Audacity Setup

The directions below are also available in Word and PDF format for download.

I would recommend making two changes to Audacity before recording your audio. The purpose of these changes is to reduce the file size without losing noticeable quality. I tested the default settings and the settings recommended in this document. The recording at the default settings was 744 kb at the settings below the recording was 198 kb. The new setting created a file less than one third the size of the original and with little loss in quality. (PDF Version of these instructions.)

Step 1: Bit Rate - Bits recorded each second.

The default setting is 128 bps (Bits per second). Based on tests reduce the setting to 32 bps.

1. Choose Preferences from File Menu. (Shown at Right)
Next click on the File Formats Tab. (Shown Below)
In the lower portion of the window change the Bit Rate to 32. (It is a pull down menu.)
Click OK in the lower right corner of the window. (Not Shown)

I did a recording at both settings so you can compare the quality.

Test recording at 128 Bit Stop and 44100 hz
( File size 598 kb)

Test recording at 32 Bit Stop and 11025 hz
( File size 150 kb)

You can see the size of the recording is using the new settings is about 25% of the recording using the default settings.

Step 2: (HZ) - Samples per second.

We want to change the HZ or Project rate from

44100 to 11035. You will find this setting in

the lower left corner of Audacity.
(Shown below.)

Before

After