How to save a recording and then come back to work on it?

[basicquestion]

Hello, I am completely unfamiliar with recording technology. How do I use audacity to make a single file that I can come back to work on it after I save it? I'm trying to memorize material for a test and want to be able to do something other than read the material I want to memorize over and over again. I know how to save material on audacity (sort of) but I'm not sure the correct way to record, save, then come back and make another recording (which I want to play continuously with the previous one). When I say continuously I just mean right after the other, I have specific segments of code and other legal material I am trying to memorize, it doesn't need to be music quality, it just needs to work. For example, I need to be able to record section 2-701 to my satisfaction, save it, then start again and record section 2-702, and once I get that right save it in a way that lets it play right after the previous section. What I need is perhaps pretty simple, but I've never used the program before and when I save it and hit record again it starts a new bar which makes me think I'm not doing it right.

[solanus]

OK, I think you have a few misconceptions that need to be cleared up first.
When you record something in Audacity, and then Save it, it's not really a single file. "Save" means save the project, which creates an .aup file (containing the parameters of the project) and a folder that contains one or more .au files, which contain the audio data. The project can only be opened by Audacity. If you really need to create a single file, especially one that can be played by other software, you'll need to use the "Export" function.
However, it looks like you are more concerned with recording using a single track, rather than a separate track being created every time you restart recording, it's pretty easy: hold down the SHIFT key when you hit the record button. You can also find this function under the "Transport" menu as "Append Record".
This info and more is included in the Help files.

[kozikowski]

That's "Append Record" and it's only available in Audacity 1.3. If you get enough for a single show, you can Export as WAV to get a single, stand-alone music file that will open almost anywhere.

You can also add the lame software package and Export as MP3 for your portable music player.

Koz

[basicquestion]

Okay, now I downloaded that, and just tried to "append record" but I kept hearing myself at odd intervals(I'd hear a word via the headphones, then not hear myself via the headphones for awhile, then hear myself); I hadn't had this problem before. It was distracting. Is this typical or fixable?

[steve]

I kept hearing myself at odd intervals(I'd hear a word via the headphones, then not hear myself via the headphones for awhile, then hear myself); I hadn't had this problem before. It was distracting. Is this typical or fixable?

It's not typical, it may be fixable but I'm not sure exactly what you mean.

Let's back-track a bit.
Are you clear about the difference between "Saving" an "Audacity Project" and "Exporting" an "audio file"? http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/Audacity_Projects
Are you now able to resume recording from the end of the previously recorded track? (Append Record http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/Basi ... _Exporting )
Are you hearing what you have just said through the headphones (an echo of what you are recording)?
Are you using a USB microphone?

We may be able to shortcut the trouble shooting - Look near the bottom of the "Transport" menu. If "Software Playthrough" is enabled, deselect it (turn it off). Does that fix the problem?

[basicquestion]

Well, I can fix that problem by turning off the sound (and its not a consistent echo, not during the whole time I am recording. . . i.e. a word, then silence for a few moments, then another word, then silence).

However now I have a problem in that the recording strength just changed, it isn't picking me up as well and sometimes says there is a problem, sometimes the graphic which depicts my voice is just much smaller and I can still hear myself when I replay it but not as strongly as before. I am not sure if this is a hardware problem or a software problem, or if it is easily fixable by changing my settings.

[kozikowski]

This problem sounds just like Windows trying to help you.

Windows Enhanced Sound
http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 79&start=0

Koz