You may find that you need to cut (or edit) down your sound file to include only the bits you need. Here's how:


1. Open sound file

Open the program Audacity on the desktop.

Go to File and then Open, then browse to the folder where your sound files are.

Select the sound file (a .wav or .mp3 file) you want to cut.

You'll see that the sound recording is displayed as an image (a 'sound wave')

Image of a sound wave

2. Play sound

Image of the Play button

Click the Play button to hear the sound.


3. Find silent bits

Image of a Flat sound wave

There may be bits of the recording you want to get rid of. (Often the beginning or end of sound files are blank, or there may be pauses in the sound.)

You can see the silent areas on the wave; they are flat or almost flat lines.


4. Remove bits of sound

Image of the Cut button

To remove these flat, silent bits from the recording, use your mouse to click on them, then drag across the whole area you want to remove.

Now click on the Cut button.

Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have removed what you want.

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