How to record your audio reading and convert it to an mp3 file

  (A Volunteer has told me that for windows users you can also use the free dowload:  http://mpesch3.de1.cc/mp3dc.html This already compresses to mp3 automatically, so may be a simpler option.)

To use Audacity:

Download and install the excellent free programme AUDACITY from http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/  Once installed, you also need to download the plugin which will enable you to convert your recording into an mp3 file which you can get from HERE. When you download this second file, choose the option to save it and save it into the folder where audacity has been installed - usually C:\Program Files\Audacity  (just type this into the ´ where to save ´ box)

Now you are ready to launch the audacity programme. Click ´new´if a recording menu hasn´t already shown. Plug in your microphone if you are using one. If you have a built in microphone you don´t need to (if you can talk without using one in skype then this is the case)

To record your voice click the small red circle and begin.  You can pause your recording by clicking the button to the right of this.  To stop your recording click the small sqaure next to the pause button.  Now you can listen to your recording by clicking the little green arrow. If you don´t want to save this recording, just click the little x that is on the left, next to the recording you have just made.  When you want to save the recording, click file/export as mp3.  Choose somewhere to save it to where you can find it easily, like the desktop, select a name for it, making sure you keep the .mp3 after the name and click ok to any menu that pops up.  That´s it.

Now you can email it to me. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (if you don´t know how to add an attachment to your email, let me know)

There is a lot more you can do within the audacity programme, but this is to keep it as simple as possible.  Any problems let me know and I will try to help.

Use any of the texts on these pages that you wish to read and record in your language.  Add your name and whatever accent you may have, (Liverpool, Irish etc) If you would like to promote your website by having a link on your name, let me know.  I will add the names of anyone who has their recordings published on this site on the volunteer readers list.

To get a good recording, make sure that you are in a quiet place without background noise.  Below is a video to help you.