Audacity is available to download for free on Windows and Macs.
Make sure to download the FFmpeg Library as well. See this video or the screenshot below for reference (click image to open in new tab):
Our recommended tool for audio editing is Audacity. This self-guided activity is designed takes you through the process of recording, editing and mixing a podcast. The first tab covers what you need to know about the Audacity interface and options for recording equipment.
This tutorial is being updated to reflect version 3.6.1. The original videos were recorded with both versions 3.1 and 3.3; you may notice a mix of videos until the revision is complete. As of early 2025, version 3.6.1 is installed on the SMDC computers. Most of the tutorial should still apply, but there may be small differences.
This tab covers what you need to know about recording levels and recording environment before you start recording yourself.
Make sure to click the meter that says "click to start monitoring"
When you speak into the microphone, you want you natural speaking voice to hit the "ideal range" in Audacity.
It is easier to fix audio that is too quiet; it's very difficult to enhance audio that is too loud.
You can record whatever you'd like or use the sample script below. Record for at least 30 seconds.
Press the red record button. You will see a track added and the waveform will begin to form as you speak.
When you are finished recording, press the space bar or the stop button.
If you find that something is not working in Audacity, check to see if pause is selected and click the black square stop button.
Pay attention to what the waveform looks like- you want to see definition and peaks and valleys in your waveform.
Tips for recording in the SMDC Mac classroom
Plug the headphones into the left-side of the silver doc (microphone/headphone symbol)
Room B isn't the ideal recording environment and that's fine for this exercise. Make a mental note if you need your audio to be louder when you record your podcast.
If working in pairs, each person can read one of the parts of the provided script below. Hold the headphones in between you so that the microphone can pick up both of your voices. Record it twice- once on each computer.
One option is to record the excerpt below from the episode "How to Speak Bad English" from the Rough Translation podcast (full transcript)
WARNER: There are all kinds of reasons people take a job teaching English - maybe to travel somewhere or stay a while in a new place. I have done that myself back in the day. But for Heather Hansen, teaching English was a calling, one that crystallized for her when she was a college student studying German in Austria.
HANSEN: And I remember almost making myself sick about having to speak in German and then standing in front of the class, battling through, can't find the words, and I'm not pronouncing things correctly. And I'm - all I'm thinking is, if I could just do this in English, they would all know how smart I am. So that was really what put me on the course for working with language and helping people with language because I thought, we've got to help them so they can express themselves better, so they can get the respect they deserve, so they can avoid embarrassment. And that was why I got into doing what I'm doing.
--
Once you have recorded something, move on to the next tab to practice editing.
This tab will cover some basic editing techniques including
If you make a mistake while you are recording, you don't have to restart. Instead, take a deep breath and start recording from before you made the mistake, such as the beginning of the sentence. You can cut out sections, words, or distracting sounds from your tracks.
*Alternatively, you can practice with the audio you just recorded- try deleting a word and make it sound as natural as possible.
Incorporating music and sound effects is a great way to enhance the listening experience. This tab will cover how to find and download a song from Free Music Archive and then how to mix the music into your podcast, including fading it in and out.
If you are not familiar with Creative Commons, watch this short explanation and explore the Creative Commons page for more information.
Free Music Archive provides access to many Creative Commons licensed songs that you can use in your podcast- make sure to check the license and to provide attribution to it in your podcast.
This tab covers two of the most important steps when creating a podcast: saving and exporting!