This indispensable sound editing tool probably has more punch then most of us even need. But if you work with any type of audio files or need to convert formats, Audacity is the bomb!
Audacity is a key part in just about every podcaster’s toolbox. Audacity allows you to graphically “see” an audio file. You can splice parts in and out, you can merge in multiple tracks and you can perform an amazing array of effects to your audio files. On top of this you can convert one format of audio file to another really easily. You can change your sound file from stereo to mono, change its bit rate and just about any other attribute of your sound file. Audacity does it all! It is open, free and with lots of plug ins available there is little need for anything else. Short of a professional sound engineer to do it for you that is.
I was first turned on to Audacity about 4 years ago by my friend Martin McKeay of the Network Security Podcast. I was just starting up my own podcast and asked Martin how are you supposed to splice in music, edit out pops and cracks and otherwise make your recording listenable? One word was his answer: Audacity.
Since then I have had a very cozy relationship with Audacity. At this point along with a product called “The Levelator” it is all I use to edit my podcast audio files.
Audacity Quick Facts
Web site: http://audacity.sourceforge.net
OS supported: Windows, Mac, Linux and others
License: GPL v. 2 or at your option if you distribute, you can use a later version of GPL
Current version: stable 1.2, beta 1.3
Originally released: 2000
Audacity runs on Windows, Mac, Linux and several other systems. Also it has language support for almost 50 different languages. Audacity is great for recording, Importing and Exporting files in a wide range of formats, editing sound files, adding effects, improving sound quality and sound analysis. It supports a very wide range of plug ins that extend the base functionality even further.
This is a product that is tried and true. It is as slick and polished as any commercial app in its class. Just download the appropriate install package and follow the on screen instructions. Don’t be fooled by the version you download being labeled a beta. My experience has been that the beta versions are very stable. The current stable release is 1.2 and the beta is 1.3. There should be some news on the highly anticipated 2.0 version soon.
Once installed you work in the main Audacity screen (Windows version) shown below:
A couple of things first:
- To export to MP3 format you need to download and install the Lame MP3 encoder. You just follow the link on the Audacity website to the Lame site and it is really easy.
- Open and saving files means you are open and saving audacity projects. You import or export audio files in to “open” them in audacity.
- There are a lot of features that you may not use right away in audacity. I would stick to the basics until you get familiar with the interface. It may turn out that for what you are doing, you never need to progress beyond that point.
As I mentioned earlier Audacity integrates a long list of 3rd party plug-ins. The most popular are the LADSPA plug-ins for effects. There are 100’s of these for Linux and at least 90 that run on Windows. Similar to plug-ins for Photoshop, the plugins add all kinds of filters for different sound editing and effects. Audacity can also use plug-ins in the NYquist format. All of the documentation and notes on how to install and use the plug-ins are on the Audacity web site.
Speaking of the website, there is also an Audacity Store where you can buy Audacity logo apparel that supports the development efforts. There are also forums, FAQs and other forms of help available on the web site. Audacity is licensed under the GPL and can be packaged with other products if that is something you would like to do.
If you work a lot with sound files you probably already know about Audacity. If you are new to sound editing or are looking for a program that does this kind of thing, you can’t go wrong with Audacity. Download and give it a try for yourself. Once you do I am sure Audacity will become a regular part of your tool set!
