Introduction

Once you have recorded and saved your master file, you will need to separate out the words and phrases using labels. This will save each of your words and phrases as short, individual audio files. This is very easy to do using Audacity.

This first video covers steps 1-3 of the instructions below (importing audio into Audacity, adding labels):

This second video covers steps 4-5 of the instructions below (adding metadata, exporting word files):

Instructions

1. Import your master file into Audacity
   
   

   1. Open

      

   2. Locate your master file in your file management system.
      
      

2. Enter metadata. Leave the ‘Track Title’ field blank.
   
   

   Open

   

    

    

3. Add labels

   1. Listen to your track and visually identify where the word or phrase that you want to label occurs within the recording.

   2. Select the portion of audio that you want to label by clicking to the left of the audio, dragging your cursor to the right of the audio, and releasing.

       

   3. Add a label to this portion of audio.

       

   4. Type your intended file name for this word file, and hit enter.
      

   5. If you need to adjust the length of your label, click and drag the curved button at either end of the label.

   6. If you need to adjust the placement of the label, click and drag the round button at either end of the label.

   7. Repeat step 3 until you have labeled all of the words and phrases that you intend to export from this master file.

       

4. Save your word files

   1. Use the 'Export Multiple' function from the File menu.

       

   2. Indicate where you would like to save your files (we suggest saving them in your file management system). Indicate what format you want to save your files in (WAV 16-bit is recommended).

       

   3. For each label, you will be asked to double-check the metadata. If you left the 'Track Title' field blank in your master file metadata, the label text will be automatically listed as the track title. For each label you will have to hit 'OK'.

       

   4. Audacity will produce a list of all exported files. Hit 'OK'. Double check that your files saved in your intended location. 

       

5. Save your Audacity project
   
   

    

   1. Name your project in a descriptive manner that will help you identify it in future. Save it in the location that Audacity suggests, unless you need to save it in a shared location.