Trying to Figure out Audacity..

[Pretorian]

I looked under the tutorial and downloaded Audacity. I can record my voice. So thats step one. I know that classical music and old time radio(30's stuff) is public domain. So, I was going to try to record one of my CD's on audacity. I couldn't figure it out. How do I do it?

Thanks....Is this the right section?

[theFerf]

Pretorian:

All you need to do is use your media player (iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc). and import your CDs onto your computer (prefferably in MP3 format, IMO). Then, you can import the MP3 into Audacity and edit it from there (in Audacity, go to PROJECT > IMPORT AUDIO and select your MP3).

Havent used Audacity in a bit, but that should be all there is to it.

[bramley]

Is classical music public domain? Even the Naxos databases through my university are highly restricted as to how you can get the recordings. Record companies own those recordings, no? I'm very interested in this issue, so please let me know what you know.

Another way to get music files with Audacity, if you are ever dealing with file formats Audaicty doesn't recognize is just to press play on what media player your computer is using and then press record on Audacity.

[Pretorian]

Is classical music public domain?

Not sure, 100% but I think it depends on who is performing..Something done in the 30's..then yes..Something done recently..my guess would be, no..

I did take some law classes on the matter. So, I know that radio programing from the 30's is soooo old, that it is in fact public domain. Where the classical music writing is real old. But the performances are not, that is my guess.. Maybe, an expert can tell us?

[Pretorian]

Pretorian:

All you need to do is use your media player (iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc). and import your CDs onto your computer (prefferably in MP3 format, IMO).

Yes, I figured out how to get the mp3 to work. Now, I just need to figure out how to make a Cd into an mp3 with windows media player..

Wow, I am bad at this..But, I hope to pick up more, as I have done so far...

The computer says something about a compatible MP3 encoder..Where do I download, one of those?

[bramley]

I did take some law classes on the matter. So, I know that radio programing from the 30's is soooo old, that it is in fact public domain.

Maybe you can clarify the year thing for me because I'm more interested from an advertising image perspective. I thought that 70 years was the limitation on a copywright. That would mean that things after 1935 are ok, but not the 30's inclusively.

[Pretorian]

Maybe you can clarify the year thing for me because I'm more interested from an advertising image perspective. I thought that 70 years was the limitation on a copywright. That would mean that things after 1935 are ok, but not the 30's inclusively.

No idea, sorry...

[robaustin]

Even though the classical music itself might be public domain - the performers who perform it on any CD still need to get paid. All it means if it is in the public domain is that anyone can RECORD it - without paying royalties to the composer. When they record it - then sell the CD - they get paid each time it is played on the radio. Oh sure - if it's a symphony then it's split out over all the members - but yes, they still get paid. And they get paid by ASCAP/BMI, etc...

So - YES - you still need some kind of ASCAP/BMI/SESAC license for classical music as well.

--*Rob

[enlightenedspartan]

I use audacity at home to record my podcasts. However, the background music I use has been copied from CDs into mp3 via iTunes on my mac. Every time I put my CDs into my pc to use tunes for audacity, I haven't figured out the file format that audacity can use. And, windows media player for me hasn't been able to convert cds into mp3. Everything else, but mp3.

But, since I have an apple laptop, I just insert the disc, up pops up iTunes, I select the song I want, then Adavanced > Convert to mp3. After it converts, I just ftp the song to my website (wireless), download to my PC, and THEN import to audacity.

If you don't have a mac too, I don't know how you can convert a CD to mp3 via Windows Media player? Any clues?

The negative of a sports podcast? ****, I was editing it and then watched MSU lose at Indiana in mens basketballl... so now I need to re-record a new segment and edit into the recorded podcast. Tough for a guy with two kids 2 and 6 years old at home...

ES

[bramley]

Pretorian,

I'm not so much looking for my own answers as suggesting to you that if you want to be 100% legally sure -- which, again, most podcasters don't care about -- you might try to get a more accurate definition than "soooo old" for public domain if you are in fact going to use these materials.

[TexasMusicForge]

Hey y'all:

The easiest way to use classical music old enough to be in the public domain is to look for MIDI files of the piece - there are zillions of them available as free downloads. Since the piece is in the public domain and the software that reads the MIDI data is the actual performer, you can use the piece with no copyright issues.

There are any number of ways to get the "performance" of the MIDI piece actually recorded as an audio file, but that's another subject.

Best regards,

Tio Ed

[argash]

Yes, I figured out how to get the mp3 to work. Now, I just need to figure out how to make a Cd into an mp3 with windows media player..

Wow, I am bad at this..But, I hope to pick up more, as I have done so far...

The computer says something about a compatible MP3 encoder..Where do I download, one of those?

Make sure you have the latest version of either Media Player or iTunes both can rip CD's into mp3's for you. Both should come with the proper encoder

[bigee]

There is a tab in Windows Media Player (hereafter WMP) that says RIP. Click on that, check the boxes of which songs you want "ripped" off the CD to your hard drive, then click the RIP button in the top right of the window.

The problem with WMP, however, is that it creates .wma files, not .mp3. I have noticed little to no difference with them, and after you insert it into your 'cast, it all gets converted to .mp3 at the end anyways.

Probably being one of the few Windows guys here, I have a little more experience with WMP.

Hope this helps!

[simulacrum]

back to the original topic - quick point - editing with compressed audio (mp3's etc.) lowers the sound quality - convert mp3's to wav's before editing!

[argash]

Probably being one of the few Windows guys here, I have a little more experience with WMP. Im right here with you bud :)