A digital audio editor allows us to record sounds on the computer and make changes to them, if we wish.

It also allows us to compose a piece by deciding where all the bits and pieces go. In this project we are working with wav files, not MIDI files. We are using Cool Edit Pro.

You will find downloadable Audio Editors if you follow this link.

1. Edit your audio files in the waveform window. The transformations take place here.
2. Organize where your edited files will be placed in a piece in the multitrack view.
3. Use the spectral view to see how transformations affect the components of a sound.

Click here to reach the Cool Edit Pro application. When asked, save it to your hard drive. Create a shortcut on your Desktop.Create a folder on your Desktop for saving your files. Call it audio and add your name or initials (e.g. audioamh)

In the waveform window, go to File - Open. Become familiar with the available sounds by opening and playing the files in the sources folder.

Select, trim and save

To work with one area of a sound, select it. Trim it and save it under an easily identifiable name to your audio folder. Look at this screen recording. It will show you how to select, trim, save and label.