Audacity Forum

I am doing a recording of Jingle bells and I want the introduction to be a fade in from the left (as if the sleigh bells/horse clip-clop is approaching the listener), start the song, do the song, and have the sleigh bells/clip-clops pan right and fade out after the singing is done (as if the sleigh/horse is continuing). I want to give the impression that a sleigh full of people comes toward the listener, sings the song and then continues on its merry way.

(something similar was used at the end of Mannheim Steamroller's recording of Silent Night, if my description wasn't sufficient).

Is that possible? If so, how?

THANKS SO MUCH!!!

To fade the sound in from the left:

1) If you are starting with a stereo track, click on the track name and from the drop down menu select "Split Stereo Track" (NOT "Split Stereo to Mono").
2) If you're starting with a mono track, make a duplicate of the track (select the track then select "Duplicate" from the Edit menu), then click on the name of the upper track and select "Left Channel", then click on the name of the second track and select "Right Channel".
3) Select the upper track and from the Effect menu select "Cross Fade In".
4) Select the lower track and from the Effect menu select "Fade In".

This will create a fade-in from the left over the duration of the entire track.
To make the fade-in last for the first (say) 5 seconds, just select the first 5 seconds for steps 3 and 4.