The instructions in this section are applicable to both Windows and Mac computers.
The screenshots are taken from the Audacity on Windows, so there may be slight differences in look and layout.
Overview
Monitoring recording levels
By setting the recording levels before you start, you will be able to reduce distortion or clipping.
- Click the triangle on the input level meter (indicated by the horizontal bars with the microphone icon), then click Monitor input, as shown below.
- Start speaking into the microphone.
- Watch the input bar(s). At the loudest points, the bar should reach but not touch zero. If you have gone beyond zero, a red bar will appear on the right, as shown below. This is known as clipping.
- You can adjust the input level using the input level slider for the microphone, as shown below.
- Adjust the input level as required.
- Once you can speak normally without clipping, you can start recording.
There are left (L) and right (R) channels indicated on the input level meter. You may only see one of the two bars moving when you are monitoring and recording. This is fine as you do not require stereo (left and right channel) input.
More details about recording levels.
Recording
- Press Record, as shown below.
- Start speaking into the microphone. You should see the waveform appearing as you speak.
- You can Pause the recording if you need a break.
- Once done, press Stop, as shown below.
- Press Play to listen to your recording.
Next: Basic editing
