Easy recording question

[Timbo]

Hi,

This is probably a newbie question. I did try to read the instructions.

I have imported a short stereo Mp3 sound clip. I want to record some brief audio from the built in microphone in my MacBook, so that the recording will be inserted into the stereo clip, at the same point, in both channels.

What happens now is -- When I click on the "record" button, a third track is created and the built-in microphone records a mono track, which seems to begin at the end of the imported stereo Mp3.

I understand I might have to live with the third mono track from the microphone. In that case, how do I cut or copy that track and paste it into both stereo tracks at the same point?

Thanks in advance.


Timbo

[kozikowski]

You're close.

Go into Audacity Preferences...

Audacity > Preferences > Audio I/O > Recording > Built-In Audio, 2 (Stereo).
Audacity > Preferences > Quality > 44100, 16-bit.
OK

Restart Audacity without your MP3 file and check that your preferences "stuck." Press record and you should get a stereo recording of your voice. It's actually two-channel mono, but who's counting.

Select your voice, Edit > Copy. Open up the music track and Project > New Stereo Track > paste your voice. When you press play, both tracks should play at once. You can slide either track earlier or later to line them up with Project > Align Tracks.

Koz

[Timbo]

Thanks a bunch.

I realized that once I have a stereo recording, I can just select tracks 3 and 4, cut, and paste into the the imported stereo track, i.e., tracks 1 and 2. That seems to work fine.

Timbo

[kozikowski]

I probably wouldn't paste unless you're perfectly sure both recordings are at exactly the same audio standard. Best leave each one on its own timeline and slide each one back and forth for proper timing. They will both play at once unless you tell them not to with the Solo and Mute buttons.

Koz