Audacity  101  
1. Install Audacity.  Free Audacity  If you are taking a class, install audacity before class.
2. Open Audacity.  Move your cursor over the recorder control buttons at the top. 

 

 The symbols are probably familiar.  But the buttons will identify themselves at the hover of the cursor

1. Rewind (Left arrow, double)

2. Play (Right arrow)

3. Record (Circle)

4. Pause (Two bars)

5. Stop (Square)

6. To end (Right arrow, double)
3. Be sure your microphone is connected.  Any microphone will do for now. You will get better results if the mike is attached to you.  You will probably also need earphones for some work.  You can buy cheap earphones at Walmart. 
4. Click on the record button and start talking to the mike.  Just count.  The mike doesn't care what you say.  Keep that in mind when you get to voice-over.

These wiggles are ok, but could be stronger.  To make them stronger, I could turn up the volume on the mike.  The control for that Is right below the record button. 

This recording is just 4 seconds, as you can see from the time track just above the recording track.
5. Watch the wavy line wiggle across the page.  You want strong wiggles.  But not so strong they hit the top. 
6. If the wiggles don't look right to you,
A.  Get closer to the mike
B.  Talk louder
C.  Adjust the microphone volume.
D.  All of the above.		 This is not a critical adjustment. 
7.  Stop the recording (square symbol). Start it again. Do that once more.   Note that each start makes new display..
8. Go back to the start (left arrow).   Click on play What you hear will explain why you need the next step.
9. In the panel at the right of one of the tracks, click on Solo.  If you know what this will do, feel smug.
10. Select an area with the cursor just as you would with a text processor.  
11. Copy and paste the selection to another part of the track. Can you guess how to delete a selection?
12. On the top option line select File>Export as WAV.  Give the exported file a name and export.  Can you guess how to export a selection?
You now know how to record with Audacity.  To get better sound quality, turn down the mike till you don't hear hum or ambient noise.  You can later amplify the sound in audacity.

 

Upload audio to Second Life
 		 Second Life requires:
1. File in .wav format
2. Audio of less than 10 seconds.
3. Bit rate of 44100 bps
Set the project rate at the bottom of the page.  You will see bit rates in other places.  Don't confuse them with the project rate. 
Make a sound

1.  Record something clever in less than 10 seconds.

  
   
OR  <>

<> If you can't think of anything clever to say:
1.  Go to FindSounds
2.  Enter the search term: Fart
3.  Dowload several selections that are in WAV format. 
4.  Play your selections.  Laugh.   Pick your favorite fart.
5.  In Audacity, select  File>Open and open the file.
6. Be sure the project rate is still 44100

 FindSounds

You can generally find files most easily if you leave them on you desktop.

The file you opened may have a different bit rate.  You will see its bit rate on the panel attached to its wavy line. 

Export sound for Second Life

1.  Check the time track at the top to be sure it is less than 10 seconds.
2.   Select File>Export as WAV.
3.   Export to your desktop.

  
Upload audio to Second Life

1.   In Second Life, top menu, choose File>upload audio file (L$10)
2..  The upload will go into your inventory (sounds folder). 
3.  You can play your clever remarks or fabulous farts in Second Life by putting them into an object with a script to play sounds.   For example, a sound ambiator.

 Sound Ambiator
The Thinkerer 05/21/2008
 Copyright (c) D. F. Dansereau & S. H. Evans

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