Audacity help needed?

[WickedSick702]

I have been working with Audacity for recording lately. The sound seems to be rather is and out. Meaning the volume isn't really consistant. I am using a cheap labtec mic right now. Could that be the problem? Also I can't seem to use anything in the effect menu. Anyone have any tips for me? Thx :)

[custom24]

I would say it's most likely the mic, as audacity just records what it "hears". The effects usually work on a selection, so you need to select a section (or all) of the audio and then apply an effect. let me know if that helps, I'm not looking at Audacity right now, but I'll take a gander for ya if that doesnt help. Also post your version of the program next time so I can check that (features change).

[WickedSick702]

I'm using ver 1.2.6. I don't know how to select part or all of what I've recorded. I'm totally lost there. I'd really like to use the noise removal tool in the effects. As there is alot of hiss in the recordings. Any help would be apprecieted. I'm just trying to make simple mp3's to send to friends. :)

[WickedSick702]

OK, I figured out how to select and apply effects. Now I can't seem to not screw up the sound of the guitar when removing the hiss. Maybe I should buy a real sound card and mic? ( I'm using the onboard sound "c-media").

[RADAR_Brian]

Make sure you are only highlighting the hiss in the track and NOT a segment that has guitar when you first sample the sound. This lets audacity know what to isolate.. then when you are ready to remove noise select the ENTIRE track... then make sure you move the slider on the noise removal tool almost to the left so it doesn't remove too much.

I record with a dinky desk mic too and get relatively good sound to me.

Here's something I recorded with audacity through a cheap mic Not the best playing but...

1:41 AM IN THE MORNING (http://parksart.com/guitar/parks_1_41_am.mp3)

Hope this helps.. if I can help more let me know... I can make a video showing how too..

[WickedSick702]

Wow! That sounded way better than my recordings. Are you using an aftermarket sound card or the built in one?

[custom24]

It's most likely your mic, your sound card won't affect the record quality much at all. By the way nice track RADAR_Brian.

[WickedSick702]

Finally got it right! Thanks guys! :)

[Dee1984]

Is there any 'audacity for dummies' guides out there? - I've had this piece of software for ages but never played with it because frankly I have no idea how to! What equipment am I going to need... just a microphone that i can plug into the PC will suffice? - I'm looking to expand into this so I can do exactly what it looks like Radar_Brian is doing; sampling chord changes while improv'ing some lead over the top.
Cheers guys x

[RADAR_Brian]

Thanks for the compliments... I record in a 14 year old mic that came with an old Soundblaster 32AWE... I now also have a USB mic made by Logitech but it's still a mic like my old one. My soundcard is a Soundblaster Audigy which is fairly good I guess.

Don't forget, if your acoustic has pickups you can just run your cord straight into your soundcard if you buy an adaptor which is cheap at radioshack.

I just usually prefer the way it sounds through a mic. My Washburn's pickups aren't too good I don't guess.

Anyway, I'm pretty well tuned with audacity (although I mostly use Mixcraft now).. tell me what you want to know how to do and I'll help.

I could make a short video tutorial and stick it on youtube or something.

[RADAR_Brian]

Ok.. I did a quick little video showing how to use the noise removal tool.. if you have any other questions I can make a vid like this explaining.... let me know what you think... it was done quickly so.... be gentle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlKX6p85R2M

[Dee1984]

Dude that was awesome cheers...
I'm gonna play about with this software today so i'm sure i'll be back with some questions in due course!
I've got a jack adaptor so hopefully i can plug straight into my soundcard, again i'll keep you posted, thanks once more.

[Dee1984]

Wow so i've plugged in and managed to get it to pick up my guitar directly.

Now its a question of messing about with the effects etc...

Brian, do you know of a way to edit out little annoyances, like perhaps a fret/string rattle?

Ta

[KCMike]

Wow! That sounded way better than my recordings. Are you using an aftermarket sound card or the built in one?

Yea, great sound! It's crystal clear. :)

[Dee1984]

Definately a valid tool, i've been mucking about with it all afternoon. Check out my first attempt at mixing a few tracks i laid down hehe.

http://www.filefreak.com/pfiles/48644/WYWH.mp3

I'm plugged directly into a SoundBlaster Audigy 4, i think this way it picks up every little pop etc but oh well.

I guess this is just as useful when recording in band scenarios... is there any other recording software out there thats worth a butchers?

[RADAR_Brian]

I actually like Mixcraft 3 better than audacity. It's fifty bucks but there is a demo you can try and it doesn't timeout, just prevents you from converting to mp3 when the demo is over... I use audacity to record my mixcraft mix and turn it into mp3 now hehe.

The string noise and pops aren't as evident if you play into a mic (at least for me)

BTW: Wish You Were Here is perhaps my all time favorite song.. so I appreciate your recording! Here's the version I did (I used Mixcraft on it)


WISH YOU WERE HERE (Cover) (http://parksart.com/guitar/parks_wywh.mp3)

[KCMike]

BTW: Wish You Were Here is perhaps my all time favorite song.. so I appreciate your recording! Here's the version I did (I used Mixcraft on it)


WISH YOU WERE HERE (Cover) (http://parksart.com/guitar/parks_wywh.mp3)

Great cover ... I'm jamming to it here at work!!

[JeremyT]

How much is this program? Im looking for some good recording software.

[RADAR_Brian]

Well... audacity is free. Mixcraft is about 50 dollars. but as I said earlier.. you can snag a demo of mixcraft and use it.

Thanks for the compliment on my cover KCMike! It's always scary to share stuff that has singing in it.

[JeremyT]

WOW... free... I likes me some free... Im sold... Radar Brian.. I hope you can stick around to help! :P Thanks man

[RADAR_Brian]

ok.. I stayed up and made another little tutorial for audacity on multi-tracking...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21wh0iixiDA

I figure most already know how to do this though.. but..

[JeremyT]

I love this program! Thanks for that Tutorial RB! Thats awesome that you take time out to do that! You didnt even give me time to ask because this is exactly what I want to do. Me and a friend of mine are starting an acoustic duo and we cant practice together or compose together due to tight schedules so we agreed to send mp3s to each other and lace in there own part over the track and just brainstorm that way. THANKS A LOT RB!

[robc445]

Thanks for the good tutorials RADAR Brian.I geuss I am going to have to download audacity and play with it now.

[Blewbyou]

Radar Brian,

I love the way you are posting how to use audacity. Could you do up a couple of more vids one showing how to add effects then maybe one on how to convert to MP3 or what ever you think will give people difficulty? Then I will take them all and Sticky them in a thread under the technical recording forum.

Blew

[RADAR_Brian]

That would be great Blewbyyou... I'll try to get a few more in tonight.

[knoxville]

yeah.. you should do one on the plugin thing you need to convert to mp3... i took me forever to figure that out... lol

[Dee1984]

Brian did you too the harmonica too? Nice...

I'm defo up for some singing when i get a mic :)

[RADAR_Brian]

Yeah I did the harmonica too... thanks...

I made another tutorial.. this one is about installing and then putting the LAME MP3 encoder in... let me know if it's usable..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI9-JfgpIFg

[Dee1984]

Nice, Brian, thanks.

What would be useful would be a detailed description of the effects, for instance I know what the phaser sounds like if you apply it, but it has many settings there i.e Wet - Dry - which i have no idea about, and what alterations make the most resound difference. Or maybe there is just a guide to this somewhere? :)

[Blewbyou]

Radar Brian,
I'm not real familiar with audacity but I was wondering if you use plugins with it? If so which ones, where do you get them and how do you install them?

Thanks Blew

[RADAR_Brian]

I'll do a tutorial on it tonight or tomorrow....

[ez-one]

Radar, its funny I came to this thread to thank you for all of the tech informaion you are sharing on audacity with everyone and seen that Blew had already done it. Oh well, thanks again. Its great to see members taking the time to help one another. I finally downloaded it to see what everyone was talking about, but I have never used it myself.

[JeremyT]

Im really proud to be a part of this Forum! People here go out of thier way to help others. Its awesome.