Audacity [1] is one of those "must-have" tools for anyone who records or edits audio files. It is cross-platform (macOS, Windows, Linux), making sharing files and collaboration easier. The Audacity audio editor and recorder comes with an easy-to-use interface and works with a wide range of hardware. Audacity supports direct microphone or through-a-mixer recording in mono or stereo, and it includes some convenient keyboard shortcuts for more efficient editing. You can record directly into Audacity or open most audio and some video file types for editing. In this article, I cover direct recording into Audacity using a single source (microphone) and some basic editing. You will only use a handful of effects and features for simple podcasting. The effects I describe in this article are the ones I use most often. I've done some advanced editing, but those few times are exceptions.

Pro Tip: Make your podcast more appealing to listeners by removing silence, adding intro and outro clips, and adding background music.

One of the most-often-asked questions about podcasting is, "How much does it cost to start a podcast?" The answer sounds sarcastic, but it ranges from $0 to thousands. It's $0 if you have a functional computer running Linux, use an onboard microphone, and install Audacity. Hosting might also be free if you use one of the free online aggregation services. These services take your podcast and distribute it to seven or eight of the big podcast providers, such as Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and others. You could also purchase a new computer, a new high-end microphone or set of microphones, a mixing device, and you get the idea. If you have a computer you can use, install Linux on it, install Audacity, and buy a good microphone. The microphone's price often reflects its quality. However, a microphone at the $100 price point will serve you well. You can always upgrade later should you acquire sponsors or followers who donate to your show.

Audacity's official features include the ability to:

• Record live audio
• Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs
• Edit WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP2, MP3, or Ogg Vorbis sound files
• Export and import AC3, M4A/M4R (AAC), WMA, and other formats using optional libraries
• Cut, copy, splice, or mix sounds together
• High quality sound recording at 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit
• Add numerous effects, including changing the speed or pitch of a recording, as well as Fade In, Fade Out, and Truncate Silence
• Use LADSPA, LV2, Nyquist, VST, and Audio Unit plugins
• Write your own custom plugins

Using Audacity

I've used Audacity since 2008 when I first started podcasting. It was already a mature product by then and had every feature and plugin I needed to create and edit podcasts and other audio files. The two most important aspects of Audacity for podcasting are recording and editing. Everyone will tell you that sound is the most important part of a film or video, but even more so for a podcast with no visual cues to derive meaning or context. Your sound quality must be superior. You can improve the quality of poorly recorded audio using Audacity's features and plugins, but it will always sound less than ideal. Quality sound begins with quality equipment, and I cover recording hardware choices in the next section.

Operating Audacity is simple. Because most laptop computers have an internal microphone, you can start recording when Audacity opens on your system. Press the Record button and start talking. You'll see the sound waves appear on the screen as you speak (Figure 1). Voila! You're a podcaster! Well, not quite, but you're on your way.

Figure 1: Creating a new recording in Audacity.

As a podcaster, you'll likely want or need to use some type of effect, such as Truncate Silence, Amplify, or Noise Reduction. To apply an effect on an entire file, press Ctrl+A to highlight the entire file, click Effect from the menubar (Figure 2), and then select your effect. Most effects have their own settings that you can adjust to suit your needs. Before you apply an effect, click the Preview button to listen to a sample of the applied effect using your custom settings. Adjust and preview until you are satisfied with your selections, and then click OK to apply the effect. You can apply effects to a portion of your audio file, too. To do so, highlight the area you want to adjust, and then repeat the above steps to apply an effect. Remember the universal undo key sequence, Ctrl+Z, if you want to reverse a change.

Figure 2: A partial list of Audacity's default effects.

A word of caution if you use Noise Reduction to remove hiss or static in a file. Audacity does a good job of removing these anomalies, but there is a cost. Your audio might sound "tinny" or unnatural if you must significantly reduce noise. It's better to record your audio again rather than annoy your listeners with a robotic voice – unless that's what you're going for.

Recording Hardware

Although I have used a standalone microphone and speakers, a headset with microphone and lapel microphones, and a headset or earbuds with no microphone, I prefer a headset with a built-in microphone for recording my podcasts. I currently use a C320-M headset by Plantronics (see Figure 3), which is now part of the electronics vendor Poly [2]. It is a well-built, low-noise headset that allows me to hear myself speak. Noise-canceling headphones often distance me from the conversation because I can't fully hear myself speaking, so I don't know how to modulate my voice for the recording.

Figure 3: The Plantronics headset in Audacity's device list.

To see a list of your attached devices, select Edit | Preferences from the main menu options.

Pro Tip: Remember your branding. Mention the name of your podcast multiple times during your podcast.

I also have a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface [3] (shown as an available device in Figure 4) that handles two input sources. Audacity sees this device as a single source. If you have multiple speakers, each needing a microphone, you'll need an interface device to connect multiple inputs. Using this device, I can attach two microphones and record them simultaneously. An interface device is a versatile choice because you can use XLR inputs or 1/4-inch TRS connectors, and various adapters exist for each.

Figure 4: Viewing the list of available devices.

I like cardioid lapel microphones or headsets with built-in microphones for multiple-speaker podcasts. The speaker can relax more and speak normally rather than trying to stay an inch from a stationary or handheld microphone. The lapel microphone picks up the speaker's voice without them having to focus on the distance and positioning, which gives the podcast a more natural and conversational tone. Additionally, without so much focus on microphone mechanics, you'll likely have fewer pauses and fillers to remove from the recording.

Audacity is compatible with almost every piece of recording equipment compatible with your computer. Generally, if your computer recognizes it, so will Audacity. Remember to make careful and thoughtful hardware choices by reading reviews and asking questions about how well the components work with Audacity.

Dealing with Audacity's Quirks

Audacity is a superb audio program with some interesting oddball features. The most notable quirk is that you must attach record and playback hardware before you start Audacity. Audacity won't recognize any hardware plugged in while it's active. Your system will recognize and make the new hardware available to you, but if Audacity is open when you plug in the device, you won't see it in the device list. Attach microphones, headsets, or other audio devices and then open Audacity. The new hardware will appear in the device list. Once attached, you can switch between audio devices without closing and reopening the application. For example, if you attach an external microphone and then start Audacity, you can use the external microphone for a recording, switch to the onboard microphone, and continue recording without closing and reopening. Be careful when selecting Playback and Recording devices from your lists. You won't damage anything by selecting a microphone as a playback device but selecting the correct playback device will prevent hours of frustration and troubleshooting.

Another significant quirk is that you can't record over a particular spot in a record – or at least I have never figured out how to do it. For example, suppose you record a conversation and want to record over a mistake. In that case, you might attempt to place your cursor to the left of the piece you want to record over, hit record, and expect your new recording to be inserted where you've placed the cursor. You'll find that your recording begins at the end of your current recording. You must copy, cut, and paste your new clip into the recording to replace the bad audio. However, you can highlight your new clip, copy it (Ctrl+C), highlight where you want to replace the bad clip, and press Ctrl+V. Your new clip will paste into your original clip replacing your bad audio.

If you press the Record button again and begin talking, Audacity adds your new recording at the end of your previous clip. My cursor is near the 2.0 second mark but the new clip was added to the end of the first one (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Attempting to record over part of a clip.

Pro Tip: Sponsorships are great, but long spots make an audience lose interest. Two or three 10-second spots are better than a single 30-second one.

The final quirk I'll mention is that when listening to an audio file, you might need to stop and come back later and pick up where you left off. If you expect to resume listening, do not press the Stop button. Press the Pause button instead. If you press the Stop button, Audacity returns you to your cursor, which could be several minutes or hours from where you started. If you press Pause to stop listening temporarily, press Pause again to resume listening. I have listened to my podcast recordings, some stretching to over an hour, only to press stop and then forget where I stopped. It is an annoyance that only needs to happen a few times to train you to press Pause instead.