Product Review for Sound Editing: Audacity

A Free Online Sound Editing Program

A long time ago, I thought I wanted to be a record producer. I didn’t think it would be all that hard. Back in the 80’s I would do that extremely low-rent version of laying tracks: take one cassette tape player, press play, and sing along while another cassette tape player recorded it. Nowadays I carry on my dream using more up-to-date technology for sound editing that goes by the name of Audacity. And the best part about the program? It’s free.

Audacity is a sound editing program developed by a company called Sourceforge. Sourceforge developed this as a “free”, open-source program that allows any user to do basic sound editing with all kinds of sound-file types to include .wav and .mp3. You are encouraged to make donations to keep it free. Downloading the program from audacity.soulforge.net is a cinch and it’s only a bit over 2 Meg. The download link on the top of the screen leads you to several mirror sites that are free and take almost no time to start if you have high-speed internet.

Once you get the program started, you’ll notice that the button layout is fairly simple. To me, the best way to start experimenting with the buttons is to use your internet microphone. Make sure it’s plugged in and that the small drop-down menu in the top tool bar is set to microphone (it should be by default.) Click the red record button at the top and start speaking. You’ll see those nifty little sound wave graphics pop up. Once you’re done, press play and hear yourself!