"Audacity" is the fabulous application - it's very good and absolutely legaly free open-source.
Here's where you can download it: http://audacityteam.org/download/
Here's where you can download it: http://audacityteam.org/download/
After installation Audacity should automatically detect the mic and you can start record right away I think,
but check the record sourse.
but check the record sourse.
To record, first of all press the pause button, then the record button, and then release the pause button.
In the end you should export the sound to some file type - you can choose 'flac' or 'ogg' for example.
We looked at the case where we played the background track outside of Audacity. You can even play it on other device - on your phone for example. Use headphones, so the mic wouldn't catch the back track.
Also, you can use Audacity itself to play the back track. It can play
one track and record another on the same time, you don't need to wander
through crapy menus with mysterious options.
A little issue may appear though, when using mp3-encoded track, or exporting recorded audio into an mp3 file. Audacity is free open-source software, and mp3 format is patented in some countries and some States. But in all other cases, one may install an mp3 library to encode/decode audio.
mp3 'Lame' codec for Windows: http://lame.buanzo.org/Lame_v3.99.3_for_Windows.exe
mp3 'Lame' codec for OSX: http://lame.buanzo.org/Lame_Library_v3.98.2_for_Audacity_on_OSX.dmg
Also, keep in mind that if you record without automatic level control or some sort of limiter, you may overlap the level. In plain english - you don't want to sing or play the instrument too loud. You can check the levels in Audacity, they're supposed to be to the right from the play button by default - if you're too loud, they go red. Better play quieter - you can amlify the recorded signal very easily and lossless. Instead, if you overlap the levels, signal will be distorted and cut, and you won't be able to restore the information that's lost. The best way to avoid getting into this is to simply step back a little from the mic.
audiosonica.com - Multimedia Audio Course by Marco Sacco / Distortion
Modern integrated microphones in laptops and tablets are much better than those "The Doors", "Velvet Underground", "Animals", "Moody Blues", "Beatles" etc. used to record their music back in 60s. Those records don't seem to sound bad even today. And worth mentioning that not only voice was recorded with microphones, but also drums, and sometimes even guitars. It's like with colors - our cognition works in such a way that the absolute value of a color (like is it pale or bright) doesn't mean much to us, but ratio is what makes difference. We perceive things relative to other things.
YouTube.com - The Doors - Riders On The Storm
history.sandiego.edu - Recording Technology History
mp3 'Lame' codec for Windows: http://lame.buanzo.org/Lame_v3.99.3_for_Windows.exe
mp3 'Lame' codec for OSX: http://lame.buanzo.org/Lame_Library_v3.98.2_for_Audacity_on_OSX.dmg
Also, keep in mind that if you record without automatic level control or some sort of limiter, you may overlap the level. In plain english - you don't want to sing or play the instrument too loud. You can check the levels in Audacity, they're supposed to be to the right from the play button by default - if you're too loud, they go red. Better play quieter - you can amlify the recorded signal very easily and lossless. Instead, if you overlap the levels, signal will be distorted and cut, and you won't be able to restore the information that's lost. The best way to avoid getting into this is to simply step back a little from the mic.
audiosonica.com - Multimedia Audio Course by Marco Sacco / Distortion
Modern integrated microphones in laptops and tablets are much better than those "The Doors", "Velvet Underground", "Animals", "Moody Blues", "Beatles" etc. used to record their music back in 60s. Those records don't seem to sound bad even today. And worth mentioning that not only voice was recorded with microphones, but also drums, and sometimes even guitars. It's like with colors - our cognition works in such a way that the absolute value of a color (like is it pale or bright) doesn't mean much to us, but ratio is what makes difference. We perceive things relative to other things.
YouTube.com - The Doors - Riders On The Storm
history.sandiego.edu - Recording Technology History
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