I've been contemplating the future of this show and whether to shut it down for several months now and I've decided to do just that. So much of what I do depends on video that doing an audio-only show gets a little challenging. If I was doing interviews it would be different but that's not what I do. So this podcast will soon disappear completely from the podcast universe but as I mention in this episode, I'll still be carrying on in my other venues. Here are some links to those projects in case you're interested:

• Learn Audacity Website
• Learn Audacity YouTube
• Audacity Bootcamp: Beginner to Advanced
• ACX Audiobook Production Using Audacity
• Zoom H6 Audio Recording Essentials
• A History of Glen Canyon Dam and Page Arizona (YouTube)
• Navajo Generating Station Remembered (YouTube)
• The UnSunday Show Podcast

-Mike

Computers can't do anything with analog audio. In order for your computer to do anything with the audio you record, that audio has to first be converted into a digital format. Some sort of device has to be connected between your microphone (if that's what you're using to record) and your computer that converts the analog sound waves from your voice into a digital version of those same sound waves. If you're using a USB mic to record, that conversion takes place inside the mic. The USB mic itself has analog-to-digital conversion electronics built in to it that convert your voice to a digital version and then sends that version to your computer where Audacity (or any DAW) recognizes it and knows what to do with it.

If you're using an analog microphone (any XLR-connected mic is an analog mic) you'll need to plug it into an audio interface unit (like a Scarlett Solo or something similar) and that audio interface unit converts the analog audio from your XLR mic into a digital equivalent and sends that digitally sampled audio into your computer where Audacity displays it back to you as a digital representation of your recorded audio. From there, you can manipulate it in post production to add effects, etc.

In this podcast, I talk about 3 things related to digital audio:

1. Sample Rates
2. Bit Depth
3. Bit Rates

Here's the link to the video on this topic that I mention in this episode:

• VIDEO: Audacity Sample Rates and Bit Depth 

My setup for this episode:

• Audacity version 3.1.3
• 2017 MacBook Pro
• Zoom H6 Audio Recorder/Interface
• SYNCO D2 Hyper Cardioid Directional Condenser Shotgun Mic 

Find me online at https://learnaudacity.com/ 

About a year and half ago, I stumbled into my first experience at making instructional videos. A friend had suggested I make a couple of videos on using Audacity. I knew next to nothing about making videos but I decided to jump in and see what it was like. Now, a year and a half later, I've published over 200 instructional videos, most of them teaching Audacity. Based on the response I've received, instructional and tutorial videos have emerged as a strength of mine I didn't know I had until after taking that initial video plunge.

That being said, I've decided to put this podcast on hiatus for the time being to give more attention to the video side of things and develop that further. Videos are where I'm getting the traffic and traction so I need to turn my attention fully in that direction for now. While this podcast will still be there, I won't be adding any new episodes to it for the time being. I have a few ideas for it but now isn't the right time for me. I am still online at the following places:

• Learn Audacity Website
   
• Learn Audacity YouTube Channel

The 3 courses I teach can be found at:

• Audacity Bootcamp: Beginner to Advanced
   
• ACX Audiobook Production Using Audacity
   
• Zoom H6 Audio Recording Essentials

I recorded this episode in my Zoom H6 recorder using my Audio-Technica AT2040 microphone and I edited it in Audacity version 3.1.3 Beta 1.

-Mike