How to Combine in Audacity Records

The Audacity software can be used to mix different audio components together.

The Audacity recording and editing application is a free, open-source software available for use on Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. There are several ways to combine audio in the Audacity application. If you have separate audio files that you would like to use in one project, for example, you can import each file into one Audacity project. You also have the ability to sequentially combine separate audio tracks onto one track. Or mix down different audio tracks onto one track. Mixing down tracks means to blend all of the separate audio tracks into one overall track.

Instructions

Import Multiple Audio Files Into One Audacity Project

1. Select “Open” from the “File” menu.

2. Browse to the directory location where the audio file you want to import is saved. Click on the file to select it. Click “Open” to import the file into Audacity. The audio is imported onto its own track.

3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to import additional audio files into Audacity. Each file you import is placed on its own audio track.

Sequentially Combine Multiple Audio Tracks Onto One Track

1. Select the audio track you want to tack on the end another audio track by clicking on the space directly above the track’s “Mute” and “Solo” buttons.

2. Go to the “Edit” menu. Select “Find Zero Crossings.” Go to the “Edit” menu again. Select “Cut.”

3. Click on the point that marks the very end of the audio waveform on the track where you want the audio you just cut to be inserted. This serves as your main audio track.

4. Select “Paste” from the “Edit” menu. The audio from the track you selected in Step 1 is now the ending portion of the main audio track.

5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 to tack additional audio tracks onto the end of the main audio track.

Mix Down Multiple Audio Tracks 0nto One Track

1. Edit and arrange the separate audio tracks to suit your preference. Whatever arrangement the separate audio tracks are in are preserved when they are combined onto one track.

2. Select “Preferences” from the “Edit” menu. Check the box next to “Play other tracks while recording new one.” Click “OK.”

3. Verify that the “Solo” and “Mute” buttons next to each audio track you want to be included in the mix down is not depressed. If the button is depressed, click it to disable it.

4. Press the "Record" button. All of the audio on the separate audio tracks will be recorded as one audio piece on the new audio track. Press "Stop" when the recording is complete.

5. Press the “Solo” button next to the new audio track. Press the "Play" button to hear the mixed down audio track.

References

• Sourceforge: How Do I Mix Two Tracks Together
• Sourceforge: Can I Play One Track While Recording a New One On Top Of It
• Sourceforge: How Do I Combine Two Files Into One Longer File