music.” Type the name of the file Under “save as type” click the drop down arrow and select “MP3” Click save. Another window will pop up - “Edit Metadata” Enter the information you want saved with the audio file. This information is used for MP3 players and IPods to display name and track information. Click OK again.

Audacity Recording Tips Find the audio file on your computer and double-click the icon. The file should begin to play. You can then follow the SWACDA guidelines for attaching the MP3 files.