View source for Audacity/C3/Edit-an-audio-using-Audacity/English-timed


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|'''Time''' 
|'''Narration''' 

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|00:01
|Hello Everyone. 

Welcome to this tutorial on '''Edit an Audio in Audacity'''. 

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|00:07
|In this tutorial, we will learn to edit an audio track in '''Audacity.''' 

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|00:14
|To record this tutorial I am using 

'''Ubuntu''' Linux OS version 14.04 ,  '''Audacity '''version 2.1.2 

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|00:25
|To practise this tutorial, learners should 

Have installed '''Audacity''' on their system and 

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| 00:32
|  Have working knowledge of '''Audacity''' software 

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| 00:36
| If not, for more details, refer to the '''Translation and Dubbing '''series on this website 

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| 00:43
| I will use this timed-script for editing purpose. 

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| 00:48
| To practise alongside, the same script has been provided in the Code Files link of this tutorial. 

Please download and use it. 

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|00:58
|Now let us open an existing '''Audacity''' project file to edit the audio. 

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|01:04
|Earlier, we had dubbed an audio and saved it '''as Hindi-What-is-ST.aup''' on our machine. 
 
We will open that same file here. 

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|01:16
|Now, go to the saved folder and double-click on '''Hindi-What-is-ST.aup''' to open the file. 

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| 01:25
|The '''.aup''' file opens up. 

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|01:28
|We can see the audio track here. 

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|01:32
|Before proceeding further, it is advisable to make a copy of the project file. 

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| 01:38
| In case of any major editing mistake, we can always use the original audio recording. 

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|01:45
|To make a copy, click on '''File '''and then on '''Save Project As '''option. 

Give a suitable name. 

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| 01:55
| I will give a name as '''Copy-Hindi-What-is-ST.aup.''' 

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| 02:02
| Select the location. 

I will choose '''Desktop''' and then click on '''Save.''' 

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|02:09
|Now, we have a copy of the original recording. 

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|02:13
|We will continue with this project file. 

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| 02:17
| First let us learn how to '''Zoom In''' and '''Zoom Out.''' 

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| 02:22
| Place the cursor on the audio track. 

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| 02:25
| On the '''Edit Toolbar '''click on '''Zoom In''' and '''Zoom Out''' buttons. 

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|02:32
| We can see how the audio track gets zoomed in and zoomed out. 

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|02:39
|Next, let us learn how to filter out disturbing background noises. 

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|02:45
|Select the portion on the audio track which has the noise. 

Remember to select a portion without voice. 

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|02:54
|Now in the '''Main Menu''', click on '''Effect '''and then on '''Noise Removal/Noise Reduction'''. 

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|03:03
|Step 1: Click on '''Get Noise Profile'''. 

On doing so, the selected portion will be considered as a noise sample for further processing. 

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|03:15
|Then click anywhere on the timeline to deselect the portion. 

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|03:20
|Once again, in the '''Main Menu''', click on '''Effect '''and then on '''Noise Removal/Noise Reduction'''. 

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|03:28
|Now in Step 2: Change the value in the field '''Noise reduction'''. 

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|03:35
|Use the recommended value or a lower value, that reduces the noise to an acceptable level. 

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|03:42
|I will choose an appropriate value say 18. 

You may also use the slider. 

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|03:50
|Higher values will remove the noise completely. 

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| 03:54
| However, it will also result in distortion of the voice in the audio track. 

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|04:00
|Hisses and hums will become more prominent, as well. 

Hence, choose this value carefully. 

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|04:07
|Make sure that, in the '''Noise''' section, '''Reduce/Remove''' radio button is selected. 

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|04:14
|Then click on '''OK'''. 

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|04:17
|It may take some time to remove the noise, if the audio track is very long. 

The process is now complete for this sample. 

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|04:26 
|Now, let us play the recording by clicking on the '''Play''' button. 

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| 
| Add the audio

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| 04:37
| The noise is now removed from the entire track. 

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|04:41
|Note: In some cases, you may have to repeat the process to further reduce the noise. 

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| 04:48
| However, too much of noise reduction, may give a metallic effect to the recorded voice. 

Hence, do noise removal carefully. 

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|04:59
|Let us now save the project file by pressing '''Ctrl + S '''keys. 

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|05:05
|Do so regularly as we go along. 

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|05:08
|It is advisable to save the project file whenever we have done any modification. 

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|05:15
|Let us now increase the volume of the audio segment that has been recorded at a lower volume. 

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|05:22
|Select the portion in the audio track, then go to '''Effect '''and then on '''Amplify'''. 

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| 05:30
|We can see a value in the '''Amplification''' box. 

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|05:34
| This is the optimal amplification value for this file, recommended by '''Audacity'''. 

But we can also enter another value if we want to. 

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|05:45
|To reduce the volume, enter negative values, say -10. 

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|05:51
|To increase the volume, enter positive values, say 15. 

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| 05:57
|It is advisable not to amplify the audio above the recommended value in the box. 

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|06:03
| Too much of amplification will also enhance the background noises, hisses and hums. 

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|06:10
|We can also use the slider to adjust the values. 

I will keep the value as 10. 

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|06:18
|Check the '''Allow Clipping''' option. 

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|06:21
|Then click on '''OK'''. 

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|06:24
|Sometimes, an audio file contains unwanted repeats and unwanted sounds. 

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|06:30
|We can remove these by using the '''Cut, Copy''' and '''Paste''' options. 

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|06:36
|First, I will split this audio clip as per my '''Timed script '''timings'''.''' 

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| 06:41
|Let me play the audio. Press the '''Play''' button in the '''VCR controls'''. 

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| 
| Add the audio

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| 06:53
|I have stopped at the end of the first sentence, by pressing the '''Stop '''button in the '''VCR controls.''' 

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|07:00
|I need to split the audio here. 

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|07:03
|For that, click on the '''Selection Tool. ''' 

Make sure that the cursor is at the end of the first sentence. 

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|07:11
|Now press '''Ctrl+I,''' which is the shortcut to split the audio track into separate clips. 

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|07:18
|Then, slide the next clip to the timing that we want. 

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| 07:23
|I will slide it to the timing given in my '''Timed script.''' 

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|07:27
|For this, click on '''Time Shift Tool'''. 

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|07:30
|Observe that the cursor is now changed to double-headed arrow. 

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|07:35
|I will shift the clip by pressing the left mouse button and dragging it to the required time. 

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|07:43
|I will repeat this process once again for the next sentence. 

Play the audio. 

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|
| Add tha audio

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|07:55
|I have stopped the audio by pressing the '''Stop '''button. 

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|07:59
|I will split the audio here. For that, click on the '''Selection Tool. ''' 

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|08:06
|Make sure that the cursor is at the end of the second sentence. 

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|08:11
|Now I will press '''CTRL+I''' to split the audio. 

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|08:16
|Ensure that the '''Time Shift Tool '''is selected. 

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|08:20
|Press the left mouse button and drag it to the required time. 

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| 08:25
| Likewise, we can split and slide the remaining segment of the audio, as per the requirement. 
 
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| 08:32
|  Notice that there are 4 individual audio segments, at their respective timings on the audio track. 

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| 08:40
|Save the file before moving ahead by pressing '''Ctrl + S'''. 

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|08:45
|Now let us learn to cut, copy and paste on the '''Audio Track'''. 

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|08:51
|Ensure that '''Selection Tool '''is selected. 

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|08:55
|Then click on the '''Audio track '''at the beginning of the third sentence 

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|09:00
|Play the audio. 

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| 
| Add the Audio file

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|09:11
|I have clicked on the '''Stop '''button to stop playing the audio. 

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|09:16
|We can see that the third sentence ends here. 

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|09:20
|But it has some unwanted sounds and repetitions which we need to delete. 

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| 09:26
|Select the portion of the audio that needs to be deleted, by dragging the mouse. 

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|09:33
|Then press the '''Delete '''key on the '''keyboard.''' 

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|09:37
|Note that when you do this the remaining audio segments move forward on the audio track. 
 
That audio clip has been removed from the audio track. 

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|09:48
|Now let us learn to move an audio clip from one place to another place on the audio track. 

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|09:55
|Select the audio clip that needs to be moved. 

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|09:59
|In the '''Main menu''', click on '''Edit '''and then click on '''Remove Audio or Special''' and then select '''Cut'''. 

Or else use the keyboard shortcut '''Ctrl+X ''' 

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|10:14
|Note that when you do this, the remaining audio segments move forward on the audio track. 

Which means it will change the timing of the remaining audio segments. 

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|10:26
| And, we need to re-arrange the timing of the remaining audio segments all over again. 

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|10:33
|What if we don’t want to change the timings of the remaining segments? 

Let me show you what to do. 

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|10:41
|First, undo the last action by pressing '''CTRL+Z keys.''' 

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|10:47
|Then again select the audio clip once that needs to be removed. 

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|10:52
|Now, press '''Ctrl + Alt + X '''keys on your keyboard. 

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|10:58
|This will not only cut the audio segment but also keep the remaining segments in their place. 

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|11:05
|Please note the difference between the two actions. 

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|11:09
|Next, select a portion of an audio segment to be copied. 

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|11:14
|I will select a portion here and click on '''Edit '''and '''Copy.''' 

Or else use the keyboard shortcut '''Ctrl+C'''. 

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|11:25
|To paste, move the cursor to the place where the audio segment needs to be placed and click there once. 

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|11:33
|Then click on '''Edit '''and '''Paste.''' 

Or else use the keyboard shortcut '''Ctrl+V'''. 

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|11:43
|Notice here - the 2 segments appear to be merged. 

But it is not so. 

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|11:49
| Merge the two segments by clicking on the joint between the 2 segments. 

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| 11:54
| Now you can move the whole segment wherever you want. 

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| 11:59
| Let me '''zoom out''' here to view the whole audio segments. 

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| 12:04
|  Observe that if I try to move this audio clip to the beginning of this track, I am not allowed to do so. 

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|12:12
|This is because there is no sufficient space available there to accommodate this clip. 

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| 12:18
| Now, let us try the first audio segment. 

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|12:22
| Drag the 1st audio segment and move it to the end of the fourth audio segment. 

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|12:28
|After creating space, we are able to move the second segment to the beginning of the track. 

This is because now there is enough space available here. 

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| 12:40
| So the standard rule is to first create sufficient space on the track and then move the segments. 

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| 12:48
| Undo the last action by pressing '''CTRL + Z '''keys. 

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|12:53
|Once all the edits are complete, save the project file once again. 

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|12:58
|Lastly, we need to '''Export''' the final project into a format suitable for playback. 

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|13:05
|Let us export this file into '''mp3 '''format. 

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| 13:09
|For this, go to the '''Main menu '''bar. Click on '''File''' and then on '''Export.''' 

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|13:15
|The '''Export file '''dialog box appears. 

It will ask us for a name'''. '''Enter the preferred name for this file. 

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|13:26
|I will name the file as '''Hindi-What-is-ST'''. 

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|13:30
|Also select the location where it has to be saved. 

I will choose '''Desktop'''. 

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|13:37
|Below this, we can see a drop-down called '''file type '''or '''Format'''. 

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|13:43
| It has various audio formats like '''wav''', '''mp3, ogg,''' etc. 

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|13:52
|I will choose '''MP3 files '''as the format. 

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|13:57
|Then click on '''Save'''. 

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|14:00
|Next we will get a dialog called '''Edit Metadata'''. 

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|04:05
|Here, we can add the '''Artist Name''' and other information as per our requirement. 

I will leave these fields blank. 

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|14:15
|Click on '''OK'''. 

This will save the output as '''Hindi-What-is-ST''' dot '''mp3''' file. 

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|14:22
| This may take some time to complete. 

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|14:25
|Now, go to the folder where we saved the file. 

Here is the  '''mp3''' file which we exported. 

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|14:32
|Let us play this file using any standard audio player. 

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| 
| Add the Audio file

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|14:49
|This brings us to the end of the tutorial. 

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|14:52
| Let me summarize the tutorial.

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|14:55
| In this tutorial we have learnt how to- 

Open an existing '''dot aup''' project file 

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|15:03
| '''Zoom in '''and '''out '''on the audio track 

'''Filter''' background noise 

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|15:09
| '''Amplify '''the audio 

'''Cut, copy, paste, delete, move''' an audio clip 

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|15:17
| '''Merge''' two audio clips 

'''Save''' and '''export''' the audio into .'''mp3 '''format. 

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|15:25
|As an assignment, edit an audio file using the timed-script. 

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|15:31
|The video at the following link summarises the Spoken Tutorial project. 

Please download and watch it. 

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|15:39
|The '''Spoken Tutorial Project''' Team: conducts workshops and  gives certificates 

For more details, please write to us. 

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|15:49
|Please post your timed queries in this forum. 

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|15:53
|Spoken Tutorial Project is supported by the NMEICT, MHRD, Government of India. 

More information on this Mission is available at this link. 

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|16:05
|This script has been contributed by the Spoken Tutorial Team. 

And this is Mousumi Medhi from IIT Bombay signing off. 

Thanks for joining. 

|}