Audacity Download - (use it to S-L-O-W-down ‘sticky’ areas of a song to learn better!)

Select image - to go to audacity download

Select image - to go to audacity download

Audacity is a free, easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems.

To GO and get it, SELECT the Audacity logo image >>

You can use Audacity to:

  • Record live audio.

  • Record computer playback on any Windows machine.

  • Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.

  • Edit WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP2, MP3 or Ogg Vorbis sound files.

  • AC3, M4A/M4R (AAC), WMA and other formats supported using the optional FFmpeg library.

  • Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together.

  • Numerous effects including change speed or pitch and vocal reduction or isolation (given suitable stereo tracks).

  • And more! See the complete list of features at their web site.


From a barbershop harmony Music & Performance guru ...

Audacity allows you to record yourself (on your PC or Mac) singing with the other 3 parts on a learning track.  Then you can play it back and hear how you did: were you on time or late to chords? ... did you "fuzz" any words? ...  and of course did you get all the notes right?

Some links to help you with all the details and points you might need to some of the uses and training on Audacity:

Other YouTube videos are available.  While on YouTube, search AUDACITY.

If your part is on the left, after loading a learning track into Audacity, a balance slider will let you turn off your part by sliding it all the way to the right.  Then when you click 'Record' you will only hear the other 3 parts, while your voice will go onto a second track.  When you are done click on "Stop", rewind, then play back the combination.  Good blend?  You are halfway there.

Now here's a second little trick.  Without doing anything else, slide the balance slider from a learning track all the way to the left, and click "Play" again.  Now you will hear your voice and Learning Track both - singing your part!  The two should be completely synchronized in timing, pitch and word sounds.  If not, well you have some work to do there.

To use Audacity you will need a computer or mobile device, the downloaded software installed, a headset, or, a pair of earphones or earbuds,and a microphone, to plug into your device.  Inexpensive headsets can be purchased on line, for example at Staples or at Walmart:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Cyber-Acoustics-AC201-Speech-Recognition-Stereo-Headset-and-Boom-Mic-PC/10264008?adid=22222222227000009484&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=57795449049&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=57000680705&veh=sem

or search anywhere online for "headset and microphone for computer".

For those of you who are serious about being able to sing in tune, this should help a lot over time.