Using Audacity, how do I create a podcast episode?

On this page:

• About Audacity
• Tools needed to create a podcast episode
• Recording and exporting

About Audacity

Audacity is a free audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux that you can use to create podcast episodes. You can download the Audacity installer at:

Tools needed to create a podcast episode

To record a podcast episode using Audacity, be sure you have the following:

• An application that will allow you to export recordings in the .mp3 file format. For information on downloading the LAME MP3 encoder for free, see: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?s=install&item=lame-mp3
• An internal microphone or a microphone connected to the microphone-in connection on your computer
  
  
• A set of headphones connected to the headphone jack of your computer

Recording and exporting

To ensure sound levels are adequate, do a sound check:

1. To turn on monitoring, click the microphone icon.
   
   
2. Speak into the microphone.
   
   
3. Watch the red bar; it should extend almost all the way to the right. If red barely appears in the grey bar, move the input volume slider to the right. If a solid red often covers the entire grey bar, move the slider to the left.

Note: If your sound levels are not adequate, you may need to adjust your computer's sound and speech levels from within your Control Panel (Windows) or System Preferences (Macintosh).

To record and export your podcast episode, follow these steps:

1. Click the red circle ("Record") and speak clearly into your microphone. As the podcast is recorded, you will see the recorded sound display in a single audio track that reflects the sound wave patterns.
   
   
2. When you're finished, click the yellow square ("Stop").
   
   
3. Make any desired edits to your project. For information about editing, see the Audacity tutorials, reference guides, and manuals at: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/documentation

   Note: While working on your project, be sure to save it occasionally so you can return to it to make edits. You will not be able to edit the exported .mp3 file; instead, save the project as the default .aup file.

4. To export the recording, from the File menu, select Export As MP3... .
   
   
5. Name the file, choose a location, and click Save.

   Note: If a dialog box appears asking if you would like to locate lame_enc.dll (Windows) or LameLib (Macintosh), click Yes. Locate the file you downloaded from LAME and click Open.

6. In the dialog box that appears, you can save information about the recording. Type a title and any other information you'd like to save with the file. Click OK.

You can post the .mp3 file you created in the Oncourse Podcasts tool. For more information, see Using Oncourse CL Podcasts, how do I add, edit, or delete a podcast?

Also see:

• What is podcasting?
• Using GarageBand, how do I create a podcast episode?
• What is a podcatcher?
• Podcasting and copyright