Make your first recording in Audacity
- 1
Set up audio
Edit → Preferences → Devices → Host: Windows WASAPI → Recording: your microphone → Channels: 1 Mono.
- 2
Set recording level
Click the microphone monitoring icon. Speak at normal volume. The level meter should peak between −12 and −6 dB. Adjust the input slider if needed.
- 3
Record
Press the red Record button (or R). Speak or play. You will see a waveform appear in real time.
- 4
Stop and listen
Press the square Stop button (or Space). Press Space again to play back your recording.
- 5
Export
File → Export Audio → MP3 Files. Choose 128 kbps for voice. Click Save.
Getting started questions
How do I undo in Audacity?
Press Ctrl+Z to undo the last action. Audacity supports unlimited undo history. Go to Edit → History to see all actions and jump to any point.
How do I save an Audacity project?
File → Save Project. Audacity saves as .aup3 (a single file containing all tracks and edits). To share with others or use in other software, use File → Export Audio to create a standard audio file (MP3, WAV, etc.).