Home Search Questions Contact Copyright Links

Ingredients:

• Audacity Computer Software --- Free (with an internet connection) ---
  Audacity is free music recording and editing software. It is available for different types of computers on the internet at: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ While there you will also want to download the “Lame MP3” encoder software. This allows Audacity to export music to MP3 formatted files. MP3 files are preferred on the internet since they are compressed and therefore typically smaller then other types of music files. Small files transfer faster on the internet than larger files.
• Microphone or Line-In Input --- Built in ---
  Most computers these days come with a small microphone input jack or a “Line-In” jack. This is typically an 1/8 “ (eighth inch) hole located near the speaker output jacks on the back of the computer.
• Pickup or Microphone --- $20 and up, depending on features ---
  You will need some sort of pickup or microphone to acquire the musical signal from your instrument. Some acoustic instruments have built-in, internal pickups. For others, the “stick-on” external pickups work well. Keep in mind that sticking the stick-on pickup to different areas of your instrument will give different recording results. You’ll want to try several different locations to find the ones you prefer.

  You can also record your instrument playing using a microphone. There are some microphones which are specifically setup for vocals and these don’t work as well as instrument specific mikes. Many people report great success, however, with the little lapel mikes that are made to clip onto a shirt collar for a speaker. These can be clipped directly into the sound hole on the instrument to pickup up the music.

• Plug adaptor --- less than $5.00 ---
  Depending on your audio cables, you may need an adaptor to convert the plug from your pickup into the 1/8” (eighth inch) plug needed to into your computer. Cables differ so take your pickup cable with you to the store to be sure to get the correct adaptor.

Instructions:

• Follow the instructions provided on the web site to install the Audacity and the LameMP3 software on your computer.
• Plug your pickup/microphone in the jack on the back of the computer using, if needed, the plug adaptor. Attach the other end to your pickup or microphone. Don't forget to turn on the pickup or microphone if you need to.
• Start Audacity software. Click the “record” button (red circle) to open a new track recording. Take a deep breath, relax and play your tune. When done, click the “stop” button (yellow square). Play back the tune you just recorded by clicking the “play” button (green arrow). If nothing is being recorded or it is recorded at an extremely low volume, be sure that you have plugged your pickup into the correct microphone/Line-in jack in the computer and push the plug all the way in. Also look at the selection in the Audacity window below the record button and make sure it matches the jack you are using.
• If you are like most people you may have made a mistake or two while playing. Refer to the “Tips” section below to edit out those mistakes. Otherwise, save your music and export the recording to an MP3 file by selecting that option from the “File” menu.
• If you would like to record a harmony, another instrument or yourself singing, click the record button again and a window will open below your original recording in which you can record this new track. Audactity will play back the original recording so you can accompany yourself or chose to "mute" this track while recording the new one. Earphones can be useful if you wish to record your new track while listening to the first one but don't want to pick up the play back.

Tips to edit out playing mistakes in Audacity recordings:

• Most people can’t play a tune all the way through without making a mistake or two. This is where Audacity’s music editing features come in handy. You can cut, copy and paste sections of music together just as you can in other computer programs.
• If you hesitate in a chord transition or two, simply cut out a small section of the recording where you hesitated.
• If you were too quick in a chord transition, you can add to that transition by copy and pasting a bit of the recording just in that spot.
• If you play the wrong note, it can be easier to fix later if you stop playing, backup a measure or two and begin playing again while the computer continues to record. Once you get to the end of the piece and have stopped recording you can then “cut and paste” the section with the correctly played note into the right spot in the recording.
• When editing your music take it slow. Play through each section after each edit. If the edits don’t sound right you can redo them using undo and redo options in the “Edit” menu. The grid at the top of the recording window can be quite helpful in this careful positioning.
• When you are comfortable with the editing of your music, spend some time experimenting with all the "Filter" features of the Audacity software. The “Noise Reduction” feature can come in handy particularly if you record through an amplifier or anything that has batteries which typically cause a little noise in the recordings.