| Let's say you realized you absolutely needed to start | | | | now. |
| creating your own audio. Maybe you need narration | | | | First, you'll need to plug your mic into your sound card's |
| for a video you're making. Maybe you have to start | | | | pink input jack. This is usually located on the back of |
| podcasting or creating e-learning programs; or my | | | | your computer next to the green jack where your |
| favorite...maybe you're a musician who really wants to | | | | speakers are probably plugged in. |
| make a CD or maybe just some demo recordings. | | | | Now record yourself saying (or singing) something. |
| Whatever the reason, many folks think they only have | | | | First, press the button in audacity with the big red dot |
| a few choices; hire a voice actor to record any | | | | (the universal symbol for "record") on it. An audio |
| narration you may need, go to a recording studio and | | | | "track" will appear as if by magic. Start making sounds |
| narrate yourself, or buy expensive specialized | | | | into the microphone. When you're done, click the button |
| equipment and learn to use it so you can set up and | | | | in Audacity with the big yellow square (meaning "stop"). |
| record from a home studio. | | | | Go back to the start of the song by clicking on the |
| All of the options above are valid and effective. But | | | | button in Audacity with the double purple arrows |
| they are not the only viable options, especially if you | | | | pointing to the left. Now listen to what you just |
| are short on time and/or money. Studio time is on | | | | recorded. Done! Want to add another track to play |
| average, about $40 per hour. If you ask your local | | | | simultaneously with your voice? Just click on the |
| music store guy what you'd need to start a home | | | | record button again and a second track will start |
| recording studio, he's going to suggest starting with a | | | | recording underneath the first one. If you're using the |
| budget of at least $500 just for the bare minimums. So | | | | mic for that next track (as opposed to just putting |
| what other choice do you have? | | | | some pre-recorded music or sound effects on it as |
| Honestly, I expect folks not to believe this because it | | | | background), you'll want to make sure you unplug the |
| sounds "too easy." But the truth is that if you have a | | | | speakers from their green jack on the sound card. |
| computer made in the last 10 years that has a sound | | | | Otherwise the mic will pick up what's coming through |
| card, and a microphone...even one of those plastic PC | | | | the speakers as well as what you're actually trying to |
| mics costing $5.00 or less, all you need is to download | | | | put on track 2. In the latter case, you'll probably want to |
| free audio software ( I recommend downloading a | | | | plug some ear-buds or headphones (the kind used for |
| program called Audacity, which is open-source) and | | | | mp3 players will work fine) into the green jack on the |
| you'll have yourself a home recording studio capable | | | | sound card so you can hear the first track while you |
| of multi-track recording and audio editing! I'd wager that | | | | record the second. |
| a huge percentage of folks reading this can put the | | | | You just made a multi-track recording! It really is that |
| above collection together without spending one penny. | | | | easy. If you'd like a bit more of a detailed walk-through, |
| Lots more will only have to shell out the $5.00 for the | | | | you can find some free guides on the web. Of course |
| mic;). | | | | we'd like you to visit the Homebrew Audio website for |
| Once you have the starter studio set-up, all you need | | | | some free starter video tutorials that explain these |
| is to learn audio recording. "Hah!" you may say. "I knew | | | | concepts so anyone can understand them. Happy |
| it couldn't be that easy!" Oh but it is. I'll show you right | | | | recording! |