Audio Digitization Workflow using Audacity

Set Preferences

Devices

• Set the host to core audio
• Set the playback device to Built-in Output
• Set the recording device to Benchmark 2.0
• Set the channels to 2 (Stereo)

Quality

• Go to the Quality tab.
• Set the sample rate at 96000 Hz
• Set the sample format to 24 bits
• Set sample rate converter to High Quality
• Set dither to None
• Set sample rate converter to Best Quality (Slowest)
• Set dither to None

Create a new audio track

Path

• Tracks>Stereo Track
• The two channel track will pop up.

Name your audio track

• Click on the top left tab with the downward pointing arrow for “Audio Track”
• Select Name
• Change the track name to the appropriate file name

Digitize tape

Begin Recording: Click the red circle button on the top left corner to capture. Hit record about 6 seconds before pressing play on the tape playback deck.

Stop recording: Click to yellow square on the top left corner to stop capture.

*Monitor and listen to the recording while digitizing for squealing, dropout, clipping, and decibel levels.

Trim audio Track

Trim beginning and end:

• Use the magnifying glass icon at the top to zoom into your waveform.
• Click the cursor icon (I) to select.
• Place the cursor at the beginning of the waveform, a hand with a pointed finger should appear.
• Click and hold the mouse to drag the cursor over the area you want to trim.
• When you’ve highlighted the area, press delete on your keyboard.

*Leave at least 6 seconds of time before the beginning and after the end of the recording.

Export audio track

Path:

• File>Export Audio

Set export preferences:

• Double check filename is correct.
• Set the target folder in the directory
• Set file type to other uncompressed files
• Set header to WAV (Microsoft)
• Set encoding to Signed 24-bit PCM
• Click save