Listen to this original audio file, deliberately recorded with 'pauses between the words' so you can edit the file...

 

 

Original Audio File

• Right-click the link above and from the menu that appears select Save As... or Save Link As...
  Save the file on your memory stick or some other appropriate place.
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• Open the saved file in Audacity it will look something like this...
  
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• Play the file and note carefully where the voice starts speaking
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• Make sure that you click the Selection Tool...
  
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You may need to repeat the following a number of times... (you will get quicker with practice)

• Move the cursor over the sound wave (Note: the cursor changes into an I)...
  
  ...click on the sound wave where you think the voice starts talking...
  
  A black vertical line will be inserted.
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• Clicking the Play Button will allow you to see if you have chosen well!
  
  Note: you don't have to listen to the whole recording you can stop the playback by clicking the stop button.
  (Try again if you are not satisfied with your selection, by clicking before or after your first attempt)

When happy with your selection you will need to select the section you wish to remove. Do this by...

• moving the cursor towards the line (in this case from the right) The Cursor will change into a Pointing Finger...
  
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• Click-n-drag the cursor to the beginning of the recording to select the section you wish to remove...
  

This is just the same as selecting text in a word document.

• Either use the keyboard shortcut - hold down the Ctrl Key and typing X or
  use the Edit menu and Select Cut from the menu that appears...
  

The track will now look something like this...

• Repeat the above to trim the end of the recording. When you have finished it should look something like this...
  
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• Using the same proceedure, select the 'pauses' (one at a time)...
  
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• When finished it should look something like this...
  

Note: If at any time you make an error you can undo using the Edit menu

or use the keyboard shortcut - hold down the Ctrl Key and type the Z Key.

The Edited-Trimmed Audio Track