free mac app for no-hassle, spoken-word audio recording?
December 27, 2010 6:57 PM Subscribe
mac filter: (free) app for quick, easy mp3 audio recording of spoken word?
On my old Mac I regularly used a freeware app, Audio Recorder 3.?, to make quick sound files of spoken word in .mp3 format, but now that I've upgraded to a MacBook Pro (running 10.6), the old app doesn't work, and googling turns up practically nothing about AR (has it been discontinued?).
Instead, there are a ton of audio apps showing up, none of which I know about, and most all of them seem much more high end than I need. Basically, I record feedback and instructions for colleagues in house to accompany projects at various stages of development, so I don't need a recording studio, just a quick, no-fuss way to go from the mic on my mac to a sound file in mp3 format (which seems to be the most widely accessible format around here).
FWIW, I have both Garageband and Quicktime on this machine, but GB has way too many steps and adjustments to be practical for my needs while Quicktime is user friendly enough but only does mov format files, not mp3 (or at least I can't seem to figure out where the controls for that would be...).
Given the volume of recordings I make, I really need something where it's basically Record -> Talk -> Stop -> Save -> mp3 File Ready to Attach.
Any suggestions much appreciated.
On my old Mac I regularly used a freeware app, Audio Recorder 3.?, to make quick sound files of spoken word in .mp3 format, but now that I've upgraded to a MacBook Pro (running 10.6), the old app doesn't work, and googling turns up practically nothing about AR (has it been discontinued?).
Instead, there are a ton of audio apps showing up, none of which I know about, and most all of them seem much more high end than I need. Basically, I record feedback and instructions for colleagues in house to accompany projects at various stages of development, so I don't need a recording studio, just a quick, no-fuss way to go from the mic on my mac to a sound file in mp3 format (which seems to be the most widely accessible format around here).
FWIW, I have both Garageband and Quicktime on this machine, but GB has way too many steps and adjustments to be practical for my needs while Quicktime is user friendly enough but only does mov format files, not mp3 (or at least I can't seem to figure out where the controls for that would be...).
Given the volume of recordings I make, I really need something where it's basically Record -> Talk -> Stop -> Save -> mp3 File Ready to Attach.
Any suggestions much appreciated.
Audacity is a widely used free open source cross platform recorder that will likely meet your needs. Due to the patent encumbered MP3 algorithm you'll need to download and install LAME to save mp3s, but there are simple instructions in the audacity FAQ.
The added bonus of having LAME installed is that it sounds much better than the mp3 encoder built in to iTunes, should you ever need to encode music.
posted by dirm at 7:16 PM on December 27, 2010
The added bonus of having LAME installed is that it sounds much better than the mp3 encoder built in to iTunes, should you ever need to encode music.
posted by dirm at 7:16 PM on December 27, 2010
If there was a way to close an askme thread you could have that done here. Audacity is what you're wanting.
GB isn't that hard to learn though.
Also, it adds a step, but whatever sound file QT produces can be converted into either AAC or .mp3 in iTunes.
I would also point out that many digital audio recorders will record directly into wav or mp3. Record on your iPod, trim, and send. Or buy a hardware recorder.
Many options out there, but you'll end up back at Audacity which is free.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:19 PM on December 27, 2010
GB isn't that hard to learn though.
Also, it adds a step, but whatever sound file QT produces can be converted into either AAC or .mp3 in iTunes.
I would also point out that many digital audio recorders will record directly into wav or mp3. Record on your iPod, trim, and send. Or buy a hardware recorder.
Many options out there, but you'll end up back at Audacity which is free.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:19 PM on December 27, 2010
An Audacity tutorial.
BTW, once you learn Audacity, which will take all of 5-10 minutes, much of GB will be demystified.
posted by smirkette at 8:14 PM on December 27, 2010
BTW, once you learn Audacity, which will take all of 5-10 minutes, much of GB will be demystified.
posted by smirkette at 8:14 PM on December 27, 2010
I have done this many times in GB and it was pretty much as simple as you describe. Personally I found Audacity harder to understand.
posted by olecranon at 10:13 PM on December 27, 2010
posted by olecranon at 10:13 PM on December 27, 2010
The added bonus of having LAME installed is that it sounds much better than the mp3 encoder built in to iTunes, should you ever need to encode music.
Just be careful. LAME isn't supported on all MP3 playback devices, and doesn't support some of the features other MP3 standards provide.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:11 PM on December 27, 2010
Just be careful. LAME isn't supported on all MP3 playback devices, and doesn't support some of the features other MP3 standards provide.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:11 PM on December 27, 2010
GarageBand is very good and very simple.
There are lots of tutorials on Youtube about using it. Here's one that I just found, but there are tons more.
To export as MP3, watch this tutorial.
I hope that helps!
posted by Magnakai at 5:39 AM on December 28, 2010
There are lots of tutorials on Youtube about using it. Here's one that I just found, but there are tons more.
To export as MP3, watch this tutorial.
I hope that helps!
posted by Magnakai at 5:39 AM on December 28, 2010
I have a vague recollection you could record audio and save as mp3 using the old QuickTime 7 player, which is an optional install in 10.6 - if you've got your system install DVD handy it could be worth a shot...
posted by russm at 6:34 AM on December 28, 2010
posted by russm at 6:34 AM on December 28, 2010
LAME isn't supported on all MP3 playback devices, and doesn't support some of the features other MP3 standards provide.
Really? That's the first I've heard of it. A few years ago some things had issues with Variable Bit Rate encodes, which LAME can produce if not set to CBR, but I'm not aware of issues with the encoder itself. Without wishing to derail, where can I find out more?
posted by dirm at 6:35 AM on December 28, 2010
Really? That's the first I've heard of it. A few years ago some things had issues with Variable Bit Rate encodes, which LAME can produce if not set to CBR, but I'm not aware of issues with the encoder itself. Without wishing to derail, where can I find out more?
posted by dirm at 6:35 AM on December 28, 2010
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posted by Hactar at 7:05 PM on December 27, 2010