Desire2Learn 8.3

Using Audacity to Record & Post Audio Files

This document will give you instructions on how to download Audacity, the Lame MP3 Encoder, and will instruct you on how to record and post an audio file in D2L. (For more information on using Audacity, see the LTS Online Help Documentation.)

Downloading Audacity
Downloading the MP3 Encoder
Finding the Library
Recording Your Audio File
Exporting Your File
Posting Your File to a Discussion in D2L

Downloading Audacity

Go to http://audacity.sourceforge.net
Click DOWNLOAD AUDACITY 1.2.6
The Download page appears.
In the upper right of the the Download page, click DOWNLOAD
The page refreshes to show the Stable and Beta versions.
In the Stable box, click WINDOWS
The page refreshes.
At the end of the Recommended Download section, click AUDACITY 1.2.6 INSTALLER
The File Download dialog box appears.
Click SAVE
Navigate to the desired location
Click SAVE
The Download Complete dialog box appears.
Click RUN
The Internet Explorer Security Warning dialog box appears.
Click RUN
The Audacity Setup Wizard appears.
Click NEXT
Select Accept
Click NEXT
Click NEXT
Click NEXT
A window appears indicating that the folder is already installed.
Click YES
Click NEXT
Click INSTALL
Click FINISH
Audacity is now installed on your computer.

Downloading the MP3 Encoder

Go to http://audacity.sourceforge.net
Click DOWNLOAD AUDACITY 1.2.6
The Download page appears.
In the Optional Downloads section, click LAME MP3 ENCODER
The Help page appears.
In the Windows section, click LAME DOWNLOAD PAGE
The Lame MP3 Encoder Binaries page opens.
In the For Audacity on Windows section, click LIPMP3LAME-WIN-3.97.ZIP
The File Download dialog box appears.
Click SAVE
The Save As dialog box appears.
Navigate to the desired location
Click SAVE
Click OPEN
The Internet Explorer Security dialog box appears.
Click ALLOW
An Windows Explorer window appears displaying the Lame file.
Select the file
Click EXTRACT ALL FILES
The Select Destination dialog box appears.
Navigate to the desired location
Click EXTRACT
The lame_enc.dll file has now been extracted to your computer. You will use this file later.

Finding the Library

Before creating an audio file, there are a few steps you need to take.

Open Audacity
From the Edit menu, select Preferences
The Audacity Preferences window appears.
Select the File Formats tab
Select Make a copy of the file before editing
Click FIND LIBRARY
The Export MP3 dialog box appears.
Click YES
Navigate to and select lame_enc.dll
Click OPEN
You are returned to the Preferences dialog box.
Click OK

Recording Your Audio File

Every time you record an audio file, you should test your equipment. To properly test your equipment, refer to Testing Your Equipment.

Open Audacity
Click RECORD
Begin speaking
Click STOP
To hear your audio file, click PLAY
OPTIONAL: To re-record,
1. Close the track
2. Repeat steps 2-4
From the File pull-down menu, select Save Project As
The Save Project As dialog box appears.
Navigate to the desired location
In the File name text box, type the desired name
Click SAVE

Exporting Your File

From the File pull-down menu, select Export As MP3
The Save MP3 File As dialog box appears.
In the File name text box, type a name
Navigate to the desired save location
Click SAVE
The Edit the ID3 tags for the MP3 file dialog box appears.
Fill in the appropriate information
Click OK
Your file is exported.

Posting Your File to a Discussion in D2L

From the Course Home page, on the Navigation bar, click DISCUSSIONS
The Forums & Topics List pane appears.
Click the desired topic
Click COMPOSE
The Compose pane appears.
In the Subject text box, type the subject
In the Message text box, type the desired text
In the Attachments section, click ADD A FILE
The Submit a File pane appears.
Click BROWSE...
The Choose File pane appears.
Navigate to the desired MP3 file
Click OPEN
Click UPLOAD
In the Compose pane, click POST
Your message and MP3 file are posted.