about tutorials
This page will contain getting started tutorials for using Audacity. It is organized by week, with the most recent week on the top. If you are using Adobe Audition, you can find tutorials on the Adobe web site. There are additional tutorials linked on the right sidebar of the course web site.
Please follow these links for how to Record Internal Audio and how to Download and Convert Online Video.
- Enabling Editing of .m4a Files
- Getting Started with Editing, Mixing, and Multitrack Editing
- Editing Tutorials
- Voice, Noise, and Sound Tutorials
Mac: Proper Installation of Audacity
In oder for Audacity to work properly, you must complete a proper installation of Audacity. Too often people double click an application icon when the install window pops up. That is not the correct way to install. You MUST drag the icon onto the Applications folder. Then, to open and run Audacity, find it in your Applications folder, via Spotlight, or by adding the icon to your application Dock.
PC and Mac: Enabling Editing of .m4a Files
In order to edit .m4a files (like those recorded using your phones), you must install something called an FFMPEG library. It’s a clumsy process, but if you follow these videos you should be all set. Make sure to restart Audacity after installing the software and before re-checking your preferences.
PC: Installing the FFMPEG library
Mac: Installing the FFMPEG library (watch 0:00 – 2:10 and then 3:30 – 5:00)
Getting Started with Editing, Mixing, and Multitrack Editing
My friend and colleague, Kyle Stedman, has several excellent Audacity tutorials. Here are two to get you started.
Audacity Basics: Recording, Editing, Mixing
Advanced Audacity: Sync-Lock and Labels in Multitrack Editing
Editing Tutorials
Splitting Clips and Crossfading in Audacity
How to Trim Audio in Audacity
Voice, Noise, and Sound Tutorials
How To Make Your Voice Sound Better in Audacity
How to Remove Background Noise in Audacity
Equalizing Volume