Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

Kathryn Shaughnessy

Instructional Services Librarian

Prepared for METRO SIGs, January 13, 2006

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

This demonstration will guide you through downloading 2 free applications:

1) Audacity (the podcast recording software)

2) LAME (the software that converts the Audacity podcast file into an mp3 file)

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

Open your browser to http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ and click on Download Audacity 1.2.4b for Microsoft Windows

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

From this page, click in the Recommended “Audacity” link …

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

From this page, scroll down and click on the Phoenix AZ download

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

The program will alert you (at the top of the webpage) that “Your download should begin shortly”

• If the download initiates, a “pop-up”/dialog box will ask you whether you want to “run” or “save” the file, Click RUN

• If the program does not start to download, check whether a pop-up blocker is interfering; if not, try http://internap.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/audacity/audacity-win-1.2.4b.exe or choose a different mirror

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

After running the Audacity .exe file, a “SetUp Wizard” interface will appear on your screen...Click the “Next > ” button

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

Read/Accept the agreement, click on the Accept radio button ... then Click the “Next > ” button;

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

Read the next Information screen and click the “Next > ” button again

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

The wizard suggests/creates a folder called “Audacity” in your Programs folder [note where this folder is, since you will need to save one of the LAME files in the same folder later] click “Next >”

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

A desktop icon is a good idea, click the “Next > ” button again

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

The program is ready to install on your computer and click “Install”

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

When installation is complete, click Finish; this completes the installation …

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

… and also starts the Audacity program, which looks like this

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software, LAME encoder

Next, to download the LAME application:Open or Return to the Audacity webpage

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/windows and click on LAME MP3 encoder under the optional Downloads section

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software, LAME encoder

and click on the LAME download page…& follow the directions…

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software, LAME encoder

Choose one from any of the links (e.g.: Peter Yang):

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software, LAME encoder

A Download file menu will show up, Choose SAVE,

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software, LAME encoder

Save the zip file to your desktop (click desktop icon on left, then click Save)

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software, LAME encoder

When finished downloading, Click “Open Folder”

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software, LAME encoder

When finished downloading, Click “Open Folder” or double-click on the “lame-3.96.1” zipped-folder on the desktop.

Keep the LAME folder open, and in a separate window, open the Audacity folder (My Computer C-Drive Program Files Audacity)

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software, LAME encoder

In the LAME Folder, Right-click on the lame.enc.dll file and choose copy

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software, LAME encoder

Click over to the Audacity Folder, right-click in blank area and choose Paste.

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

We are nearly there…you can safely close all of the windows, but keep the Audacity program window open –

(or re-launch the program if you closed it already)

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

It is advisable to set up 2 preferences in order to facilitate recording and saving manageable mp3 files:

Go to File Preferences

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

Click on the Audio I/O tab: under Channels select 2 (Stereo)

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

File Preferences File Format tab: under Bit Rate select 64

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

Now you are ready to start recording your podcast in Audacity, and you will be able to save it as reasonably good quality mp3 file.

NOTE: The first time your Audacity program attempts to “export as mp3” it will prompt a search for the LAME file; since you already put it in the Audacity folder, it will find and associate the LAME file so that no future prompt will be necessary.

Transom.org  has some information on editing with Audacity

(http://transom.org/tools/editing_mixing/200404.audacity.html ;

Handout available)  

For a rough demo on recording/editing Audacity (approx. 7 mins): http://facpub.stjohns.edu/~shaughnk/Audacity_editing.htm

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Podcasting in Libraries:Downloading Audacity software

Access the full article on Podcasting at St. John’s Libraries

http://www.stjohns.edu/academics/libraries/podcast.sju

Please contact me with thoughts/questions/clarifications: – Kathryn Shaughnessy, Shaughnk@stjohns.edu

Instructional Services Lab

St. John’s University

(718) 990-1454