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How to use Audacity Audacity is a free sound editor which can be used with Windows, Linux, or Mac. Audacity 1.2.4, which was released on November 28, 2005, is the program version recommended for all users.  Version 1.3.0, released on the same date, is a beta version of the program with many new features. However, due to the instability of 1.3.0 in its current state, this version is recommended only for advanced users.
When recording with Audacity, a user can dub over tracks that have already been created. Users can also record through as many as 16 channels, although this will require additional hardware. Audacity allows more than just recording audio. The program can also be used to convert cassette tapes and records into digital files or CD recordings. Audacity also allows editing of the following types of files: Ogg Vorbis, MP3, and WAV. Other formats can be imported and exported using additional programs, such as libmad for MPEGs. However, Audacity does not support WMA, AAC, or other restricted formats.
Download
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
Installation
The Audacity website offers several helpful options when downloading and installing the program. This includes not only the recommended download, but several optional ones as well, including Plug-Ins. The site also features an alternative installation program in the event that the normal one cannot be installed, and provides a link to other alternate downloads, such as older versions of the program. For Linux/Unix users, versions of Audacity are compiled specifically for each operating system. The source code is available for download for all types of operating systems, from Linux to Windows.
Setting of preferences
The GUI with different tabs offers choices for audio quality, I/O devices, file formats, and other features. One helpful tool is the ability to set a default export format (MP3, OGG, etc.). A user can also set the preferences so Audacity can find extra tools it needs to help manage specific file formats. For example, it is possible to tell the software where to locate libmp3lame.so, which is the required tool to help Audacity work with MP3s. For users new to the world of sound editing, Audacity comes with default settings. As one learns more about what kind of sound and quality is desired from the editing projects, these default settings can be changed.
A Simple Project
The first step in creating a project is in importing or recording music. To record, make sure first that the necessary hardware (i.e. a microphone) is set up. Simply press the Record button. In the event that a mistake is made, simply go to Edit > Undo Record and then start over. When recording a new track into a timeline that already contains an older track, a line will move across the timeline to remind the user of the current location in relation to the original file. This allows making pauses at certain sections of the piece. Audacity allows recording at up to 96 KHz.
If importing music that has been recorded by someone else, make sure that you have the rights to use their music is obtained. Recently, the LinuxTag released the Open Music Project (http://openmusic.linuxtag.org), a site devoted to applying Free Software principles to other forms of intellectual property, such as music. There are two types of licenses at Open Music: green and yellow. Each has different requirements for individual use.
To import a file that does not require any extra tools, simply go to the Audacity command menu and select Project > Import Audio, and select the file to import. A timeline will appear. Controls can be used to move around the timeline in order to find a specific place in the track that is being edited. To get rid of extraneous sound, use the Selection tool to mark of removable portions and then go to Edit > Cut to delete them. There is also a feature that allows the user to incorporate silence into the piece of music. Go to Generate > Silence to separate sections of the audio track. The user can keep this break as silence, but other sounds can also be recorded or imported and put them in place.
There are many other ways to edit music in Audacity. For example, one can change the pitch and speed of the tracks, incorporate fade ins and fade outs, and add effects such as echo, phaser, wahwah, and reverse. Audacity also has a tool that allows removing of background noise that may have been imported during the recording process.
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