Indicator 3.01 Understand principles of audio and

video.Using Audacity Open Source Software.

Presenter: George BrooksCumberland County Schools

South View High SchoolContact Information: georgebrooks@ccs.k12.nc.us

BD10 Multimedia and Webpage Design • Unit-B: Interactive Website Design and Development

• Essential Standard: 3.00 Understand time based media. • Indicator 3.01 Understand principles of audio and video.

• 3.01 Basics of Audio Organizer (pages: 135-136)• 3.01 Sound Basics Worksheet (page: 139)• 3.01 Determine the Audio File Type (page: 141)• 3.01 Sound Editing Guided Practice: The Piano Movers (Teacher Copy) (pages: 143-144)• 3.01 Sound Editing Guided Practice: The Piano Movers (pages: 145-146)• 3.01 Sound Editing Independent Practice: A Night in the Grave Yard (page: 147)• 3.01 Sound Editing Independent Practice: A Wild Night in Kansas (page: 148)• 3.01 FBLA Promotional Radio Ad Project (pages: 149-150)• 3.01 Create a Radio Promotional Ad: Sample Script (page: 151)

Audacity Downloads

• Website for Audacity download for Window Based Operating Systems• URL: http://audacityteam.org/download/windows

• Audacity 2.1.0 installer (23.1 MB, includes help files)

• Website for Audacity download for Apple (IOS) Based Operating Systems• URL: http://audacityteam.org/download/mac

• Audacity 2.1.0 .dmg file (32.8 MB, includes help files)

Audacity Plug-ins and Libraries

• Website for Audacity download for Window Based Operating Systems• URL: http://audacityteam.org/download/windows • LAME MP3 encoder - Allows Audacity to export MP3 files.• LADSPA plug-ins 0.4.15 installer (.exe file, 1.5 MB) - Contains over 90 plug-ins.

Plug-Ins - Download additional effects and filters.• FFmpeg import/export library - Allows Audacity to import and export many

additional audio formats such as AC3, AMR(NB), M4A and WMA, and to import audio from video files

Audacity Plug-ins and Libraries

• Website for Audacity download for Apple (IOS) Based Operating Systems• URL: http://audacityteam.org/download/mac • LAME MP3 encoder - Allows Audacity to export MP3 files• LADSPA plug-ins zip file - over 90 plug-ins.• Plug-Ins - Download additional effects and filters.• FFmpeg import/export library - Allows Audacity to import and export many

additional audio formats such as AC3, AMR(NB), M4A and WMA, and to import audio from video files.

Recordings• Audacity can record live audio through a microphone or mixer, or digitize recordings from other media. With

some sound cards, and on any recent version of Windows, Audacity can also capture streaming audio• Device Toolbar manages multiple recording and playback devices.• Level meters can monitor volume levels before, during and after recording. Clipping can be displayed in the

waveform or in a label track.• Record from microphone, line input, USB/Firewire devices and others.• Record computer playback on Windows Vista and later by choosing "Windows WASAPI" host in Device

Toolbar then a "loopback" input.• Timer Record and Sound Activated Recording features.• Dub over existing tracks to create multi-track recordings.• Record at very low latencies on supported devices on Linux by using Audacity with JACK.• Record at sample rates up to 192,000 Hz (subject to appropriate hardware and host selection). Up to 384,000

Hz is supported for appropriate high-resolution devices on Windows (using WASAPI), Mac OS X, and Linux.• Record at 24-bit depth on Windows (using Windows WASAPI host), Mac OS X or Linux (using ALSA or JACK

host).• Record multiple channels at once (subject to appropriate hardware

Import and Export

• Import sound files, edit them, and combine them with other files or new recordings. Export your recordings in many different file formats, including multiple files at once.

• Import and export WAV, AIFF, AU, FLAC and Ogg Vorbis files.• Fast "On-Demand" import of WAV or AIFF files (letting you start work with the files almost

immediately) if read directly from source.• Import and export all formats supported by libsndfile such as GSM 6.10, 32-bit and 64-bit float

WAV, RF64, and U/A-Law.• Import MPEG audio (including MP2 and MP3 files) using libmad.• Import raw (headerless) audio files using the "Import Raw" command.• Create WAV or AIFF files suitable for burning to audio CD.• Export MP3 files with the optional LAME encoder library.• Import and export AC3, M4A/M4R (AAC) and WMA with the optional FFmpeg library (this also

supports import of audio from video files).

Sound Quality

• Supports 16-bit, 24-bit and 32-bit (floating point) samples (the latter preserves samples in excess of full scale).• Sample rates and formats are converted using high-quality resampling

and dithering.• Tracks with different sample rates or formats are converted

automatically in real time.

Editing

• Easy editing with Cut, Copy, Paste and Delete.• Unlimited sequential Undo (and Redo) to go back any number of steps.• Edit and mix large numbers of tracks.• Multiple clips are allowed per track.• Label tracks with selectable Sync-Lock Tracks feature for keeping tracks

and labels synchronized.• Draw Tool to alter individual sample points.• Envelope Tool to fade the volume up or down smoothly.• Automatic Crash Recovery in the event of abnormal program termination.

Accessibility

• Tracks and selections can be fully manipulated using the keyboard.• Large range of keyboard shortcuts.• Excellent support for JAWS, NVDA and other screen readers on

Windows, and for VoiceOver on Mac.

Effects• Real-time preview of LADSPA, VST and Audio Unit (OS X) effects.• Change the pitch without altering the tempo (or vice-versa).• Remove static, hiss, hum or other constant background noises.• Alter frequencies with Equalization, Bass and Treble, High/Low Pass and Notch Filter effects.• Filter a frequency selection made in Spectrogram views or Spectral Selection Toolbar using spectral edit effects.• Adjust volume with Compressor, Amplify, Normalize, Fade In/Fade Out, Crossfade, and Adjustable Fade effects.• Remove Vocals from suitable stereo tracks.• Create voice-overs for podcasts or DJ sets using Auto Duck effect.• Other built-in effects include:

• Echo• Paulstretch (extreme stretch)• Phaser• Reverb• Reverse• Truncate Silence• Wahwah

• Run "Chains" of effects on a project or multiple files in Batch Processing mode.

Plug-ins

• Support for LADSPA, LV2, Nyquist, VST and Audio Unit effect plug-ins.• Effects written in the Nyquist programming language can be easily

modified in a text editor - or you can even write your own plug-in.

Analysis

• Spectrogram view modes for visualizing and selecting frequencies.• "Plot Spectrum" window for detailed frequency analysis.• "Sample Data Export" for exporting a file containing amplitude values

for each sample in the selection.• Contrast Analysis for analyzing average RMS volume differences

between foreground speech and background music.• Support for adding VAMP analysis plug-ins

Free and Cross-Platform

• Licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL).• Runs on Windows, Mac OS X and GNU/Linux

Audacity Quick-Start

• Select Edit > Preferences > Devices to set up your default recording• and playback devices. These can be overridden easily from the main

Audacity window using the Device toolbar.

Audacity Tips

• Before you start recording, save and name your new Audacity project by selecting File > Save Project As. It is a good habit to do this right away for every new recording.• Audacity uses its own special file format that doesn’t work in anything

but Audacity, so you have to export to an audio file format that works in playback devices.• Select File > Export to export the project as a WAV file.

Audacity Upper Toolbar Dock Area

Audacity Lower Toolbar Dock Area

Recording in Audacity

• Now let’s record some sounds. Click the red Record button and keep making noise. • When you’re finished, click the Stop or Pause button. • With the Stop button, a new track starts the next time you click Record; • The Pause button lets you pick up where you left off on the same track. • If you stop when you meant to pause, you can append to an existing track by

pressing the SHIFT key and clicking Record Button

3.01 Sound Editing Guided Practice: The Piano Movers (Teacher Copy)• Directions: Use this script to guide the students through the process of

editing audio. Complete the first half by demonstrating and then have the students complete the second half, giving individual assistance as needed. All parts labeled NARRATOR will be pulled from the source audio file contained with this exercise and can be used to demonstrate selecting and moving/copying clips. The parts of Driver, Worker, and Owner are to be used to demonstrate recording audio. Sound Effects for this exercise are provided, however additional free sound effects can be found on the Internet.• Tips:

• Create a spreadsheet to keep track of the different roles for each characters.• Will be helpful went putting together the different audio tracks in the project file

3.01 Sound Editing Guided Practice: The Piano Movers• Directions: Use the script below to guide you through this audio

editing exercise. All parts labeled NARRATOR will be pulled from the source audio file contained with this exercise. The parts of Driver, Worker, and Owner are to be student recordings. • Tips:• Create a spreadsheet to keep track of the different roles for each characters.• Will be helpful went putting together the different audio tracks in the project

file

3.01 Sound Editing Independent Practice: A Night in the Grave Yard• Directions: Use this script to guide you through this audio editing

exercise, but make any changes needed to enhance the story. Once you have completed your final script, record the parts in one take. If you make a mistake, just pick up where you left off. Once recorded select and edit the clips to create a complete story. Determine where sound effects should be placed. Free sound effects for this exercise can be found on the Internet. Once completed, save the file as GraveYardStory in you audio editor and then export an MP3 called GraveYardStory.mp3• Tips:

• Create a spreadsheet to keep track of the different roles for each characters.• Will be helpful went putting together the different audio tracks in the project file

3.01 Sound Editing Independent Practice: A Wild Night in Kansas• Directions: Use the script to guide you through this audio editing

exercise, but make any changes needed to enhance the story. Once you have completed your final script, record the parts in one take. If you make a mistake, just pick up where you left off. Once recorded select and edit the clips to create a complete story. Determine where sound effects should be placed. Free sound effects for this exercise can be found on the Internet. Once completed, save the file as WildNight in you audio editor and then export an MP3 called WildNight.mp3.• Tips:

• Create a spreadsheet to keep track of the different roles for each characters.• Will be helpful went putting together the different audio tracks in the project file

3.01 FBLA Promotional Radio Ad Project• Directions: For this project, you will be a member of a team of

advisors who are members of the Future Business Leaders of America for your school district or region . Your team has been put together to compete in the national FBLA Radio Ad Challenge. Teams from all of the United States will submit an original radio promotional ad to raise awareness of how the FBLA supports students. • Tips:• Create a spreadsheet to keep track of the different roles for each characters.• Will be helpful went putting together the different audio tracks in the project

file

Resources

• http://audacityteam.org/ • http://audacityteam.org/about/• http://audacityteam.org/download/• http://audacityteam.org/help/• Website for Windows Download: http://lame.buanzo.org/#lamewindl • Website for Mac IOS Download: http://lame.buanzo.org/#lameosxdl• THE BOOK OF AUDACITY

• Record, Edit, Mix, and Master with the Free Audio Editor• by Carla Schroder, no starch press• ISBN-10: 1-59327-270-7• ISBN-13: 978-1-59327-270-8

• YouTube Videos:• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7BuceavV-Y