Video Guide to
Audacity
A Curriculum Resource
Guide
(2020 all rights reserved Andrew Mercer)
Audacity Video Tutorials
Video Guide to Audacity is a curriculum resource which provides learners with the skills and knowledge to record and edit sound with the open source software Audacity. At the heart of Video Guide to Audacity is a collection of short videos. These videos are divided into three categories: Tutorials, Activities, and Projects. Tutorials give learners specific instruction on how to use Audacity. Activities provide guided opportunities for learners to use Audacity to practice concepts learned in tutorials while giving instructors powerful evaluation tools. Projects provide learners with open-ended opportunities to use Audacity to synthesize the concepts they have learned by engaging in creative projects.
These videos can be viewed in sequence or by specific topic. Learners can independently work through this resource and provide instructors with valuable evaluation data at appropriate milestones. The content presented in these videos is also provided in printable text format to accommodate learners preferring that medium.
Outcomes
Video Guide to Audacity has been designed to facilitate the successful completion of a collection of Outcomes. These Outcomes are focused on the skills and knowledge required to enable learners to use Audacity in the creation of expressive and engaging content.
Every effort has been made to engage learners in high-level cognitive activity based on Blooms Taxonomy. The carefully designed tutorials, activities and projects move learners through knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and creativity. Instructors are encouraged to extend learning opportunities to engage learners further into these higher levels of cognition.
Evaluation
As previously mentioned, contained within this resource are a series of activities and projects. To successfully complete each activity and project learners are required to engage in specific tasks focused on the resource’s Outcomes. Upon the completion of each activity and project learners will produce a piece of content that can be easily evaluated by instructors. Evaluation suggestions along with a simple rubric are provided for each activity and project to assist instructors with the evaluation of learners’ work. The rubrics indicate the connection between the student work and the course Outcomes and provide a means to objectively assess the achievement of the Outcomes.
Extension activities can be created to further build upon the concepts presented within Video Guide to Audacity and evaluation tools can be designed by instructors to assess the learners’ progress.
How to Use this Resource
While Video Guide to Audacity can be used in a variety of educational settings, it is suggested that learners use this resource individually. This will allow learners to proceed at a pace and sequence that best suits their learning styles and preferences. This may be best achieved in a computer lab setting with each learner wearing his/her own headphones.
Ideally, each learner should have Video Guide to Audacity and Audacity open on their own computer to allow learners to experiment with the software as they work through the tutorial, activity and project videos.
To manage learners’ headphones it is suggested to have each student bring a pair from home to leave at school and be used only for Audacity work. (Headphones can be purchased for $1 at discount stores) Each learner’s headphones will be placed in a plastic zip bag marked with their individual names. Each class will have its own box containing only zip bags from that class. When working on Audacity, learners will retrieve their individual zip bag from their class’ box. At the end of class, learners will place their headphone back in their bags and place them back in their class’ box.
Tutorials are presented in a sequential order. If followed in order, the tutorials will provide a systematic progression through concepts. Each tutorial addresses a small number of Outcomes. Activities and projects are designed to provide learners with an opportunity to explore the concepts covered in the tutorials while being guided through the creative process. Each activity covers a number of tutorials and associated outcomes. Projects are designed to provide learners with an open-ended opportunity to create based on the skills and knowledge they achieved in completing the tutorials and activities.
As learners complete activities and projects they can submit their work to the instructor for evaluation.
Outcomes
General Outcome
1. Learners will be expected to install and configure Audacity and associated components
Specific Outcomes
Learners will be expected to:
1.1. download and install Audacity
1.2. locate Audacity software and start it
1.3. install microphone and headphones or speakers
1.4. locate and successfully configure the Audacity hardware settings
1.5. configure Audacity to record in mono and stereo
1.6. install the LAME encoder
General Outcome
2. Learners will be expected to effectively manage content files associated with Audacity
Specific Outcomes
Learners will be expected to:
2.1. create a new Audacity project
2.2. open an existing Audacity project by double clicking on a project icon and by using the FILE-menu OPEN function
2.3. save an Audacity project
2.4. demonstrate practices that will ensure that Audacity files and folders will not become corrupted
2.5. use the mouse right-click "Open With…" function and the FILE-menu OPEN function to open an existing WAV or MP3 file
2.6. open an existing WAV or MP3 file by using the mouse drag-and-drop function and the FILE-menu IMPORT function
2.7. export an Audacity project as a WAV file
2.8. export an Audacity project as an MP3 file
2.9. demonstrate an understanding of the difference between an Audacity project and an audio file, such as an MP3 or WAV file
2.10.differentiate between a compressed audio file and an uncompressed audio file
2.11.edit an audio file's meta data
2.12.find and download sound samples from the Internet
General Outcome
3. Learners will be expected to identify and utilize Audacity controls
Specific Outcomes
Learners will be expected to:
3.1. identify and use the Audacity transport controls
3.2. perform a basic record function
3.3. create a multitrack audio recording
3.4. resize an audio track
3.5. adjust the input levels in Audacity
3.6. use the Zoom tools
3.7. demonstrate how to use the Selection Tool
3.8. delete an entire audio track
3.9. use the Time Shift tool to effectively edit sound
3.10.create a click track using the "Click Track" effect
3.11.rename a track name
General Outcome
4. Learners will be expected to effectively edit sound using Audacity
Specific Outcomes
Learners will be expected to:
4.1. demonstrate how to delete and silence a portion of a sound sample within an audio track
4.2. adjust the volume level of an individual track using the gain slider
4.3. analyze the volume level of a sound and make appropriate adjustments
4.4. demonstrate how to Copy, Cut and Paste audio in Audacity
4.5. demonstrate how to use the Undo and History functions
4.6. analyze the synchronization of multiple tracks and make appropriate adjustments
4.7. examine a piece of sound and apply appropriate Fade in and Fade out effects
4.8. adjust a sound sample by using the Equalization effect
4.9. adjust the volume level of a sound sample using the Amplify effect
4.10.adjust the pitch of a sound sample using the Change Pitch effect
4.11.experiment with sound by applying the Change Pitch effect
4.12.adjust the tempo of a sound sample using the Change Tempo effect
4.13.examine a piece of sound and apply an appropriate amount of Change Tempo effect
4.14.demonstrate how to reverse a sound samples using the Reverse effect
4.15.adjust the Pan of a track
4.16.remove the vocals from a recording
General Outcome
5. Learners will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of and appreciation for the principles and potentials of working with sound in Audacity
Specific Outcomes
Learners will be expected to:
5.1. recognize the importance of 'open source' software
5.2. sketch a graphical representation of sound waveform
5.3. identify an audio waveform
5.4. identify the visual characteristics of a good sounding waveform
5.5. identify the components of an audio track
5.6. differentiate between a mono track and a stereo track
5.7. demonstrate an understanding of the use of equalization
5.8. demonstrate an understanding of the term tempo
5.9. demonstrate the uses of a click track
5.10.create a radio play
5.11.recognize that Audacity can be used as a means to produce deliver a theatrical work
5.12.create a fictional interview
5.13.demonstrate and understanding that Audacity can be used as a means to produce and deliver a variety of factual media
Tutorial Videos
SETUP TUTORIALS
The first three tutorials are focused on installing and configuring Audacity. If Audacity has already been preconfigured instructors may consider omitting these three setup tutorials.
Setup 1 - How to Install Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial
Duration:
15 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
1.1. download and install Audacity
1.2. locate Audacity software and start it
Suggested Evaluation:
The following rubric can be used to assist in evaluating student performance in this activity:
Incomplete 0
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
OUTCOMES
|
EVALUATION
|
1.1
| |
1.2
| |
Procedure:
Installing Audacity is a very straightforward process. The makers of Audacity have made installing a simple as possible. Follow the steps in this tutorial and you will have Audacity installed in no time.
Installing Audacity on Apple computers and on Windows computers is very similar. We will cover both methods in this tutorial starting with Apple.
Installing Audacity on an Apple computer
The first thing you will need to do is download the Audacity from the Audacity website. You can find the Audacity website by putting the following address in your browser’s address window: http://audacity.sourceforge.net
In the middle of this webpage you will see the “Download Audacity” link. Go ahead and click this link to begin downloading the Audacity installer. This will save a file in your Downloads folder called “audacity-macosx(version number).DMG”.
Once the Audacity installer is downloaded you can go to the Downloads folder on your Apple computer and double click the “audacity-macosx(version number).DMG” file.
When the .DMG file opens you will be given a folder containing an Audacity folder and a file called Install.TXT. The Install.TXT file will have information on how to install Audacity and you can read it if you like.
Use your mouse to Drag-and-Drop the Audacity folder into your Applications folder.
Open your Applications folder and find the Audacity folder. Inside the Audacity folder you will find an icon called Audacity. Double click the Audacity icon to start Audacity.
If you would like to keep Audacity in your dock, while it is running find it on your dock, right click it and choose “Keep in Dock.”
Installing Audacity on a Windows computer
The first thing you will need to do is download the Audacity from the Audacity website. You can find the Audacity website by putting the following address in your browser’s address window: http://audacity.sourceforge.net
In the middle of this webpage you will see the “Download Audacity” link. Go ahead and click this link to begin downloading the Audacity installer. This will save a file on your computer called “audacity-win(version number).EXE”.
When the download is complete double click on the file “audacity-win(version number).EXE”. This will start the installation process. Follow the steps as they are presented.
Do not change the installation location of Audacity. Choose to create an Audacity shortcut on your desktop. This will make it easier to start Audacity later.
Once the installation is complete you can double click on the Audacity desktop icon to start the software.
Setup 2 - How to Setup Audio Hardware
Resource Type:
Tutorial
Duration:
30 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
1.4. locate and successfully configure the Audacity hardware settings
1.5. configure Audacity to record in mono and stereo
Suggested Evaluation:
The following rubric can be used to assist in evaluating student performance in this activity:
Incomplete 0
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
OUTCOMES
|
EVALUATION
|
1.4
| |
1.5
| |
Procedure:
Configuring your audio hardware in Audacity is not difficult, but may require a little trial-and-error.
Audacity has two types of settings that need to be configured – audio input and audio output. Your input setting is for getting sound INTO Audacity, in other words, your microphone. Your output setting is for getting sound OUT of Audacity – speakers and headphones.
There are a couple of ways to access these settings. The easiest way is on the main Audacity toolbar. You will see pull-down menus for Input and Output settings. You will need to make a selection with these pull-down menus and see what works. Everyone’s computer is slightly different so you may have different settings here than your neighbor – do some trial-and-error research. Try a setting, if it does not work properly try another setting.
You will also see a pull-down menu for Mono and Stereo. This allows you to record in either mono or stereo.
You can also find these and other settings by going to the AUDACITY menu and PREFERENCES on an Apple computer or EDIT menu PREFERENCES on a Windows computer.
Setup 3 - How to Install the LAME Encoder
Resource Type:
Tutorial
Duration:
10 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
1.6. install the LAME Encoder
Suggested Evaluation:
The following rubric can be used to assist in evaluating student performance in this activity:
Incomplete 0
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
OUTCOMES
|
EVALUATION
|
1.6
| |
Procedure:
LAME Encoder
Due to legal restrictions, the Audacity software is unable to create MP3 files without using a third party encoder - the LAME Encoder. The LAME Encoder functions with Audacity to allow you to export your Audacity projects as MP3, but you will need to download and install this encoder. The LAME Encoder only needs to be installed once and the installation process is quite simple.
The first thing we need to do is download the LAME Encoder installer. You can find the LAME Encoder on the following website: http://lame1.buanzo.com.ar On this website you will fine the LAME Encoder for Windows and the LAME Encoder for Mac. Click the appropriate version of the LAME Encoder installer to download it to your computer.
Once the LAME Encoder installer is downloaded, locate it on your computer and double click the file to start the installation process. You can safely follow the instructions provided by the installer. It is recommended that you use the default settings provided by the installer. Once the installation is complete Audacity will automatically find and use the LAME Encoder to create MP3 files. You will not be required to go through this process.
The following tutorials show how to use the many functions of Audacity. It is recommended that you follow these tutorials in order, but you can choose individual tutorials for topics you need.
1. How to Create a New Project in Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
1 minute
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
2.1. create a new Audacity project
Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of any activity in this series. Saving an Audacity projects is a fundamental task and done frequently. Instructors may choose to simply observe learners complete this simple task as the evaluation method.
Procedure:
Creating a new project in Audacity is very easy. When you first start Audacity it will automatically start a new project for you.
If you have Audacity running and you want to create a new project you need to go to the FILE menu you and select NEW.
2. How to Import or Open Audio Files in Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
3 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
2.5. use the mouse right-click "Open With…" function and the FILE-menu OPEN function to open an existing WAV or MP3 file
2.6. open an existing WAV or MP3 file by using the mouse drag-and-drop function and the FILE-menu IMPORT function
Suggested Evaluation:
Opening and importing files in Audacity is a fundamental task and done frequently. Instructors may choose to simply observe learners complete this simple task as the evaluation method.
Procedure:
In this tutorial we will learn how to open an Audacity project file as well as an audio file, such as an MP3 or a WAV files.
Opening an Audacity project file is easy, just find the file on your computer and double-click the file's icon. You can also open an Audacity project within Audacity itself by going to the FILE menu, selecting OPEN and finding the file you wish to open.
Importing audio files, such as MP3 and WAV files is very easy. One way to import these files in Audacity is by using the drag-and-drop method. On your computer find the file you wish to import. Click and hold the file's icon with your left mouse button and slide it onto an open Audacity project. The audio will import directly into the open Audacity project. Another way to import WAV and MP3 files is to go to Audacity's FILE menu and select IMPORT-> AUDIO. An audio file can also be imported by right-clicking on the audio file and choosing “Open with -> Audacity” from the menu.
3. What are Audacity Tracks
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
7 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
3.4. resize an audio track
3.8. delete an entire audio track
3.11. rename a track name
4.2. adjust the volume level of an individual track using the gain slider
4.15. adjust the Pan of a track
5.2. sketch a graphical representation of sound waveform
5.3. identify an audio waveform
5.4. identify the visual characteristics of a good sounding waveform
5.5. identify the components of an audio track
5.6. differentiate between a mono track and a stereo track
Suggested Evaluation:
Many outcomes are addressed in this tutorial. These outcomes are fundamental to using Audacity and can be evaluated in various activities and projects in this series. Instructors may wish to evaluate students by observing them complete the activities and projects in this series.
Procedure:
This video tutorial gives an overview of ‘tracks’ in Audacity. It is suggested that learners view the video tutorial in order to learn all about the features of Audacity tracks.
4. How to Use Transport Controls
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
2 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
3.1. identify and use the Audacity transport
Suggested Evaluation:
Every activity and project will require students to use the Transport Controls. Observing students at work can be an effective means to evaluate understanding of Transport Controls.
Procedure:
The Transport Controls are used more than any other function in Audacity. From left to right, the Transport Controls are: Pause, Play, Stop, Skip to Start, Skip to End, and Record.
5. How to Save an Audacity Project
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
3 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
2.3. save an Audacity project
2.4 demonstrate practices that will ensure that Audacity files and folders will not become corrupted
Suggested Evaluation:
Saving an Audacity project is a fundamental task and done frequently. Instructors may choose to simply observe learners complete this simple task as the evaluation method.
Procedure:
Saving an Audacity project is very easy, but first you will need to create an Audacity project. All you need to do is go to the FILE menu of Audacity and select NEW.
Once you have begun working on your project you will need to save it. Go to the FILE menu and choose SAVE PROJECT.
Saving a project will create two items: an .AUP file and a data folder. NOTE: You must never separate the data folder from the .AUP file. If you separate these items you will not be able to open your Audacity project. If you need to move these items to a new folder be sure to close Audacity first then move both items to the same exact location.
6. How to Record
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
2 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
3.2. perform a basic record function
3.3. create a multitrack audio recording
Suggested Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the activity My First Recording.
Procedure:
Recording in Audacity is very simple. Once you have Audacity open, all you need to do is click the RECORD button on the Transport Controls. Audacity will automatically start a new track for you and begin recording sound.
7. How to Adjust Input Levels in Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
3 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
3.5. adjust the input levels in Audacity
Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following activities:
My First Recording
Make Your Voice Sound Like a Chipmunk
Multitrack Recording in Audacity
Interview a Superhero
Radio Play
Procedure:
The quality of your recording depends on many things and the input level is one of the most important. If your input level is too high your recording will ‘clip’ and cause distortion. If your input level is too low then background noise will be heard.
Audacity provides an input level meter to help you set your levels. To turn on the input level meter you need to click on it. If your microphone is configured properly you will begin to see the input level meter indicate your input level. You can adjust the input level by moving the Input Volume slider to the left (down) or right (up). By watching your meter and speaking or playing into your microphone your meter will show your level. Make adjustments to the Input Volume slider until your signal never goes above 2/3 of the way up the meter.
Now that your level is set you can do a test recording to see how it looks in the track waveform. You need to try and get a thick waveform that does not touch the top or bottom limits of the track.
8. How to Export WAV and MP3 Files
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
5 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
2.3. save an Audacity project
2.7. export an Audacity project as a WAV file
2.8. export an Audacity project as an MP3 file
2.9. demonstrate an understanding of the difference between an Audacity project and an audio file, such as an MP3 or WAV file
2.10. differentiate between a compressed audio file and an uncompressed audio file
Suggested Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following activities:
My First Recording
Make Your Voice Sound Like a Chipmunk
Multitrack Recording in Audacity
How to Mess Up a Piece of Music
Halloween Soundscape
Interview a Superhero
Radio Play
Instructors may choose to observe learners complete these tasks as the evaluation method.
Procedure:
In this tutorial you will learn how to export an audio file (MP3 and WAV) using Audacity.
It is good practice to regularly save your work when using Audacity. The best way to do this is to go to Audacity's FILE menu and select SAVE PROJECT. A project will save all your sound, slider settings, track data and other information about your project.
While Audacity project files are great while you are working on your audio, these files are not very versatile. Project files are not designed to be put on an audio CD, emailed, placed on a website, etc. When you have finished your project and you are ready to use your completed audio you will need to export your sound file, such as a WAV or MP3 file.
Before you learn how to export WAV and MP3 files, here is a little information on these two sound formats. An MP3 file is a compress file format. This means that in order to make the file small enough to send of the Internet a great deal of sound data is deleted. For example, very high sounds and low sounds, which are outside the range that humans can hear, are deleted. Other aspects of the sound file are also changed to make the file smaller. Due to this compression the quality of an MP3 file is quite low when compared to the original recording.
WAV files are uncompressed sound files. This means that a WAV file sound exactly the same as the original record. The tradeoff is that WAV files are very large. In some cases, a typical WAV file will be 10 times larger than an MP3 of the same recording.
Follow these steps to export WAV and MP3 files:
- Open an Audacity project
- In Audacity go to the FILE menu and choose EXPORT
- Give your new file a name
- In the FORMAT pull-down menu choose the file format you wish to create (for this tutorial we are using WAV or MP3)
- Click SAVE
If you choose MP3 you can also click the OPTIONS button to adjust the settings of your MP3. When you are in the OPTIONS window you can experiment with the QUALITY (the MP3's bit rate) pull-down menu. A low bit rate (64kbps) will produce a low quality sounding MP3 with a very small file size. A high bit rate (320kbps) will produce a good quality MP3 with a much larger file size. Experiment with these setting to find out what works best for you.
9. How to Select and Delete Sound in Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
3 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
4.1. demonstrate how to delete and silence a portion of a sound sample within an audio track
Suggested Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following activities:
My First Recording
Make Your Voice Sound Like a Chipmunk
Multitrack Recording in Audacity
Halloween Soundscape
Interview a Superhero
Radio Play
Procedure:
Selecting and deleting sound is something you will use often as you edit sound in Audacity. When you find a piece of sound that you would like to remove first choose your Selection tool. 
Click and drag the Selection tool over the portion of the waveform you want to remove. Press your DELETE key.
Click and drag the Selection tool over the portion of the waveform you want to remove. Press your DELETE key.
When deleting a portion of sound that is followed by further sound Audacity will move the later sound into the space where the deleted sound existed. You may not want this to happen. In some cases “Silence Audio” may be a better option. To Silence Audio select the sound you want to remove and go EDIT -> REMOVE AUDIO -> SILENCE AUDIO. When you use Silence Audio the remainder of the track is unchanged.
10. How to Use Undo and History
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
2 minutes
Outcomes:
4.5 - demonstrate how to use the Undo and History functions
Suggested Evaluation:
My First Recording
Make Your Voice Sound Like a Chipmunk
Multitrack Recording in Audacity
How to Mess Up a Piece of Music
Halloween Soundscape
Interview a Superhero
Radio Play
With respect to the Undo and History functions, it is suggested that instructors evaluate learners through observation. The activity Make Your Voice Sound Like a Chipmunk requires learners to use the undo feature multiple times as they experiment with various pitch changes. At the time of observation, instructors can also talk with learners about the use of the History function and make evaluations based on the resulting discussions.
Procedure:
Audacity has two functions that allow us to fix mistakes we make – Undo and History.
Undo is a great function if you have just done something in Audacity which was not intended. To reverse this single event you just need to go to the EFFECT menu and select UNDO. There is also a keyboard shortcut for UNDO: On an Apple computer down Command and press Z and on a Windows computer hold down Control and press Z.
Oftentimes we will complete several functions in Audacity only to find that the result is not what we want. In this case Undo will not always work for us. History lets us reverse many steps within Audacity.
In Audacity go to the VIEW menu and choose HISTORY. Review the list of events, choose the point in history at which you would like to restore your project and click OK. Your project will now be restored to the point you chose in History.
11. How to Use the Zoom Tools in Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
3 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
3.6. use the Zoom tools
Suggested Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following activities:
My First Recording
Make Your Voice Sound Like a Chipmunk
Multitrack Recording in Audacity
How to Mess Up a Piece of Music
Halloween Soundscape
Interview a Superhero
Radio Play
Instructors may choose to observe learners complete this task as the evaluation method.
Procedure:
When editing sound in Audacity it is useful to be able to zoom in and resize certain areas of your project. Audacity provides you with several zoom tools to allow you to resize your projects as you need.
The first Zoom tool is part of the editing tools. It looks like a magnifying glass. With this tool you can use your mouse to zoom in or out on tracks. Once you have selected this tool from the toolbar you left-click on the part of a waveform you want to enlarge. Right-clicking (or shift key left-click) will zoom out.
Audacity also has four other zoom tools you can use. From left to right they are Zoom In, Zoom Out, Fit Selection and Fit Project. Zoom In and Zoom Out will zoom in and zoom out on a waveform. When you select a portion of a waveform, by clicking Fit Selection that portion will fill the entire Audacity editing area. This is great for getting a better look at a specific part of the waveform. Fit project will fit the entire project to the full editing area.
12. How to Use the Time Shift Tool
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
3 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
3.9. use the Time Shift tool to effectively edit sound
5.3. identify an audio waveform
5.4. identify the visual characteristics of a good sounding waveform
5.5. identify the components of an audio track
Suggested Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following activities:
Multitrack Recording in Audacity
Halloween Soundscape
Interview a Superhero
Radio Play
Instructors may choose to observe learners complete this task as the evaluation method.
Procedure:
The Time Shift tool is used for moving a sound forward and backward in time. This is very useful when working with multitrack recordings. The Time Shift tool will allow you to make timing adjustments to your sounds very easily.
To use the Time Shift tool you first need to find the Time Shift tool on the tool bar and click on it.
Using your mouse you now click and hold on a waveform while moving your mouse to the left or right. This will allow you to move your waveform forward or backward in time.
13. How to Change Pitch
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
3 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
4.9 adjust the pitch of a sound sample using the Change Pitch effect
Suggested Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following activity:
Make Your Voice Sound Like a Chipmunk
Interview a Superhero
Radio Play
Procedure:
The pitch of a sound refers to the sounds frequency. In other words, rumbling thunder has a low pitch and a squeak of a mouse has a high pitch. Audacity allows us to easily change the pitch of a sound and this tutorial will show you how to do it.
Open Audacity and either open a sound file or record a new sound. Use your SELECTION tool to select the portion of sound you would like to change. If you would like to change an entire track you can click the tab found on the left of the track.
Once you have select the sound you wish to chance click on the EFFECT menu and choose CHANGE PITCH effect.
You will now see the CHANGE PITCH window. There are several methods to changing the pitch in this window. In this tutorial we will be using the slider located at the bottom of the window.
By moving the slider to the right the ‘Percentage Change’ number will increase and by sliding to the left it will decrease. Increasing this value will raise the pitch of the sound, while decreasing the value will lower the pitch. Once you have the Percentage Change number you want you can click OK.
Click the PLAY button to listen to the pitch change you have made. If you are unhappy with the result you can go to the EDIT menu and select UNDO. This will return your sound to its original pitch. Now you can retry the CHANGE PITCH effect.
14. How to Fade In and Fade Out in Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
3 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
4.7. examine a piece of music and apply appropriate Fade In and Fade Out effects
Suggested Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following projects:
Halloween Soundscape
Radio Play
Instructors may choose to observe learners complete this task as the evaluation method.
Procedure:
Fading sound in at the beginning of a recording and out at the end can make your recording projects sound very professional.
Open an Audacity project and use the Selection tool to select the portion of sound you would like to fade. Both Fade In and Fade Out effects will spread the fade equally over the entire selection you make. So if you make a short selection then the fade will be quick. If you make a long selection the fade will be slow. Once you have made your selection go to the EFFECT menu and choose either Fade In or Fade Out.
15. How to Download Sounds from the Internet
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
5 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
2.12. find and download sound samples from the Internet
Suggested Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following projects:
Halloween Soundscape
Radio Play
Procedure:
The Internet is a great source for finding sounds to use in Audacity projects. There are countless free sounds that can be downloaded, such as drum beats, guitar solos, explosions, thunder, barking, and interviews. These sounds are often referred to as ‘samples.’
The best way to find samples on the Internet is to start by doing a search using your favorite search engine. Do a search for “free sound samples” and explore the results. You may also want to specify the exact sound you are looking for, such as hockey sounds, or baby laugh. Your search engine will provide you with a number of results for your search.
You will find many sites with free sound samples. You should be able to preview the samples on each site before you decide to download. Most samples you will find on the Internet will either be in MP3 format or WAV format. Be sure to watch the tutorial in this series on the difference between MP3 and WAV files. For best quality, you should try to download WAV files whenever possible.
As you download your samples place them all in a folder to keep them organized. You may download many samples so you need to keep them organized.
Once you have your samples downloaded you can import them into Audacity by going to the FILE menu and choosing IMPORT -> AUDIO, or by using your mouse to drag-and-dropping the sample directly into an open Audacity project. If you are not sure about importing sound into Audacity be sure to watch the tutorial in this series on opening and importing sound files in Audacity.
Once your sample is imported into Audacity you can use your Time Shift tool to move your sample around.
16. How to use the Amplify Effect
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
4 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
4.9. adjust the volume level of a sound sample using the Amplify effect
Suggested Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following projects:
Halloween Soundscape
Interview a Superhero
Radio Play
Instructors may choose to observe learners complete this task as the evaluation method.
Procedure:
An important part of editing sound is making sure that the volume levels are set properly. In an earlier tutorial you learned how to set the Input Volume levels for your recordings. There will be times when you will need to adjust the volume level of your recordings after they have been done or adjust the volume of a sound you imported into Audacity. To adjust the volume we use the Amplify effect.
To use the Amplify effect you first need to select the sound you wish to adjust then you need to go to the EFFECT menu and select AMPLIFY.
When you first open the Amplify window Audacity will automatically analyze the sound you have selected and make a suggestion as to how much Amplification should be applied to make your sound as loud as possible with out clipping. If you feel that this is a good suggestion you can click OK, click PLAY and listen to the result.
If you wish to manually adjust the Amplify effect you can either put a number in the Amplification window or use the slider. By entering in a positive number the volume of the sound will be increase. By entering in a negative number the volume of the sound will be decrease. When you make your selection you can click OK and click play to hear the result.
If you are not happy with your selection you can go to the EDIT menu and select UNDO to return to the original volume level.
17. How to Edit Metadata in Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
3 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
2.11. edit an audio file's meta data
Suggested Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following activities:
Halloween Soundscape
Interview a Superhero
Radio Play
Procedure:
Metadata is information about an audio file. Metadata can contain information, such as the song name, artist name, year or the recording and genre. This information is included as part of the file itself and is displayed by portable MP3 players and music software, such as iTunes and Songbird.
Editing the Metadata of a sound file is quite simple in Audacity:
- Open an audio file in Audacity
- Go to Audacity's FILE menu and choose EXPORT
- Give your file a name and choose the format you would like (for this tutorial we are using WAV and MP3 formats)
- Click SAVE and you will be taken to the EDIT METADATA window
- In each cell enter information about the audio
- When you are done click OK
If you need to edit the Metadata for several files you may want to create a Metadata template. This can be done by entering the template metadata then under TEMPLATE click SAVE. You can find and use this new template for new audio files by choosing LOAD under TEMPLATE in the EDIT METADATA window.
18. How to Create a Multitrack Recording in Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
4 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
3.3. create a multitrack audio recording
Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following activities and projects:
Multitrack Recording in Audacity
Halloween Soundscape
Interview a Superhero
Radio Play
Procedure:
Audacity allows you record as many tracks as you need. Tracks can be recorded at different times allowing you to layer sound into projects freely – this is multitrack recording.
Multitrack recording is very easy in Audacity. As you have seen in previous tutorials, to record a track you just need to set the recording level and press the RECORD button. When you are ready to record a second track you just need to repeat that process – set your record level and press RECORD. Audacity will automatically create a new track for you.
19. How to Create a Click Track in Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
3 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
3.10. create a click track using the "Click Track" effect
5.9. demonstrate the uses of a click track
Suggested Evaluation:
Instructors may choose to observe learners complete this task as the evaluation method.
Procedure:
A click track is an essential tool for recording. Without a click, even the most talented musicians would find it difficult to keep each track exactly in time as they record. While recording, your click track serves as your conductor or metronome to keep you exactly in time. Learn to use a click and it will be your best friend in the studio.
When you first begin playing with a click track you may find it a little strange. The more you play with a click track you will become more comfortable with it. Eventually you will be completely at home playing with the click and your recordings will sound VERY professional.
Audacity has a built-in ability to create a click track. Some of the click track parameters that can be customized are, the number of bars (measure) or duration of the click track, the number of beats per bar or meter, the sound of the click itself, and the strength of pulses of the click track.
To create a click track you can follow these steps:
1. Open Audacity, start a new project and go to the GENERATE menu
2. Select CLICK TRACK...
3. You will now see the Click Track window.
4. Go through all the settings to create the click track you need.
Start experimenting with the settings. The setting that you will work with the most will be “Tempo,” “Beats Per Measure” and “Number of Measures.”
When creating a click track for a recording figure out how long you want your track to be. You may not know the number of bars you need exactly, so estimate. Once you have created your click track do a quick run through your song to ensure you have enough bars. Give yourself a few extras at the beginning of your recording for your convenience when getting ready to start.
As you record each of your tracks it is a good idea to count out loud along with the click before being playing. Counting can be edited out later and will give you a clear visual and sound reference as you sync up your tracks.
20. How to Create Silence in Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
3 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
4.1. demonstrate how to delete and silent a portion of a sound sample within an audio track
Suggested Evaluation:
Instructors may choose to observe learners complete this task as the evaluation method.
Procedure:
To Silence Audio select the sound you want to remove by using the Selection tool. Next go EDIT -> REMOVE AUDIO -> SILENCE AUDIO.
Creating silence is a great feature in Audacity. Making a sound silent is similar to deleting, but unlike deleting, when you use Silence Audio the remainder of the track is unchanged.
Selecting and deleting sound is something you will use often in Audacity. When you find a piece of sound that you would like to remove first choose your Selection tool. Click and drag the Selection tool over the portion of the waveform you want to remove. Press your DELETE key.
21. How to Change the Tempo of a Sound in Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
3 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
4.12. adjust the tempo of a sound sample using the Change Tempo effect
4.13. examine a piece of sound and apply an appropriate amount of Change Tempo effect
Suggested Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following activity:
How to Mess Up a Piece of Music
Instructors may choose to observe learners complete this task as the evaluation method.
Procedure:
There will be times when an existing sound may be a little too short or too long for your needs. Also, there will be times when a piece of music may a fast or slow. Audacity’s Change Tempo effect is great for making these adjustments.
To adjust the tempo the first thing you need to do is select the portion of sound you with to change. Once you have done this you need to go to the EFFECT menu and select CHANGE TEMPO.
You will now see the Change Tempo window where you will find a Percent Change window with a slider. For this exercise we will be using the percentage method for changing tempo, but you can explore the other options in this window. By placing a positive number in the Percent Change window you will increase the tempo by that percentage. By placing a negative number in this window you will lower the tempo. The same effect can be achieved by using the slider.
Once you have entered in a number in the Percent Change window click OK. Once Audacity has processed your change you can click PLAY to hear your new tempo. If you are not happy with your new tempo you can go to the EDIT menu and choose UNDO to return to your original tempo and start the process again.
The Change Speed effect is different than Change Tempo in that Change Speed will change both the tempo and the pitch of a piece of music. Change Tempo only effects the tempo and leaves the pitch unchanged.
22. Equalization ‘Eq’ in Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
4 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
4.8. adjust a sound sample by using the Equalization effect of music and apply appropriate Fade In and Fade Out effects
Suggested Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following activities and projects:
How to Mess Up a Piece of Music
Interview a Superhero
Radio Play
Instructors may choose to observe learners complete this task as the evaluation method.
Procedure:
Audacity gives us many useful effects that allow us to change the way our projects sounds - Equalization is one of those effects. Equalization, or ‘EQ,’ allows us to change the tone of your sound by increasing or decreasing the volume of a certain frequency range (pitch). For example, a recording may have too much bass. You can use the Equalization effect to reduce the amount of bass.
To use Equalization you first need to select the portion of sound you wish to change. Next go to the EFFECT menu and choose EQUALIZATION. You should now see the Equalization window.
A good place to start in this window is with the SELECT CURVE pull-down menu. Here Audacity provides a number of presets for you to try. Explore these and note how each preset changes the sound of your project. As you select different presets you can click OK to hear how it sounds. If you do not like the sound just go EDIT->UNDO to go back to your unchanged sound.
Once you have explored the presets you can click the GRAPHIC EQ button and try moving some of the sliders to make a custom EQ curve. The sliders to the left are low frequencies and the sliders to the right are high frequencies.
Explore the Equalization effect to find settings that best work for you. When you find some settings that work, you may want to save the Equalization effect settings within the plugin by clicking SAVE AS. You can come back to this setting in future projects by using the SAVE/MANAGE CURVES… button.
23. How to Reverse Sound in Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
2 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
4.14. demonstrate how to reverse a sound samples using the Reverse effect
Suggested Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following activities:
How to Mess Up a Piece of Music
Halloween Soundscape
Instructors may choose to observe learners complete this task as the evaluation method.
Procedure:
Reversing sound is a very easy task in Audacity. First select the sound you would like to reverse. You can reverse an entire project, a single track or a portion of a track. Once your have selected the sound you wish reverse go to the EFFECT menu and choose REVERSE.
24. Stereo and Mono in Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
3 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
1.5. configure Audacity to record in mono and stereo
5.6. differentiate between a mono track and a stereo track
Suggested Evaluation:
Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following activity:
How to Mess Up a Piece of Music
Instructors may choose to observe learners complete this task as the evaluation method.
Procedure:
In a mono recording what you hear in the left ear is exactly what is heard in the right ear. There is one single channel of sound. In a stereo recording there are two separate channels of sound – one for the left and one for the right. Audacity lets you work in both mono and stereo.
To configure Audacity to record in mono or stereo you need to make a simple adjustment. On the toolbar of Audacity you will find a pull-down menu that lets you choose between mono and stereo.
25. How to Remove Vocals from a Recording
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
3 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
2.5. use the mouse right-click "Open With…" function and the FILE-menu OPEN function to open an existing WAV or MP3 file
2.6. open an existing WAV or MP3 file by using the mouse drag-and-drop function and the FILE-menu IMPORT function
2.7. export an Audacity project as a WAV file
2.8. export an Audacity project as an MP3 file
4.16. remove the vocals from a recording
Suggested Evaluation:
If you choose to do this tutorial with students’ their success can be evaluated by observing if the vocals were removed from the test recording. It is suggested that, for the purposes of evaluation, each student use the same recording for this tutorial. Due to copyright regulations a piece of music cannot be suggested in this documentation.
Procedure:
Audacity has some functions that allow us to reduce or remove the vocals from an existing recording. Because every recording is unique, the process of removing vocals does not always work perfectly and for some recordings it does not work at all.
Be aware that removing the vocals from a piece of music that you do not own may violate some copyright regulations. Be careful not to misuse music that does not belong to you.
The first step to removing the vocals from a recording is to open the recording in Audacity. When you have the recording open in Audacity you need to verify that it is a stereo recording. If you are not sure how to tell the difference between stereo and mono recordings you can watch the tutorial on stereo and mono recordings in this series. This process will only work with stereo recordings. If you recording is mono this will not work.
On the left tab of your track click the pull-down menu and select SPLIT STEREO TRACK. This will create two separate tracks – one for the left channel and one for the right channel.
Next, select all the sound in ONE of the tracks. Go to the EFFECT menu and choose INVERT.
When Audacity finished processing the INVERT function you need to make each of your tracks MONO. To do this for each track you need to go to the pull-down menu found on each of the two tracks and select MONO. Again, this has to be done for both tracks.
Click PLAY and see if the process removed the vocals from the recording.
Activities
Activity – My First Recording
Resource Type:
Activity
Duration:
30 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
2.1. create a new Audacity project
2.8. export an Audacity project as an MP3 file
3.1. identify and use the Audacity transport controls for Play, Record and Stop
3.2. perform a basic record function
3.5. adjust the input levels in Audacity
3.7. demonstrate how to use the Selection Tool
4.3. analyze the volume level of a sound and make appropriate adjustments
5.4. identify the visual characteristics of a good sounding waveform
Suggested Evaluation:
Many outcomes are satisfied through this activity. The following rubric can be used to assist in evaluating student performance in this activity:
Incomplete 0
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
OUTCOMES
|
EVALUATION
|
2.1
| |
2.8
| |
3.1
| |
3.2
| |
3.5
| |
3.7
| |
4.3
| |
5.4
| |
Procedure:
In this activity you will make your first recording with Audacity. You will record yourself saying your alphabet.
Open the Audacity software. Click on the Input Volume Meter to make sure that you have a good Input Volume level.
If your microphone is setup properly you will begin to see the input level meter show your input level. You can adjust the input level by moving the slider to the left (down) or right (up). By watching your meter and speaking or playing into your microphone your meter will show your level. Make adjustments to the input volume slider until your signal never goes above 2/3 of the way up the meter.
Now you are ready to record. Click the RECORD button and say your alphabet. When you are done click STOP.
If you have your Input Volume level set properly then you should have a nice thick waveform. If you are not happy with your waveform then click the X in the top left of your track to delete that recording, adjust your Input Volume level and rerecord your alphabet.
Once you have made a recording which has a nice thick waveform you need to use your Selection tool to select and delete any unwanted sound at the beginning and end of your recording.
When you are done you need to export your recording as an MP3 file and submit it to your teacher. You can name your MP3 “Recording Volume Level yourname.MP3.”
Activity - Make Your Voice Sound Like a Chipmunk
Resource Type:
Activity
Duration:
15 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
2.1. create a new Audacity project
2.8. export an Audacity project as an MP3 file
3.1. identify and use the Audacity transport controls for Play, Record and Stop
3.2. perform a basic record function
4.1. demonstrate how to delete and silence a portion of a sound sample within an audio track
4.10. adjust the pitch of a sound sample using the Change Pitch effect
4.11. experiment with sound by applying the Change Pitch effect
Suggested Evaluation:
Many outcomes are satisfied through this activity. The following rubric can be used to assist in evaluating student performance in this activity:
Incomplete 0
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
OUTCOMES
|
EVALUATION
|
2.1
| |
2.8
| |
3.1
| |
3.2
| |
4.1
| |
4.10
| |
4.11
| |
Procedure:
In this fun activity you will make your voice sound like a chipmunk cartoon character. You will be using the Change Pitch effect in Audacity.
To get started make sure that your microphone is attached to you computer, make sure that you have Audacity properly configured and you have the Input Volume level properly set. If you have any problems with these things there are tutorials in this series to help you.
Click the RECORD button, say your name and say, “Hello.” When you are done click STOP. Be sure not to click PAUSE by mistake.
Use your Selection tool to Select and Delete any unwanted sound at the beginning and end of your recording.
Select all the sound in your recording by clicking on the left side tab of your track. Go to your EFFECT menu and select CHANGE PITCH. You will now see the Change Pitch window. In the Change Percent window enter 20 percent and click OK. Click the PLAY button to hear the new pitch change. If you are unhappy with this change then go to the EDIT menu and select UNDO to start over.
When you are done you can go to the FILE menu and select EXPORT to export your recording as an MP3. Name your file “Chipmunk your name.MP3.” Be sure to save is in a save place and submit it to your instructor for evaluation.
Activity – Multitrack Recording in Audacity
Resource Type:
Tutorial Video
Duration:
6 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
2.8. export an Audacity project as an MP3 file
3.1. identify and use the Audacity transport controls for Play, Record and Stop
3.2. perform a basic record function
3.3. create a multitrack audio recording
3.5. adjust the input levels in Audacity
3.6. use the Zoom tools
3.7. demonstrate how to use the Selection Tool
3.8. delete an entire audio track
3.9. use the Time Shift tool to effectively edit sound
4.3. analyze the volume level of a sound and make appropriate adjustments
4.6. analyze the synchronization of multiple tracks and make appropriate adjustments
5.3. identify an audio waveform
5.4. identify the visual characteristics of a good sounding waveform
5.5. identify the components of an audio track
5.8. demonstrate an understanding of the term tempo
Suggested Evaluation:
A simple rubric can be used to evaluate students’ achievement of the Outcomes for this activity. Some outcomes can be evaluated when reviewing students’ submitted MP3’s. Outcomes such as Outcomes 3.6, 3.8, 5.3, and 5.5 can be evaluated by observing and dialoging with students as they work on the project.
Below is a suggested rubric to assist with your evaluation:
Incomplete 0
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
OUTCOMES
|
EVALUATION
|
2.8
| |
3.1
| |
3.2
| |
3.1
| |
3.5
| |
3.6
| |
3.9
| |
4.3
| |
4.6
| |
5.3
| |
5.4
| |
5.5
| |
5.8
| |
Procedure:
In this activity you will be creating a 2-track beatbox recording. Beatbox is percussion sounds made with your voice. It is very easy to do and a lot of fun. In this activity we will be make a very simple beatbox recording.
We will be making two tracks of sound in this activity. The first track will be a bass drum beatbox sound for 8 beats, which can be done by making the sound, “Boo.” The second track will be a snare drum sound on beats 2, 4, 6 and 8. The snare drum sound can be made by making the sound, “Kish.”
You will need to wear headphones to do this project and all multitrack recording projects. As you record your tracks you will need to hear previously recorded tracks. If you use speakers your microphone will hear the playback of other tracks and cause feedback. Using headphones eliminates this problem.
Open the Audacity software and start a new blank project. Click the Input Level Meter to ensure that your microphone Input Level is set correctly. If you are not sure how to set the Input Level please see the tutorial on how to set it.
Click the RECORD button to start recording. Audacity will create a new track for you and start recording sound. You will need to count in 1, 2, 3, 4 before you start your bass drum, “Boo.” This count-in will help keep your multitrack recording synchronized later. In a slow steady voice say, “1 2 3 4 Boo Boo Boo Boo Boo Boo Boo Boo.” Click STOP.
Check your waveform to make sure that your level was neither too high (clipping) nor too low. If you are unhappy with your level then click the X in the top right of the track to delete that track and start over. If you are happy with your level then proceed to track 2.
Click RECORD and along with the beatbox in track 1, say, “1 2 3 4 ____ Kish ____ Kish ____ Kish ____ Kish.” Click STOP.
Click play to listen to both your tracks. If track 2 is not perfectly lined up with track 1 you can use your Time Shift tool to adjust track 2. If you are not sure how to use the Time Shift tool you can watch the tutorial in this series on the Time Shift tool.
Once your tracks are lined up you will need to export your project as an MP3 and send it to your instructor for evaluation. You can name your MP3, “Beat Box your name.” If you are not sure how to export an MP3 you can watch the tutorial in this series on how to do that.
Activity – Mess Up a Piece of Music
Resource Type:
Activity
Duration:
30 minutes
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
2.6. open an existing WAV or MP3 file by using the mouse drag-and-drop function and the FILE-menu IMPORT function
2.8. export an Audacity project as an MP3 file
4.8. adjust a sound sample by using the Equalization effect
4.12. adjust the tempo of a sound sample using the Change Tempo effect
4.14. demonstrate how to reverse a sound sample using the Reverse effect
5.6. differentiate between a mono track and a stereo track
5.7. demonstrate an understanding of the use of equalization
5.8. demonstrate an understanding of the term tempo
Suggested Evaluation:
A simple rubric can be used to evaluate students’ achievement of the Outcomes for this activity. Some outcomes can be evaluated when reviewing students’ submitted MP3’s. Outcomes can also be evaluated by observing and dialoging with students as they work on the project.
Below is a suggested rubric to assist with your evaluation:
Incomplete 0
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
OUTCOMES
|
EVALUATION
|
2.6
| |
2.8
| |
4.8
| |
4.12
| |
4.14
| |
5.6
| |
5.7
| |
5.8
| |
Procedure:
In this Activity you will completely mess up a piece of music! You will open a song in Audacity, reverse it, slow down its tempo, change it from stereo to mono, and make it sound like it is on an AM radio.
The piece of music you will be using for his project can be found where you found this activity – “mussels.mp3.” Save this MP3 file on your computer then drag and drop it into Audacity.
Stereo to Mono
Select the entire track by clicking on the left tab of the track. Go up to the TRACK menu and select STEREO TRACK TO MONO. You will notice that the stereo track will now change into mono. If you are not sure about mono and stereo tracks there is a tutorial in this series for you.
Slow Tempo
Once again, select the entire track by clicking on the left track tab. Go to the EFFECT menu and select CHANGE TEMPO. In the Change Percent window enter “-20” percent and click OK
AM Radio
Select the entire track again and go to the EFFECT menu. Select EQUALIZATION and on the Select Curve pull-down menu select “amradio.” Click OK.
Reverse
Select the entire track, go to the EFFECT menu and select REVERSE.
Click PLAY to hear the new song!
Export your recording as an MP3 by going to the FILE menu and choosing EXPORT. If you are not sure how to export and MP3 you can watch the tutorial on Exporting in this series. Save your MP3 as “Mussels your name.MP3” and save it in a safe place on your computer.
Be sure to submit your new file to your instructor for evaluation.
Projects
Project - Halloween Soundscape
Resource Type:
Project
Duration:
1-hour
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
2.1. create a new Audacity project
2.3. save an Audacity project
2.8. export an Audacity project as an MP3 file
2.9. demonstrate an understanding of the difference between an Audacity project and an audio file, such as an MP3 or WAV file
2.11. edit an audio file's meta data
2.12. find and download sound samples from the Internet
3.1. identify and use the Audacity transport controls for Play, Record and Stop
3.2. perform a basic record function
3.3. create a multitrack audio recording
3.4. resize an audio track
3.5. adjust the input levels in Audacity
3.6. use the Zoom tools
3.7. demonstrate how to use the Selection Tool
3.8. delete an entire audio track
3.9. use the Time Shift tool to effectively edit sound
4.2. adjust the volume level of an individual track using the gain slider
4.3. analyze the volume level of a sound and make appropriate adjustments
4.4. demonstrate how to Copy, Cut and Paste audio in Audacity
4.5. demonstrate how to use the Undo and History functions
4.6. analyze the synchronization of multiple tracks and make appropriate adjustments
5.11. recognize that Audacity can be used as a means to produce deliver a theatrical work
Suggested Evaluation:
Create a Halloween Soundscape is a very open ended project. With respect to Bloom’s Taxonomy, this project engages students in analysis, synthesis, evaluation and creative thought. Students should be encouraged to think critically of ways to use Audacity in the production of their soundscapes.
A simple rubric can be used to evaluate students’ achievement of the Outcomes for this activity. Some outcomes can be evaluated when reviewing students’ submitted MP3’s. Outcomes such as Outcomes 2.3, 2.9, 3.1, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, and 4.5 can be evaluated by observing and dialoging with students as they work on the project.
Below is a suggested rubric to assist with your evaluation:
Incomplete 0
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
OUTCOMES
|
EVALUATION
|
2.1
| |
2.8
| |
2.11
| |
2.12
| |
3.2
| |
3.3
| |
3.5
| |
3.9
| |
4.2
| |
4.3
| |
4.6
| |
5.11
| |
Procedure:
This project is a lot of fun. You will make a soundscape recording to use during Halloween. A Halloween soundscape is a long recording of spooky sounds that can be played in the background during a Halloween event, such as a party or trick-or-treating.
Think about what you would like your soundscape to sound like. You could have a stormy theme with several layers (tracks) of sound with perhaps a wind layer, some thunder, some screams. Perhaps you could have a cavern theme with drips of water, bat squeaks, rat scratching, and screams. Be creative and come up with something very spooky.
The first thing you need to do is collect your sounds. You have two options for getting spooky sound effects: you can make them yourself or you can download them from the Internet. Making sounds yourself is always a lot of fun. You can record your self laughing then make it spooky by slowing it down with Change Tempo, lowering the pitch with Change Pitch and adding some Echo. There are many sounds you can make your self – be creative.
It is also fun to download some sound samples from the Internet as well. There are MANY websites offering free spooky sound samples. Go to your favorite search engine and do some searches for keywords like ‘Halloween sound samples.’ Most sites will offer samples in two formats: WAV and MP3. If you do not know the difference between these two file formats then you need to watch the tutorial on WAV and MP3 file in this series. It is recommended that you use WAV file as they will provide better sound quality for your soundscape. Download the samples you like to your computer and build a Halloween soundscape.
Your soundscape needs to be at least 4 minutes in length and use at least 20 sound samples.
When you are done you need to export you soundscape as an MP3 file. Name your MP3 “halloween soundscape your name.MP3.” Be sure to fill out your MP3’s Metadata. Save your soundscape in a safe place and forward it to your instructor for evaluation.
Project - Interview a Superhero
Resource Type:
Project
Duration:
1.5-hours
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
2.1. create a new Audacity project
2.8. export an Audacity project as an MP3 file
2.9. demonstrate an understanding of the difference between an Audacity project and an audio file, such as an MP3 or WAV file
3.1. identify and use the Audacity transport controls for Play, Record and Stop
3.2. perform a basic record function
3.3. create a multitrack audio recording
3.4. resize an audio track
3.5. adjust the input levels in Audacity
3.6. use the Zoom tools
3.7. demonstrate how to use the Selection Tool
3.8. delete an entire audio track
3.9. use the Time Shift tool to effectively edit sound
4.2. adjust the volume level of an individual track using the gain slider
4.3. analyze the volume level of a sound and make appropriate adjustments
4.5. demonstrate how to use the Undo and History functions
4.6. analyze the synchronization of multiple tracks and make appropriate adjustments
4.7. examine a piece of sound and apply appropriate Fade in and Fade out effects
5.4. identify the visual characteristics of a good sounding waveform
5.11. recognize that Audacity can be used as a means to produce deliver a theatrical work
5.12. create a fictional interview
Suggested Evaluation:
Interview a Superhero is a project which asks students to thing critically about how they can use Audacity to achieve a goal. Each student may come up with a slightly different way of using Audacity to accomplish his/her goals.
Interview a Superhero is a very open ended project. With respect to Bloom’s Taxonomy, this project engages students in analysis, synthesis, evaluation and creative thought. Students should be encouraged to think critically of ways to use Audacity in the production of their interviews.
A simple rubric can be used to evaluate students’ achievement of the Outcomes for this activity. Some outcomes can be evaluated when reviewing students’ submitted MP3’s. Outcomes such as Outcomes 2.9, 3.1, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 4.5, and 4.7 can be evaluated by observing and dialoging with students as they work on the project.
Below is a suggested rubric to assist with your evaluation:
Incomplete 0
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
OUTCOMES
|
EVALUATION
|
2.1
| |
2.8
| |
3.2
| |
3.3
| |
3.5
| |
3.9
| |
4.2
| |
4.3
| |
4.6
| |
5.4
| |
5.11
| |
Procedure:
If you could meet a superhero what would be some questions you would like to ask? Now is your chance! In this project you will invent a superhero and then interview that superhero. You will use Audacity to record edit your interview and submit your interview to your instructor for evaluation.
Audacity has many effects that let us change the sound of our voices. You can record your own voice, add some effects and sound like a completely different person. In this project you will use Audacity to make your voice sound like a superhero.
You will use Audacity to record two audio tracks: One of you (the interviewer) asking five questions and a second track of you (the superhero) answering the five questions. You need to give the illusion of two different people speaking. Use Audacity to change the sound of your voice. What does a superhero sound like?? That is completely up to you. Effects, such as Change Pitch, Reverse, Echo, Equalization, and Phaser can make your voice sound VERY different. Which effects will you use?
The first thing you will need to do is come up with five questions to ask the superhero and five answers to those questions. Be creative. You may want to use some real-life concerns about things that are happening in your school or community. Have fun!
There are many ways to do this project. Here are some suggestions, but you can do your interview whatever way works best for you:
- You could ask all the questions on track 1. Then use “EDIT -> SPLIT” to split track 1 into five separate pieces – one for each question. You can use the Time Shift tool then move each question around to fit where you need them. You can then do the same for your answers on track 2.
- You could record all five questions on track 1 and leave enough time to answer the question between each question. If you have too much time after a question you can use the Selection tool and Delete to remove unwanted sound.
There are several ways to do this project and they are all equally good. Use your own judgment to find a way that works best for you.
When you have completed this project export your interview as an MP3 file and call it “your name Superhero Interview.MP3.” Submit your mp3 to your instructor for evaluation.
Evaluation
What you need to submit to your instructor:
- An MP3 of your play called “yourname Superhero Interview.MP3”
- Include appropriate Metatdata when you export your MP3
Project - Create a Radio Play
Resource Type:
Project
Duration:
2-hours
Outcomes:
Learners are expected to:
2.1. create a new Audacity project
2.8. export an Audacity project as an MP3 file
2.9. demonstrate an understanding of the difference between an Audacity project and an audio file, such as an MP3 or WAV file
2.12. find and download sound samples from the Internet
3.1. identify and use the Audacity transport controls for Play, Record and Stop
3.2. perform a basic record function
3.3. create a multitrack audio recording
3.4. resize an audio track
3.5. adjust the input levels in Audacity
3.6. use the Zoom tools
3.7. demonstrate how to use the Selection Tool
3.8. delete an entire audio track
3.9. use the Time Shift tool to effectively edit sound
4.2. adjust the volume level of an individual track using the gain slider
4.3. analyze the volume level of a sound and make appropriate adjustments
4.5. demonstrate how to use the Undo and History functions
4.6. analyze the synchronization of multiple tracks and make appropriate adjustments
4.7. examine a piece of sound and apply appropriate Fade in and Fade out effects
5.4. identify the visual characteristics of a good sounding waveform
5.10. create a radio play
5.11. recognize that Audacity can be used as a means to produce deliver a theatrical work
Suggested Evaluation:
Create a Radio Play is a very open ended project. With respect to Bloom’s Taxonomy, this project engages students in analysis, synthesis, evaluation and creative thought. Students should be encouraged to think critically of ways to use Audacity in the production of their radio plays.
A simple rubric can be used to evaluate students’ achievement of the Outcomes for this activity. Some outcomes can be evaluated when reviewing students’ submitted MP3’s. Outcomes such as Outcomes 2.9, 3.1, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 4.5, and 4.7 can be evaluated by observing and dialoging with students as they work on the project.
Below is a suggested rubric to assist with your evaluation:
Incomplete 0
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
Unsatisfactory 1
Satisfactory 2
Exceptional 3
OUTCOMES
|
EVALUATION
|
2.1
| |
2.8
| |
2.12
| |
3.2
| |
3.3
| |
3.5
| |
3.9
| |
4.2
| |
4.3
| |
4.6
| |
5.4
| |
5.10
| |
5.11
| |
Procedure:
Before the widespread use of television, radio was one of the most popular sources for family entertainment. In those days radio stations would broadcast a wide range of comedy, drama, even thriller radio plays. One of the most important radio plays was Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds. This thriller was so well done that many listeners actually thought that the United States was being invaded by creatures from Mars! You can listen to War of the Worlds on this website: http://archive.org/details/OrsonWellesMrBruns
Your Own Radio Play
In this project you will create your own radio play. You will use Audacity to record and edit the voice actors and sound effects. When you are done you will need to use Audacity to export your radio play as an MP3 file and submit it to your instructor for evaluation.
As the creator, your radio play can be about anything you would like. Try and choose a topic that is important to you. Be sure to get your instructor’s approval on your topic before you begin working on it.
Your play needs to have 2 or more characters.
You will need to create a short storyline and script to help you with your play. A storyline is a simple outline of the plot of your radio play. A script tells what every character says throughout the play.
Your play needs to be 2 or more minutes in length.
You can do this project with friends or alone. If you are working alone you need to make sure that each character’s voice sounds different. Using some effects, such as Change Pitch, may help with this. If you are working with friends each person can have a different character they can portray in the play.
As in War of the Worlds, using sound effects can help set the scene of your radio play. Use at least 4 sound effects in your play. These could be effects such as thunder, footsteps, slapping, wind or explosions. The sound effects must help your radio play. Do not use sounds that have no connection to your story. Instead, you need to use sound effects that will enhance your story. You can either download your sound effects from the Internet or create them yourself. Be sure to use the Gain sliders on your tracks to make the volume of your samples fit along with your actors’ voices.
You are expected to use good recording and editing techniques as you produce your radio play. Here are some things to consider as you record and edit:
- Set your Input Volume Level properly before recording to ensure that your recordings are not too quiet or too loud to cause clipping
- Use Fade In and Fade Out effects so your sound does not start or stop abruptly
- Adjust the volume levels of each track and sound to make a nice even sound
- Use Pan to place sounds from left to right.
- Use the effects in the Effect menu to change and enhance your sounds if you like
Evaluation
What you need to submit to your instructor:
- An MP3 of your play called “yourname Radio Play.MP3”
- Include appropriate Metatdata when you export your MP3
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.