1. Download FREE editor "Audacity" from http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ . You probably will need an MP3 encoder, found here to make Audacity work with MP3 files. Otherwise use .wav files. You must "EXPORT" your final cuts as .wav or.mp3 to have a playable file.
Download AudioGrabber from http://www.audiograbber.com-us.net/ to edit music from your own from CD.
How to use Audacity
The following is for Adobe Audition, but it is similar Cool Edit Pro. Page numbers refer to HELP file in Audition. Have fun.
About the work area
Adobe Audition is divided into three main work areas: Edit View, Multitrack View, and
CD Project View. This division is intended to help you focus on the major tasks of editing audio files, mixing sessions, and burning CDs. For more information on the differences between Edit View and Multitrack View, see “About using Edit View and Multitrack View” on page 20. For more information on CD Project View, see “Using CD Project View” on page 259.
Adobe Audition work area
A. Edit View tab B. Multitrack View tab C. CD Project View tab D. menus E. toolbars
F. display window G. various windows
All three views have a similar user interface, including the following components:
Menus
The menus in the menu bar contain commands for performing tasks.
Toolbars
The toolbars hold buttons for applying commonly used functions.
Windows
Windows—including the Organizer, Transport Controls, Zoom Controls, Level Meters, and Selection/View Controls—help you monitor and modify audio files.
Selecting audio data
To edit a waveform, you must first select the audio data that you want to modify. Adobe Audition provides several methods for making and adjusting selections.
Using cues ranges can save you time when making selections. Cues are markers where you can see where you want to start or finish. Find a spot you think you want to begin to cut, press F8 and a marker will appear. You can move this left or right to fine tune it. Drag the cursor over the waveform, seecting what you think you want to cut, place another cue, then CTRL-X or the scissors button will cut that part out. Listen to your cut. If it's rough, try to figure out what the problem is- too late or early to begin, or too late or early to end.
Selecting with the mouse
You can select a range of audio data by dragging in the waveform display. When precision is important, you may want to zoom in to view the waveform in more detail.
Dragging to select a range
To select a range of a waveform:
Drag to select the desired range of the waveform.
To extend or shorten a selection:
Shift-click the end of the selection that you wish to modify, and drag to extend or shorten it.
Use the UNDO (CTRL-Z or the undo arrow at the top of the window) if you want to start over.
Copying audio data
The Copy command lets you copy audio data to the active clipboard. The Copy To New command lets you copy and paste the data to a new file in one step.
To copy audio data:
1 In the waveform display, select the audio data you want to copy. Or, to copy the entire waveform, deselect all audio data.
2 Choose Edit > Copy or Edit > Copy To New. Alternatively, click the Copy button in the toolbar.
Cutting audio data
The Cut command lets you remove audio data from the current waveform and copy it to the active clipboard.
To cut audio data:
1 Select the audio data you want to cut. Or, to cut the entire waveform, deselect all audio data.
2 Choose Edit > Cut. Alternatively, click the Cut button in the toolbar.
Pasting audio data
The Paste command lets you paste audio data from the active clipboard to the current waveform. If the format of the data on the clipboard differs from the format of the file it’s being pasted into, Adobe Audition automatically converts the format before pasting the data.
The Paste To New command lets you create a new file and insert audio data from the active clipboard. The new file automatically inherits the properties (sample rate, sample frequency, and so on) from the original clipboard material.
The Highlight After Paste option in the General tab of the Settings dialog box determines
whether or not data is highlighted after you paste it into a file.
To paste audio data into the current file:
1 In the waveform display, place the cursor where you want to insert the audio data or select the audio data you want to replace.
2 Choose Edit > Paste. Alternatively, click the Paste button in the toolbar.
To paste audio data into a new file:
Choose Edit > Paste To New.
Multitrack View work area
A. Vertical scroll bar B. Track controls C. Toolbar D. Horizontal scroll bar E. Track F. Load Meter G. Mix Gauge