Re: [Audacity-manual] {manual} Your First recording tutorial

[Peter S. <pet...@ya...>]

I am minded to Agree with you Gale - so my new plan

1)  I think that Bill's material on Audacity setup on his draft page (minus the 
h/w plugs sockets etc.) is considerably better than the text that is currently 
in the Reference/Understanding - it doesn't say much that isn't there already 
but it does say it better, and it is more up to date.  So I propose to update 
the Reference section withe Bill's Audacity s/w set-up stuff.  I agree that the 
Reference section should focus on Audacity setup and not h/w setup.

2)  As we agreed earlier I will atomize the YFR into its four basic sections.

3)  Then update those four YFR sections taking material from Bill's draft page 
as appropriate.

4)  When the YFR tutorials are looking in good shape I propose then to prune 
Reference/Understanding Audacity/Audacity Setup and Configuration - with pointer 
to where the h/w setup material can be viewed.

5)  I agree that a tutorial on "Recording Computer Playback" would be a good 
idea (whatever we call it) and that it could incorporate some of Bill's material 
from the links at the material at the bottom of his page.  I will try to find 
some time later to draft such a tutorial on my user pages.  I record streaming 
audio on XP a lot - but I will need some help from the Mac and Linux brigade 
when I get around to this please.

I have noted the comments from Gale and Martyn  about the "Tutorial - " and will 
do so.

I will not start until Monday morning as I have other commitments before then

Peter.





________________________________
From: Gale Andrews <ga...@au...>
To: For discussion of Audacity Manual <aud...@li...>
Sent: Fri, June 17, 2011 7:55:10 PM
Subject: Re: [Audacity-manual] {manual} Your First recording tutorial


To my mind, "Audacity Setup and Configuration" as it is being 
envisaged in: 
http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/User:Billw58/Audacity_Setup_and_Configuration 


isn't part of "Understanding Audacity" except for the first brief sections 
"Temporary Files", "Project Sample Rate" and "Setting up for playback".
And those don't really say much that it isn't already in the Reference. 

Almost all the rest (except for recording computer playback) is about
identifying and making hardware connections and seems like "Tutorial"
to me. "Tutorial" may encourage uptake/reading (though of course 
"TLDR;" is a problem).  

So I feel that the original motivation in integrating "Setup and 
Configuration" into YFR was probably correct. If needed at all, an item 
in "Understanding Audacity" would provide an overview (probably an
image of the Audacity project window with arrows) pointing to the 
relevant parts of the Audacity interface and describing what they do 
- Mixer, Meter and Device Toolbars, Transport Menu, Devices and
Recording Preferences, Project Rate, Temporary Folder. It will only 
be useful for those who don't need hand-holding.  

My feeling is that we need a separate, strongly targeted tutorial 
(with an OS-based structure) about "Recording Computer Playback", 
even if some of its content duplicates YFR. People who need help 
recording playback don't want complications thrown with huge 
images of computer ports or to see descriptions of largely irrelevant 
options in Device Toolbar. Such a tutorial would complement the 
existing ones for recording pre-recorded media and for creating new 
material (whether by mic, keyboard, guitar or whatever).  

YFR and a new tutorial for recording computer playback would have 
subsections like Bill has been developing in: 
http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/User:Billw58/Audacity_Setup_and_Configuration

The subsections should have a "Tutorial" name. YFR should I think 
have subsections much as envisaged by Peter like "Connecting Up" 
and "Selecting Your Input" (except that possibly "Selecting Your
Input"needs subsections too). 

As regards "Total Recorder", my feeling is that it is a good option 
especially as it solves Skype recording too, but from the feedback I 
get, it's far too complex for the technically challenged. 

Freecorder 3 (browser based) is a much simpler option for those
whose main interest is only in recording something playing in the
web browser. Of course you get a toolbar as well, but a small price 
to pay. I think Freecorder 3 should be recommended as a "free" 
alternative to TotalRecorder, unless someone knows something of 
comparable functionality that's free.  





Gale