| Vidder Maker Workshop
The Fourth Gate: VOTech crib sheet
You can use the first 9 steps as an introduction to Audacity if you
want to make audio for other purposes. |
How to get into Second Life
without really trying
Selby Evans is Thinkerer Melville in Second Life
You can probably do this on your own. But if you need help,
contact Thinkerer Mellville or Geo Meek. |
1. Install Audacity. Free
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Audacity Do this before
class if you can. |
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2. Open Audacity. Move your cursor over the recorder
control buttons at the top.
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The symbols are probably familiar. But the buttons will
identify themselves at the call of the cursor
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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) |
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3. Be sure your microphone is connected.
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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 or radio
Shack. |
| 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. |
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5. Watch the wavy line wiggle across the page.
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You want strong wiggles. But not so strong they hit the top.
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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.
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| 7. Stop the recording (square symbol). Start
it again. Do that once more. |
Note that each start makes new display..
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8. Go back to the start (left arrow). Click on play |
What you hear will explain why you need the next step. |
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9. In the panel at the right of one of the tracks, click on Solo.
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If you know what this will do, feel smug. |
| You now know how to record with Audacity.
Continue below to see how you can put the audio into a video.
If you have other uses for Audacity, you are on your own for now.
Later I will probably provide some help on how to upload and use
audio in Second Life. |
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| Using Audacity with WMM |
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| 10. Under the file menu, click on New to get a new
screen. Open Windows Movie Maker and pick a clip of 15-30
seconds. |
Any clip will do. |
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11. Move the Audacity screen down so you can only see the control
buttons. |
That wavy line will get distracting when you are
trying to think of something to say. |
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12. Click on the Audacity record button. Click the play button
in WMM. Start talking about what you see. |
You don't have to be good the first time. |
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13. When you finish the recording, highlight the really wavy
part. |
Use the same cursor actions you use with text.
(The selection tool (upper left) much be activated. That
symbol looks like an I-beam.) |
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12. Select File>"Export selection as WAV" |
Put the WAV file on the desktop so you can find it.
For now. Later you will want use folders with names you can
remember. |
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13. Tell WMM to import the file. |
Same place you found the command to import video
files. |
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14. Drag the imported audio to the strip below the timeline.
Use the strip labeled "Audio/Music." |
The strip labeled "Audio" carries audio taken along with the
video. |
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15. Note the audio file becomes a strip on the timeline
matching the time it will play. Click on it and hold.
A hand shows than you have grabbed the strip. Move the hand and note
that you move the strip. Slide the strip under the
clip. |
You can adjust the volume of your strip and/or the
audio taken along with the video. Right click on the strip you
want to adjust. |
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16. Use WMM to make the movie file. |
Listen to your audio file |
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You are now a Voice-over Tech. |
You are not a voice-over Jedi yet. |