Audacity

Audacity is software that allows for the creation of various audio files including MP3. This is software is complex enough that is allows users to be very creative but it is also user-friendly enough that even a basic user can use it to record mp3 files.

The program can be downloaded from [|this site].

In order to create mp3 files Audacity needs a special file. This file needs to place somewhere on your computer and then the Audacity program will need to be pointed to where it is. Begin by making sure that Audacity is installed on your computer. Then download this file [|lame_enc.dll] and save it in this location C:\Program Files\Audacity 1.3 Beta (you can actually choose anywhere on your computer...this is only th elocation I chose). The next step is to record something in Audacity and choose File/Export as MP3. The software will ask where this file is and allow you to point to it with an Open dialoge box.

Preference Recommendations: Edit/Preferences I am by no means an expert with this software but here are the settings I chose to use:

Tabs - Audio I/O - under recording change channels to 2(stereo) File Formats - Set MP3 bit rate to 64... A higher number will increase quality but think about your audience...If it is a web-based audience (Podcasting) than the decreased file size by using a bite rate of 64 outweighs the minimal difference you will hear in quality using a higher bit rate.

Although there are a huge number of preferences that you can edit this is all I normally change.