If you want to listen to the sound as you are recording it you will need to have either 'Hardware Playthough' or 'Software Playthrough' ticked. The first check box is not important for this exercise because we are only recording one channel.

It is possible to select up to 16 channels but do not select more than 2 unless you have something other than a 'normal' sound card.īelow the 'Playback' and 'Recording' sections are three check boxes. Select '2 (stereo)' if you are recording from a stereo audio input such as a cassette or mini disc player (or a stereo microphone). Most microphones are only capable of producing a mono signal. A mono recording uses one audio signal (1 channel), and a stereo recording records two audio signals (2 channels).Īudacity defaults to '1 (mono)' so you can leave it at this if you are recording from a mono audio input. A 'Channel' (also known as a 'track') refers to the number of audio signals you wish to use to record or playback. In the 'Recording' section use the 'Channels' dropdown menu to select the number of channels you wish to use. Unless you have another sound card installed 'Built-in Audio' will be the only option available. In the 'Recording' section use the 'Device:' dropdown menu to select the audio input device you wish to use. The input settings are chosen from the 'Recording' section. In the 'Playback' section use the 'Device:' dropdown menu to select the audio output you wish to use. Lets start with the output settings, these are refered to within the 'Playback' section. The configuration of the output effects how you will play back sounds so you can hear them. The way you configure the input effects how you will record sounds. This can turn into a jungle of terms but essentially these things are the same: The Audio I/O preferences page is where you can choose the sound source (audio input) and how you play back the sounds so you can hear them (the output settings). The use of 'I/O' means 'Input or Output', so 'Audio I/O' means 'Audio Input or Output'. The Preferences window open and look something like this:Ĭlick on 'Audio I/O'. To do this first open the 'Preferences' window by clicking on 'Preferences' under 'Audacity' in the Menu Bar : So if you use OSX you will need to make sure that it is set up appropriately. OS X has a unique way to configure the audio hardware, which is not shared by other operating systems (Windows, and Linux).

Once you have done that you can launch Audacity. Getting startedīefore making a recording you need to make sure that what you want to record from ( the 'sound source') connected to the audio input of your computer's sound card. Recording sound with Audacity is very straightforward you just need to have a computer that has a sound card with at least a microphone ( mic) or line input.

Audacity record from sound card