Producing Audio Recordings
A Quick Rundown
The thought of creating a quality audio recording when trying to express material is one that is usually very overlooked. When trying to impress an audience with a presentation, people are naturally more attached to the sound, it is proven that bad audio is more detrimental to a viewing experience than bad visuals. This page will show you everything needed to know to make a good audio recording. We will start by showing just the bare minimum to get an audio recording done, then move on to more advanced options.
What Software to Use
Audacity
Audacity is the best free audio recording and editing tool available for beginners. The application offers a wide array of recording and editing features, supports numerous plugins, and is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. Audacity is also popular, which makes it incredibly easy to find tutorials online should you need help.
| How long will it take? | For the absolute basics in recording and exporting a video, it will take only 30 minutes. To learn all the skills to get the most out of your audio recordings, setting up and producing can take a few hours. |
| Is it free? | Audacity is completely free and open-sourced, which means no one owns it and it is available to anyone, anywhere on any computer. |
| Does it take my data? | Nope. |
| Does it automatically update? | No. |
| Can it run on my computer? | Yes. |
| What do I need to record audio? | For the absolute basics, any microphone and a computer will work. A good working environment is also important, try to find a space with little to no background noise and soft materials like carpet, blankets, and pillows to soften sounds and reduce echo. |
Beginner Steps
Installation
Download and set up Audacity. Try to find headphones with a microphone built-in; otherwise, you can use your laptop microphone.
Where to record
Find somewhere quiet to record. We recommend that you listen to the room you plan to record in to understand how much ambient noise is in the room, as it will affect your recording. You can even use a closet or somewhere with lots of soft things for the best sounding environment.
How to record
After launching Audacity, make sure the microphone and speaker selected are correct, after which, press the red dot button to start recording your audio. Be sure to monitor the volume meter at the top and ensure your voice stays nicely in the green, so you don’t cause any peaking. To stop a recording press the square button. That’s it! Those are the very basics to creating an audio recording. To export your audio, go to File, Export, and select your output of choice. We recommend MP3 since it is heavily supported and will give you the least number of issues.
Tips when recording
Don’t speak with the microphone too close to your mouth so that unwanted sounds from your mouth are not picked up. Also, breathe through your nose to limit the amount of breathing you can hear in the recording.
Intermediate Steps
How to use Audacity
Find a tutorial online to learn the basic tools of Audacity. We recommend this video here on Youtube; however, some users may prefer the Audacity Manual.
Watch How You Speak
When speaking for an audio recording, you need to project your voice and enunciate more than you would in a normal conversation. Watch your audio levels while you are recording. In most recording software, green audio levels mean you are speaking at a normal conversation volume. If you want to emphasize a point or show excitement, you should raise your voice to move the audio levels into the yellow range. If your audio levels are red, then your audio will sound distorted in the final recording.
Scripts
The use of script is something that can be very useful or detrimental depending on the person. If you struggle putting words together or have occasional hiccups of forgetting what to say next, then using a script may be beneficial. A script can be as simple as a few points to keep your thinking on track, or as detailed as a line by line copy of exactly what your going to say, explore and find out what works best for you. A script can be detrimental in making your words and pacing sound unnatural and lacking emotion, if this is the case, try limiting the use of a script and let the material come naturally. Practice makes perfect!
Advanced Steps
Record an extra 15 seconds without narration
Many popular audio editing tools need samples of the ambient noise to be able to filter it out. By recording this extra 15 seconds without narration, you will have an easier time when editing.
Practice
Learn to use the equipment that you have and understand how it interacts with your recording environment. Good audio requires trial and error, so practice. Make test recordings, try different rooms, change settings, and reposition equipment until you find something that works.
Limit the number of takes
Audio is significantly more challenging to edit than video. Moreover, background noise, cuts, and stutters are much more noticeable in a recording. Therefore, you should do as much as you can to ensure that the initial recording is as close to perfection as possible.
Learn the more advanced tools Audacity has to offer
Audacity is constantly changing its feature set and UI so the best way to master your skills in Audacity is to find a more in-depth tutorial online to learn the basic tools of Audacity. We recommend this tutorial on YouTube; however, some users may prefer the Audacity Manual.
