How to edit your digital audio files

Hi guys!

If you've want to edit your digital audio files, but don't have expensive software like ProTools, I've found a great solution. It's free audio editor called Audacity. They have versions for PC and Mac, and you can download it free here.

Audacity is really user friendly and is useful if you want to make individual song clips, or a montage of song clips (i.e.: for promoters or fans to sample your music without downloading full songs.)

Here's a short tutorial on how to make individual song clips:

The first thing you need to do is download a file that lets you encode Mp3s. Click this link and click on the link to Audacity for Windows, or Audacity for Mac OS.

When that is finished downloading, you can unzip the file by opening it and clicking "Extract all files" to the default folder.

Next, open Audacity, and go to file - open and select the song you want to edit.

You can use the selection tool (located directly under the file menu option) to select the part of the song you want to use in your clip (Note: when you press the "play" button it will only play the part you have selected.)

While your song is "stopped" go to edit - trim. This will trim the song so only the part you selected will play.

If you'd like to add effects to your song, like a fade in/fade out, go to Effect - Fade in or Fade Out

The "normalize" effect is also useful if you have tracks that are encoded too low. Normalization will increase volume to the maximum without introducing distortion. In other words, normalization sets the average volume level to be the same as most professionally recorded music.

To save your clip, go to File - Export Mp3. The first time you try to export an MP3 file, Audacity will ask you to locate your MP3 encoder. Select the file named lame_enc.dll and click Open. From then on, Audacity will not need to ask you again and you will be able to export MP3 files easily. Your next option will be to save your new sound clip on your computer. ** Be sure to save it under a new file name to not overwrite your original mp3.

If you'd like to make a montage of different songs:

open Audacity, and go to Project - Import Audio to add each song that will be in your montage (or you can click and drag the songs you want into the window, one on top of the other.)

Next, select and trim each song you want in the montage.

To change the position of each clip in your montage, click on that track where you'd like that clip to start playing, then go to Project > Align tracks... - Align with Cursor.
Tip: If you want to use the Fade In/Fade Out Effect it may be a good idea to overlap your song slightly. To Cross Fade In all of the tracks at once, hold down the shift key while dragging across multiple tracks, then go to Effect - Cross Fade In

When you are done, go to File > Export mp3 and save your new montage.

If you need more help with this program, or if you want to take advantage of its many other features, there is a complete reference manual available here. Enjoy!

POSTED BY STACEY, January 17, 2008

Comments

americangypsy
January 17, 2008

Your first post and already you are helping us!

I forgot I had this tool. Guess I'll try it again. I believe it would be good for creating the initial .wav file to make ringtones. Yes?

Peace,

metrofuze
January 18, 2008

Sounds interesting (no pun intended)...I'm gonna check it out.
Thanks

maniakalproductions
January 18, 2008

I'll check it out. Thanks!

teresanoh
January 18, 2008

Wow -- I asked Stacey just yesterday about adding this feature, and here's the how-to!
It does look a bit daunting to a novice like me -- is there a simpler program to use to just grab a clip from an already mixed and ready-to-go song file?
Thanks,
Teresa Parente

speechmusic
January 18, 2008

THank you Stacy! Very thorough and much needed! We're happy!

BranManFloMore
January 18, 2008

Yeah, it's a good program. I already have it.

BSRband
January 18, 2008

Great program. I have used it for about three years and really like it.
Not only do I use it to edit our recorded tracks, but also, since we tune down a half step, I can use one of the features to "detune" intros to match our cover tunes like Judas Priest's "The Hellion" or Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers".

BZ Rocks!

Swing
January 18, 2008

Aren't you the Savvy little computer wizard today....Thanks - I will def be using it.....

Swing

seanwright
January 18, 2008

Excellent info, Stacey Thank you.

Mandiken
January 18, 2008

Hey, thanks!! I downloaded it and it really does make a difference!!!

BrigitJackson
January 18, 2008

Yes, I have it too. With no prior experience, I was able to quickly edit a full song into a short clip that fades in at the beginning and then fade to end.

Thanks,
Brigit

sidekixband
January 18, 2008

Welcome Stacey and thank you

preciousdeathmachine
January 18, 2008

oh man. thats awesome. thank you!!!!

davidlydonmusic
January 18, 2008

Hi Stacey. Thanks a million for that. Thats great advice. Its a good idea I think to have a montage of songs on the site wide player.

sableband
January 18, 2008

thanks much,
i almost bought pro tools for my laptop yesterday to do this simple type of editing while i'm on the road, you just saved me $250. now i can easily montage my radio interviews.

jeff sable
www.sablecountry.com

tabladrum
January 18, 2008

Welcome Stacey!

BZ already agrees you are kickin' some acey!

Tab

SINIMA
January 19, 2008

astro
January 19, 2008

THANKS!!!!

SO MUCH!!!!!!!

You saved me about $300 + and H E A P S of time.

You rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers,
-Brad

therhythmmethod
January 20, 2008

Hayseed's going to have to wait in line. I have a new crush! You rock, Stacey!!

mfas
January 20, 2008

Audacity has changed my life. We could never remember our carefully thought out (and sometimes brilliant) arrangements a week later at rehearsal. I got a minidisc recorder - you can get a nice Sony R50 with a mic for under a hundred buck if you shop carefully. I convert it to an mp3 with audacity and put it on my ipod. Next week, no arguments! You can also change the tempo without changing keys. Great stuff.

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