This tutorial presents the most important functions of Audacity. Part 1 is devoted to issues associated with recording of audio files. Next parts will show how to use effects, mix tracks and remove vocals from music recordings.

Let’s begin and record our first audio track in eleven easy steps.

1. Download and install Audacity. This is very easy task, because there are binaries available for most of the Linux distributions. You will find them on your installation CD/DVD. If not, then visit the Audacity homepage, and click Download. You may also download Windows and MacOS X executables.

2. Start Audacity. The program will ask you to choose the desired language.

3. Begin with setting up preferences. Choose Edit > Preferences.

4. Adjust your Audio Input and Output settings (Audio I/O). Both OSS and ALSA drivers are supported. You may also use the JACK Audio Connection Kit. Just choose appropriate device on the Playback and Recording list.

Configuring input and output ports in Audacity.

5. Click Quality on the left. Choose desired sample rate (usually not less than 44100 Hz) and sample format. There are also some parameters used when converting sample rate of loaded or recorded audio files. We can choose fast or high-quality interpolation. Do not forget that the latter requires more processing power and may slow down the older machines.

6. If you want to open or save MP3 files, then take a look at the Audio Files pane. You will have to locate the appropriate library (LAME). If you hadn’t installed it earlier, use the Download Free Copy of LAME button.

7. Now we record our first audio file. Don’t forget to check if microphones or other devices are properly plugged into audio card ports. You should also correct the volume and panning values for appropriate ports. Open your favourite mixer (KDE users may use kmix) and make sure, that input ports (Capture or Microphone) are activated and the recording indicator is lit.

8. If you use tha JACK audio server you should also check the connections between ports. Use QJackCtl application. Open Connect window and choose Audio pane. Connect Readable Clients > alsa_pcm > capture_1 with the Audacity input port. You may also record sound from other audio applications. Just click the appropriate readable client.

9. In Audacity main window click the Record icon. That’s it. You will see the new audio track with your recording. If sound wasn’t recorded, check mixer settings.

If no sound was recorded, check your settings.

10. Now we will save our recording. Audacity writes audio tracks in its own file format (*.aup; choose File > Save Project). It allows to save evarything you are working on, but you will be able to open the project only in Audacity. If you want your recordings to be opened by all audio applications, then use the File > Export command. This will allow you to save WAV, MP3, OGG and FLAC files.

11. Audacity allows you not only recording sound from external devices (microphones etc.) and other programs, but also to generate sound using LADSPA oscillator plugins. They are grouped in the Generate menu. For example, if you want to generate nice organ samples use the Organ plugin. Specify frequency of the generated sound, its velocity and effects (gate). Note that this plugin is distributed with the separate CMT LADSPA library. It should be installed separately.

Generating sound using Organ LADSPA plugin.

We learned how to record audio tracks using Audacity. In the next part of this tutorial we will apply some effects and correction tools.