From cratedigging sample hunters and mix-recording DJs to enthusiastic podcast creators, Audacity is used by thousands of hobbyists the world over. For many, it’s been the first port of call when dipping a toe into the murky waters of computer-based audio production, sound editing and more. Step 1 Load Audio File into Audacity Open Audacity, then choose File - Open and select the track you wish to remove vocals from. Step 2 Split the Track Once your track is loaded into Audacity, select the drop-down menu for the track, then choose the option to Split Stereo Track.
Audacity, the free and open source audio software, allows businesses to take sound production into their own hands. Customized sound recordings with editing and high-quality output used to require a skill level beyond the small business owner or freelancer. But with Audacity’s easy to use platform, all your recordings can now be handled in-house.
Make sure your mic is set up in Audacity To do that, go to Edit/Preferences/Devices (choose the Samson mic (or interface box like 'Focusrite Scarlett') under 'Recording' and make sure it says 'mono' under 'channels.' Click the 'Record' button (big red circle) in Audacity.
Audacity is a free multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. It is great for voice-over recording and audio editing purposes. With the right equipment used Audacity needs very few settings changed to produce perfectly sounding audio.
Last Updated on December 30, 2020 by Robert Jackson
Audacity is installed and used by millions of users for its excellent audio recording and editing capacity.
To enjoy the great audio recording service of Audacity, you need to cope with the complex interface and preset. You must set up the audio source or audio tracks before starting an audio capture.
If you’re new to Audacity and having queries about Audacity audio recording, this tutorial will show you the very details of how to record desktop audio with Audacity. Also, if you want to record a voice-over with Audacity, you can find the steps here.
Audacity recording:
I. Audacity Audio Recording
II. Audacity alternative
I. Audacity Audio Recording
1. How to record computer sound with Audacity
Follow the steps below to record the playback on your computer and create a high-quality audio file.
Step 1 Launch Audacity
After you installed the program, launch it on your computer. (Click here to download Audacity)
Step 2 Set up for mono/stereo audio recording
On Audacity, there’re 4 options you need to pay attention to, the Audio Host, Recording Device, Recording Channel and Playback Device. The first 3 options are much more important and as for the Playback Device, you can just use the defaule one.
If you want to record a mono-audio file:
Use the default Audio Host, normally it’s the Windows WASAPI.
Then, on the Recording Device option, Speaker or Stereo Mix will all do.
The most vital one is to change the Recording Channels to Mono so that the audio file will sound mono.
If you’re about to record stereo audio:
Set the Audio Host as Windows WASAPI.
Next, choose Stereo Mix (If there’s any) or Speaker as the Recording Device.
As for Recording Channels, you need to make it Stereo.
Step 3 Start recording
Finish setting up, you can click Record to initiate recording the desktop audio.
You can pause the recording by clicking the Pause button, and click again to resume. Click Stop when you want to end the recording. To preview the audio file, click Play.
Above are the detailed steps of how to record speaker audio with Audacity. You can now start to record on your own.
2. How to record a voice-over with Audacity
Want to record a voice-over with Audacity? No problem, follow this:
Step 1 Launch your Audacity
Step 2 Set up the audio device
You can set the Audio Host to MMEor Windows WASAPI. And select Microphone as the Recording Device.
Step 3 Start recording
Finish setting up, Audacity will only record the sound coming from the microphone. You can click Record to start and begin speaking to your microphone.
Click Pause when you want to have a break, and click Stop and end the recording.
3. FAQs:
Since Audacity has been established for 2 decades, many users have confronted with various problems while using the app. Here are some common ones.
♠ How to save the audio file I just recorded on Audacity?
To save the file on Audacity, you need to go to the toolbar and click File. Then, move your cursor to Export and choose to export the file as a target format.
Audacity will prompt you to choose a folder for storing the file.
♥ Can I record both system sound microphones at the same time in Audacity?
Unfortunately, you cannot. Audacity only supports to record the sound from one audio source for the time being. You can only record the computer sound and microphone sound separately.
If you want to record both sounds on your computer, you can try an Audacity Alternative. How old is animal crossing.
♣ Why is Audacity not recording sound?
There are quite a few reasons for the issue, you can try to fix your Audacity not recording sound issue here.
♦ Can I record a video with Audacity?
No, you cannot. Audacity is an audio recorder and audio editor. It doesn’t support video capture and playback.
If you want to record a video with high-quality audio performance, you can try an Audacity alternative.
II. Audacity alternative
Since Audacity can only record one audio device at a time, so if record computer sound and microphone audio simultaneously, you can try Aiseesoft Screen Recorder.
Aiseesoft Screen Recorder is a professional tool to record all sounds on your computer, you can decide to record desktop and microphone sound separately or simultaneously with very just one click.
Using Aiseesoft Screen Recorder, you won’t go through complex preset and head-to-understand professional phrases. Once installed, you can easily decide the audio source and start an audio recording with easy steps.
Besides audio recording, the program allows users to record the screen and create a decent video.
You can click the buttons below to download the program for free and have a go with it.
How to record computer audio and microphone sound with Aiseesoft Screen Recorder
To use Aiseesoft Screen Recorder to record your computer audio or microphone audio is very easy, follow the 3 steps below.
Step 1 Launch Aiseesoft Screen Recorder on your computer
Step 2 Choose Audio Recorder
On the interface, choose Audio Recorder. And then you need to decide the audio source for the output file on the Audio Recorder window.
To record your computer sound, turn on System Sound.
Turn on the Microphone option when you want to record the external sound.
Set both options on if you need to.
Step 3 Start recording
Finish deciding the audio source, click REC or press Ctrl + Shift + S on your keyboard to initiate an audio recording. Aiseesoft Screen Recorder will record the sound from the target audio source.
To end the process, press Ctrl + Shift + S or click Stop from a floating panel.
The program will open a window for you to preview and trim the audio file. You can click Save to export it to a custom folder.
Now, you know how to use audacity to record computer audio or microphone audio. You can now start your own Audacity recording and create a decent audio file.
Audacity is great for sure, but it cannot record both sounds. Switch to Aiseesoft Screen Recorder when you plan to record both sounds then.
More about Audacity Audio Recording:
Yes, Audacity is probably the best free audio editing software available and it compares well even against paid digital audio workstations (DAW) such as Adobe Audition, Pro Tools and Reaper.
Free
First and foremost, the best thing about Audacity is that it is totally free. It is open-source software and doesn’t charge anything.
There are plenty of digital audio workstations (DAWs) available, but none are free as Audacity. Some offer 1 month free trials, but that is as good as it gets.
Because Audacity is free it has become the go-to option for people that are starting with voice-over, voice acting, Youtube and vlogging.
If you want to set your foot in any of these fields Audacity is great. In case later you don’t feel like Youtube, voice acting or whatever is the route you want to go you won’t be tied up to a yearly subscription.
Audacity may not be the most packed audio editing software and it lacks some key effects such as a noise gate, de-esser or some features in its compressor.
Nevertheless, for a beginner user Audacity will be more than sufficient. And once you need some advanced effects Audacity has you covered with a plethora of plug-ins available.
Audacity has been there for ages and there are plenty of great plugins to choose from. You can get any effect you want so any lack of inbuilt effects will be covered.
You can find a ton of free plugins here: https://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Plug-ins
Some of the more useful Audacity plugins are Nyquist Noise Gate, Nyquist Hum Remover, Nyquist Multiband EQ, Nyquist ACX Check plugin.
Here is a quick video to help download and install Audacity plugins:
Updates very often
Audacity is developing fast and constantly updates its software. In the past few years, it has changed its design and fixed many bugs.
You will find much software in voice over industry that is outdated and looks like something from 80s sci-fi movies. It is nice to see that Audacity is keeping itself alive and is compatible with all most recent operating systems.
Audacity Voice Over Editing
You can use Audacity on Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, even Vista is compatible. Mac and Linux users will also find download links for their respective OS.
The compatibility is amazing and software rarely ever crashes or has any bugs.
Easy to use
Audacity is very intuitive to use. The lack of features and effects may be troublesome for more advanced users, but new users will find it easy to learn Audacity.
It will take no more than an hour to get the grasp of Audacity basics. For more guidance, you can watch this video on how to get started with Audacity.
Plenty of tutorials
Since it is free software and already multiple YouTubers, voice-over artists and actors are using the platform, there are plenty of tutorials regarding Audacity.
You will never find short of advice and guidance on the internet. Which can’t be said about more expensive premium audio editing platforms that not many can afford.
Your audio editing skills transfer well
Despite Audacity being only one of many audio editing platforms, skills you will learn in Audacity will transfer to any other platform you choose to work later on.
I used Audacity when I started with Youtube and voice over. After a while, I realized I need more than just free tools and go Adobe Creative cloud package which includes Adobe Audition.
The skills on how to clean up audio, use compressor, noise gate, EQ, normalizer, etc will apply in any audio editing software you choose to work with.
How To Edit Voice Over In Audacity
Variety of formats
You can export Audacity audio in both WAV and MP3 formats. I doubt you will ever need any more formats, but Audacity also offers OGG export option. Saving your audio file as a project is also an option, which is super useful. It is great that Audacity doesn’t cut on any mandatory features.
Audacity supports high bitrates. It is hard to tell what is the limit because you can set the bitrate yourself, whatever you like. I tried inputting something as absurd as 1,000,000 Hz bitrate and surprisingly the software allowed it and didn’t crash. For comparison, the industry standard is 44,100 Hz.
Drawbacks
Audacity is not without flaws and drawbacks, but since it is free it becomes easier to close your eyes when you see some.
Poor design
I don’t find it an issue, but many users will tell you how they don’t like outdated Audacity design. On the other hand, the design doesn’t affect your editing capabilities.
Separate waveform and spectrogram
How do i add google photos to my desktop. What I miss in Audacity the most is the ability to see waveform and spectrogram at the same time. You can bypass this problem by duplicating audio track and using one in a waveform and another in the spectrogram, but I just wish it was inbuilt as in other software.
Mono -6dB limit
Another issue you will find is Audacity limiting your recording volume to -6dB when recording in mono. You can bypass this problem by recording in stereo and then splitting the stereo track into mono tracks, but I wish I didn’t need to do it.
No customization
Besides, there is no customization available in Audacity. When you open it up that is how it is going to look and you can’t do anything about it. I don’t mind it that much, but I see why someone, who is used to Adobe or Reaper customizations, would complain.
No multitrack editing
Audacity doesn’t have multitrack editing capabilities. Which means once you apply some sort of effect the only way you can undo it is by clicking the magical Ctrl+Z combination.
Usually, that is enough, but it comes as a problem when you need to apply multiple effects and then be able to turn off or adjust them without affecting other effects that you applied.
Imagine if you compressed your audio and later applied 20 more effects spending a ton of time with each tweaking them to perfection. After all, is done you realized you want to make some changes with the way you compressed you are audio. To do so you would have to undo all the work you have done so far.
Takeaway
Audacity is great for:
How To Edit Voice Over In Audacity Recording
Voice over
Youtubers
Vloggers
Amateur projects
Audacity is not so good for:
How To Edit Audacity Files
Music production
Advanced voice over
Audacity is a great audio editing software to start working with. Also, it offers plugins to fill some gaps in effects.
Once you get very good at audio editing you might find that Audacity limits your creativity and you will want to move on to another audio editing software.
How To Edit Voice Over In Audacity
But for most people, all the fancy features and effects are not necessary and if you are not an audiophile you may stick with Audacity for good. Voice over does not require that many effects and editing in the first place.
On the other hand, if you are more into music, then I would steer away from Audacity as it is not made for music production. You won’t be able to apply effects live and there is no multitrack editing which is pretty much necessary.