Thank you for using this Audacity Professional manual.
As the title explains, this manual for the software Audacity is for professional users and is not intended to be a text for beginners.
This manual will be useful for：
- People who have worked in studios since the era of multi-track recording using analog tapes and now feel
uncomfortable with regular DAW systems or have doubts about using them.
- Operators who are familiar with a DAW system, but are not fully satisfied with it.
- People who have been frustrated with Audacity in the past.
- People who have been seeking a work station for electronic music.
- People who have been seeking new music and sounds (and new ideas about them).
- People who have been searching for an excellent partner for a flash memory recorder or the Alesis HD 24.
- People who have had trouble with super-long recordings.
- People who want to recover a damaged audio file, or wish to inflict damage upon a file.
- This manual works with Audacity up to version 1.3.11.
The manual has been made under consideration of the points stated above.
Since it is not a beginner’s manual, there are no colorful graphs or pictures, but this should not be a problem for users who are in need of essential information.
You can open the manual as a plain text file, viewable in a variety of operating systems (from MSX-DOS to UNIX), and you can arrange it by adding your own notes to the text. If you wish to read and learn the contents in detail, we recommend printing out a hard copy of the file.
As a professional manual, it does not contain much explanation regarding the basic knowledge of music and sound.
If the reader of this manual needs such explanation, please refer to other introductory materials or stand by until we create a series of manuals for beginners.
We are also planning to add practice exercises related to electronic music and general mixing.
Difficulty Level
Some of the experts that received this manual for review have pointed out that it requires the knowledge of a Master of Engineering, or at least 5 years of working experience in the field.
Some sections may be particularly difficult, but the manual includes many helpful tips (especially for readers familiar with the field of musical art). Additionally, there has been consideration about the style of the manual regarding the use of language and formulas, and the inclusion of the author’s experiences and ideas to make it a more enjoyable reading experience.
Therefore we recommend that you begin reading with the sections that you understand. On the other hand, the artistic theories contained in this manual might get in way to properly understand Audacity.
However, by discovering our own weaknesses as well as the reader’s, we can hope to learn how to better complement each other. In any case, we are confident that this manual will provide satisfying results!
You can use both Audacity and this manual for free, but some expenses will be required for the hardware that enables Audacity to operate smoothly.
However, this expense is much less than the average cost required in the introduction of a DAW. The exclusive use of a hard disc is the most important factor, so please prepare an exclusive partition.
Yes, We Audacious !
○Introduction
+Introduction
+the origin & the source of this text
+
+User Guide＆TOS
+Construction of the series
○Outline
+Introduction
+What it can be used for
+Co-operation with Flash Memory Recorders
+To master the limit of a skill
+ Co-operation with the ALESIS HD24
+To make electronic music
+To use for multi track recordings
+External synchronization
+Applications for measurement purposes
+Versions of audacity you can get
+The difference from normal DAW
+Sampling frequency
+bit depth
+Off-line processing
+Original effects
+Equalization
+Time frame slide / Pitch change
+File to file processing
+audacity and fragmentation
+OS problems
+Editing Accuracy
+Interaction with hearing
+Reverberation processing
○Required hardware
+Specifications of PC that acudacity requires
+Other essential Hardwares
+Monitors
+Audio interface
+Unknown problems of Hard disc drive
+Optical drive
+Software for Optical drive
+Power-supply unit
+Display
+Summary
+About settings of Windows ( XP as an example)
+Let's display extension
+Hidden attributes
+Forbidden registry
+Restore point
+Virus
+How to get a dedicated notebook computer
+What does dedication mean?
+How to choose your model
○Version ＆ Install
+portable configuration
○Other useful software (In order of registration)
+Etiquette & Search strategy
+ WaveSpectra、WaveGene、WaveCompare (Analysis, Verify, reproduction, and signal generation)
+Sampler the EKOTA (Generation, reproduction, and performance)
+r8brain (Rate conversion)
+fftwsg、WaveTone、pmonitor (Spectrogram)
+wtctrl (scale matching)
+SGWatch、SGSerch、SGLauncher (assistance)
+TinyMon (status management)
+HIDEMARU (Text editor)
+Stirling、Dump4w、DANDP (Binary editor)
+Clipdesk、imemo、ｃCalc （Calculation）
○Troubleshooting
+1) Nothing appears on screen after starting your computer.
+Treatment of non-installing software
+About how to how to make it portable
+2) Twitching in playback
+3)You cannot gat back to work after the end of progress bar.
+4) Progress bar stops halfway through.
+5) Runtime error occurres because of long processing time.
+6) The output file size becomes '0 bites'.
+7) You are lost when the hard disc gets full .....
+8)Waveform display remains as a giant progress bar.
+9) Noise appears at editing points.
+10) You can't get enough frequency accuracy in measurement purposes.
+11) Your computer hangs up when you playback sine waves for measurement purposes.
+12) Waveform display becomes huge and you can't fix it.
+13) A file can't be normally loaded because it is broken.
+14) You can't normally open up a project file.
+15)Numerical entry of equalization isn't properly reflected.
+16) Noise occurs when you operate during recording.
+17) Band division by equalization becomes irreversible.
+18) The sound of a record played back by the phono equalizer is different.
+19) How to initialize audacity
+20) Sound from a speaker that shouldn't make sound
+21) Long length AIFF file can't be normally loaded.
+22)The sound breaks up during recording by sending to CD writer using SPDIF.
+23) Something is wrong with the Time Shift Tool.
○open and close files
+How to open the file
+Bug information
+Track sort
+File Names & Read-in
+In case that the file cannot be read in
+Simultaneous read-in of various types of sampling frequencies
+How to open project files
+Notes on use of project files
+How to know the format of the read-in wav file
+Sound file export
+Export mode
+Exporting to alesis HD24
+Custom Mix Export Mode
+export
+Exporting selected area
+Export Multiple tracks
+Tips for exporting
○File Management
+Today's Issues of the absence of original media
○edit1
+Main tool
+Selection tool（F1)
+Functions of the Selection Tool
+Quick Playback
+Drag
+Range Specification & Display Counter
+Edit Location Management Information = Label Track & Selection Tool
+envelope tool（F2）
+Changing Fader Strokes
+Logarithmic Wave Display & Envelope Tool
+Operating the Envelope Tool
+Re-examination of Work
+Envelope Tool-Interactive Timing
+Notes on the Envelope Tool
+Draw tool（F3)
+Zoom tool（F4)
+Time shift tool（F5)
+Function & Effects
+Relationship with Labels
+Track/Label Interactive Mode
+Track/Label Non-interactive Mode
+Time Shift Only for Label
+What it can be used for
+Drama & Soundtrack
+Correction of Multitrack Recording & Stereo Pair Micing
+comb filter effect
+Calculation method
+Control Regulation of “timing” in Multitrack Recording
+Methods in the Analog Era
+Latency Compensation
+Latency Calibration
+Exporting Tracks Operated with Time Shift Tool
+Multi Tool
+Summary of Other Auxiliary Tracks
+time track
+label track
+stereo track
+Add-ons of Time Shift Tool ( Transfer and Junction between Tracks)
○edit2
+Cut&Paste of Copy and so on ( About Whole and Partial)
+copy & paste (Ctrl+C Ctrl+V)
+cut & move (Ctrl+X)
+split cut (Ctrl+Alt+X)
+trim (Ctrl+T)
+delete (Ctrl+K)
+split delete (Ctrl+Alt+K)
+silence audio (Ctrl+L)
+split (Ctrl+I)
+split new (Ctrl+Alt+I)
+join (Ctrl+J)
+duplicate (Ctrl+D)
+Connection Methods Other Than The Attachment Command
+Connection Backup Command
+Automatic Settlement of Accurate Edit Positions
+Continuous “Fabrication”
+Starting Phase of Function Wave
+fade in & fade out
+Fade In & Out Command
+Fade by Envelope Tool
+Auto-dog Command
+Other Plug-In Commands
+How to Extend Fades
+Label Tracking & Tracking of Multiple Tracks
+Linear scale & Logarithmic scale
○about 'View'
+Configuration of Audacity As a Whole・Display of Status
+Display of Input-Output Level As Frames
+Analysis Display As Frames
+Configuration & Status For Each Track
+Level Display For Each Track
+Analysis Display of Each Track (Spectrogram Pitch)
○Menu of Each Tracks
+Outline
+Ｄｅｌｅｔｅ
+Pulldown Mark
+Display of Track Configuration
+Display the Sampling Frequency of Track
+Display of Bit Depth
+Mute/Solo Button
+Track Gain Slider
+Pan Slider
+Track Display Width Shortening Button
+Track Pulldown Menu
+Track Name
+Transfer the Track Display Position
+Types of Track Display
+Wave form (Linear)
+Wave form (dB)
+Spectrogram （Linear）
+Spectrogram （ｄＢ）
+pitch（EAC)
+Track type
+Mono,Left,Ｒｉｇｈｔ Channel
+Make stereo Track
+Split Stereo Track
+Set bit depth
+Set Sampling rate
○Transport & Track Level Display
+Transport Control
+Controls peculiar to playback systems
+Controls peculiar to recording systems
+Interface Settings
+loop play
+Playback Speed Adjust Button
+Track level display (Linear or Logarithmic compression)
+New meter displays after version 1.3.8
+Controlling the measurement of the level display
○bit depth & Dither
+Outline
+bit depth
+During the use of dither
+When dither is not in use
+A/D & D/A Converter & Dither
○sampling frequency 1
+Outline
+Management of Sampling Frequency in Audacity
+Sampling Frequency of Project & Sampling Frequency of Each Track
+Read-in
+effect (plug in)
+Export
+Resampling Settings
+Equalization & sampling frequency
+FFT Base Issues
+Sampling Theorem
+Merits & Demerits of Resampling
+Variable Speed in Tapes
+Variable Speed in Tapes ( Others)
+Simultaneous Processing of Different Sampling Frequencies
+Summary
+Conversion chart
○sampling frequency 2
+Application to Music
+Resolving the inability of Fast & Accurate Performance
+How much change in tape speed will cause the sound become 'weird'
+Amount of Pitch change (Cent) & Sampling Frequency
+Calculating formula
+Conversion chart
+Just intonation
+Just intonation & Tuning
+The contradiction of Pop music
+Guitar Tuning Examples
+Other Applications
+Difference from Plug-ins
+Application to MIDI Sequence
+External Resample Program
○Number of tracks and dB (How to deal with clips)
+Conversion chart
+When you will need it
+FAQ
+The sound file clipped after mixing multiple tracks.
+Electronic Music Resolution
+Making use of Track Gain
+Internal Calculation Format
+Partial Floating Point & Full Floating-point Arithmetic (before ver,1.3.7 & after ver, 1.3.8)
○Where is the Master Fader?
+How to properly use the Master Fader
+Additional Reason
+In Audacity
+Operation Procedure with Audacity
+The innovation achieved by Full Floating-point Arithmetic
○Setting up audacity and hints (Synopsis)
+preference
+audio devices
+quality
+import / export
+interface
+spectrograms
+directories
+Smart recording (Sound Activated Recording)
+Theme
+Keyboard Shortcut List & Setup
+List of how mouse operation is reflected
Knowledge
○Audacity & Chance / Improvisation
+What "chance" means in music
+John Cage
+Audacity & Necessity
○MTR Recording
+When & How the MTR was introduced in music
+Common problems with PC base MTRs
+Combination use with dedicated machines ( Zoom R16, H4n)
+Examples of merits and demerits of the zoom R16
+Sharing the files in the zoom R16 with Audacity
+Specific procedure
+Risks & How to avoid them
+Range & Scale of Loss
+measures
+Delete Inconvenient Work History in Audacity ( Invalidation of UNDO)
+Comparison with Audio IF MMode
+Notes on Driver Installation
○stream & file
+Information that exists as sounds are all stream
+The mainframe computer is dedicated for file processing
+Difference between stream and file
+A dedicated stream machine=Recorder
+Jitter
○Expanded wav file & Audacity
+BWF
+metadata
+Custom mix
+File structuring
○What is a Reverb?
+Well-known facts
+Necessity in Multi Track Recording
+Suggestion from the author
○Analysis
+Monitor Noise Issue
+Musical-Function Issue
+Analysis functions contained in Audacity
+FFT Technology
+variation
+Utilization of Other Useful Software
+Combination with Audacity
+What & How to use
+Analysis of Noise
+Supporting a musicians Performance
+Support of deciding the parameters of Effect's
+Support analysis with Audacity (Single-periodic Analysis)
○Recommendation of Sound Profiling
○Input&Output to Alesis HD24
+Outline
+Merits in Combined Use
+about 'HD24tools'
+File formats that can be shared
+Reminder for using Audacity
+Notes on File Naming
+Reminder Folder Structures
+File Structure of Alesis HD24
+Merits of Co-operation with Audacity
○Co-operation with Portable Redorders
+Difference between traditional recorders and flash memory recorders of the mainstream these days
+Merits of Co-operating with Audacity
+Background of the Birth of the Multi Track Recorder
+Co-operation with Portable Recorders
+Application as External Reverberation
+Using Audacity as a Partner of Super-long Length Recording
+Difference of Working Time by Read-in Procedure
+Characteristics of Zoom H series of example
+Support by High-performance Stopwatch Soft
+Co-operation with the Portable MTR R16
Plug-In
○New Equalization
+Ｏｕｔｌｉｎｅ
+Original Meaning
+Equalizer contained in Audacity
+Filter Type
+Quality of FFT Filter
+Relationship with Sampling Frequency
+Setting Data
+How to use
+Management Procedure
+How to request the setup of a Polygonal Curve
+Thinking Method
+Frequency Region Splitting
+The Concept of Cut off
+Numerical Entry Method
+Particular way of Use
+Advanced method of use
+Further Possibility of the Coordinate Amplitude Filter
+Notes
○Ａｍｐｌｉｆｉｃａｔｉｏｎ・Normalization
+Amplify
+List of Amplification Commands in Audacity
+Each Feature
+Amplification in Digital
+Function
+Effective Operation
+Notes on Internal Practice Procedure
+Normalization Function
+The harm of Offset
○Normalization of Recording Level & S/N Ratio
+What is a Recording Level ?
+Difference from the Analog Era
+Quantization noise
+The way you amplify will make difference in the results
+Easy mastering technology
+Meaning of Writing Down on Papers
○Gain reduction （Compressor,Limiter,Expander,Noise gate)
+Outline
+Purpose
+Original Reason of Its Use
+In a more technical way.....
+Compressor
+Limiter
+Explanatory Remarks ( Difference between Compressors and Limiters)
+Expander
+Noise gate
+Sidechain
+Common Parameter to Gain Reduction
+threshold level
+About Graphic Display
+Noise floor
+Reference: Hearing S/N ratio and FFT
-+ratio
-+attack time
+Reference・Analog vs Digital Equivalence Prediction Processing
+Release time
+Other Switches
+Normalization Function after Compression
+What is Calibration?
+Compression based on Peak
+Level Overcharge
○Reverse and Invert
+Weak Points of Human Thoughts
+Reverse
+Application
+Infusing a hidden message
+Seeking for New Sound
+Invert
+Difference between Polarity and Phase
+Application
+Application to Correction
+Turning Monoral Sources to Stereo
+Removal of the Center Component
+Evaluating the identity of master and copy
+Optical Drive Issue
○Repeat
+Ｒｅｐｅａｔ Command
+Substitution by Copy Command
+Processing in case that joint noise appears
+Remove DC offset
+Application of Repeat Function
+Profiling of Periodic Function Noise
+Making a Special Function Wave
○Operating the time frame
+Change tempo, Change pitch, Slide Time Scale/Pitch Shift
+Details・Algorithm
+"Change of Time Scale's Slide & Pitch"
+Keys for Entry・Operation
○Vocorder
+Entry, Setup Method
+Equivalent Block Graphic by Analog Circuit
+Movement Outline
+audacity's vocoder
+In order to convert
+What is a Formant?
+Application for Encryption
+Application for Music
○noise removal
+"Removal of Noise" Plug in
+Processing Procedure
+Learning Steps
+Application Steps
○Lowering of Window Noise ( Equalization #2)
+Directional Structure & Character of Microphones
+Applying the "Removal of Noise"
+Examining noise spectrum
+Basic Setup of Wave Spectra. exe
+Notes on the Simultaneous Use of Wave Spectra & Audacity
+Setup of Equalization
+Isolater Technique
○Ring Modulation
+Ｏｕｔｌｉｎｅ
+Modulation・Demodulation Methods
○VST plugins
+plugins?
+Warning against easy use
+What is to be essentially done and the parsimonious spirit
+Limitations in case of using in Audacity
Application
○Using as signal source1
+Simple exposition (Details of Modern Music)
+Material ＆ Ａｕｄｉｏ source
+Potential of old generation
+Potential of that Audacity can achieve
+Chirp signal
+DTMF Tones
○Using as signal source 2
+Noise exposition
+White noise
+Pink noise
+Brown noise
+Other Noise1
+Filter Cutout from White Noise
+Other Noise2
+Hand Draw
+Other Noise3
+Abstruction from Arithmetic・Numerical Sequence and Phenomenon
○Trying the Haas effect
+What is a Haas effect
+Fixing setup disconnect
+Analysis Example classical work using the Haas effect
○Delta's abstraction by Audacity
+Setup for delta's abstraction
+Delta's abstraction operating
+Determination
+Determination Example
+FAQ
○Setting length
+what is 'length'?
+Synchronous drive
+Setting length
+Time Track
+How to enter
+Other programs to correct deviation
+Peculiar variable-speed function of Audacity
+Application of external sample engine
+Application of "change of time scale's slide pitch"
○Fixing slightly different sampling frequencies
+the fact of being slightly different
+Exposition
+How to correct
+How to calculate
+Getting the true sampling frequency
○Application to M-S matrix processing
+What Mid-Side stereo is
+Introduction
+Operating as a practical matter
+How to operate
+Interconversion with XXY stereo
+A reciprocal relationship of M-S, X-Y, L-R
+Using plug-ins
○Wreck & Reparation of files
+Symptim: Turning to noise in the middle of the file
+Cause
+Correspondence
+Correspondence in the case that regularity cannot be found
○Acquaintanceship of balance mixing
+Introduction
+what is fader control?
+Way to think about balance mixing
+realism
+Proof
+How to be balanced
+Effective training method
○Problems with ever-lasting arguments, or the Utsunomiya Theory
+Policy
+Jitter problem
+Fourier problem
+Stream & file problem
+How to think about reliability
+Vagueness of what is heard
+convolution (Sampling reverb)
+Vagueness of unit system, term, definition
+The dog's marking & creativity
○Measurement & proofreading
+Qualitative measurement & self-proofreading of Jitters
+Definition of Jitters in this statement
+The harm of Jitters
+Observance with FFT
+Self-proofreading
+Optimization
+Analysis example
+Address of thanks
+Phase difference & polar character & time difference
+How to find out aberrance
+What can be seen with the oscilloscope (Lissajous)
+Setup concerning Wave Spectra's Lissajous
+Actual Lissajous drawing example
+Trouble shooting
+latency
○latency
+General contents
+Outline
+Free ware used
+Measurement 1 How to use universal counter
+How to use digital recording (Audacity)
+Measurement 2 Way of using Lissajous
+Measurement 3 Upgrade of measurement
+FAQ
○Removal of single delay
+Outline
+Simple interest algorithm
+Algorithm 1a
+Algorithm 1b
+Compound interest algorithm
+Algorithm 2a
+Algorithm 2b