Fri. 5/01/08: Track Volume

AIM: How do we more specifically regulate track volume in Audacity?

Today's goal is part 2 of making a radio-host-like file in Audacity.

1. Make sure you have a computer with a working microphone.
2. Choose a different song that you enjoy from the 'Mugic' folder, and import it into Audacity.
3. Come up with three reasons you like the song and write them down. If I was doing it on the Beyonce song "Crazy in Love," I might say:
The first thing I like about this song is the way the horns are recorded live and they sound punchy and fresh. The second thing I like about this song is the way Jay-Z raps about chinchilla fur. The third and final thing I like about this song is how it reminds me of the summer I moved to New York.
4. Record yourself saying these three things, but pause for at least five seconds in between each one.
5. Use the gain adjuster knob (see yesterday's post) on the vocal track only to increase the volume.
6. Now, in order to hear your words clearly while the song is playing, the song's volume needs to get softer only at the times when you say what you like about it. Here's how to do it:
7. Click on the Envelope Tool in the upper-left-hand-corner of the screen. This is the button that looks like two white arrows with a blue line between them. The Envelope Tool adjusts the sound level at specific parts in the track.
8. Click on the song track right at the beginning of where your recorded voice starts speaking on the vocal track. Then click again slightly to the right of your first click and drag towards the middle of the track. You should see the volume shrink down.
9. Click again at the part when your speaking ends. Then drag the volume back up to normal again.
10. The end result should be a song that gets quiet only at the times when you are speaking.
11. Edit the ID3 tags.
12. Export as an MP3 with the correct filename (into your computer's document folder): Your Name - Radio Project part 2.
13. Open up the file in Windows Media Player for Mr. Power to listen to.