Using Audacity to create Mp3 files
Audacity is a great open source (i.e. FREE!) sound recording and editing program that can be used to create mp3 files. This is a great way to record oral presentations, lectures, or generate a quick podcast!
- Download the latest stable version of Audacity to your desktop http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/windows
- Once it has completely finished downloading, double click on the icon on your desktop and follow the installation instructions.
- Return to the Audacity downloads page and download the LAME Mp3 encoder (listed under “Optional Downloads”) to your desktop.
- Once it has completely finished downloading, right click on the icon on your desktop and select “Copy” from the menu.
- Go to My Computer and double click on your C:\ drive, then on the Program Files folder, then on the Audacity folder, and then on the Plug-ins folder.
- Once inside the Audacity folder, right click and select “Paste” from the menu.
- Close any windows are return to your desktop. You may now delete any downloaded Audacity or LAME files that are still on your desktop.
- After you have recorded and saved your Audacity audio project, select File --> Export As Mp3.
- Select the location where you want to save the file and give it a file name.
- The first time you do this, a window will pop up asking “Would you like to locate the lame_encode.dll file now?” Click the Yes button.
- Navigate to C:\ drive, Program Files, Audacity folder, and Plug-ins folder and select the lame_encode.dll file that you previously installed.
- You will only have to do steps 3 and 4 the first time you export to mp3. After this initial process, it will automatically export to mp3 for future projects.