Download Audacity from the website listed in References. Download the LAME MP3 add on as well. The installation and setup is quick and easy.
Connect your microphone or instrument to your computer using the appropriate input. For simplicity, the USB microphones such as MXL provide studio-quality performance with the ease of a USB connection. They are available on-line through a search for MXL-USB.
Check your Audacity input volume by clicking on the red record button. You will see a stereo recording track appear. Speaking into the microphone or playing a few notes on your instrument will give you a reading. Click the yellow stop button and play your test back by pressing the green play button.
Set your input volume so you are not hitting the top or bottom of the record tracks with the waveform. Input volume is set with the slider adjustment marked by a microphone on the upper right side of the screen. Playback volume is to the left of the input.
Start your recording session with a few seconds of dead air to leave room for editing. If you make a mistake, click the stop button, then use CTRL Z to delete it and start over. Listen back to your recording. If it's good choose to save or add a second track. To add the second track, plug your headset earphones in to your computer and push the record button. The second track pops up and the first track will begin playing back through your headset. Lay down your second track.
Save your recording before attempting any adjustments. Click on "File" and "Export as MP3" to save permanent file. Click on "Save Project As" to save your working file. When you have a permanent copy of your initial track saved begin fine tuning it or enhancing it.
Press CTRL A to highlight your recording and click on "Effect." There are several options to select from. More commonly used are the "Amplify" button to raise or lower volume and the "Gverb" section to add reverb or echo to your recording. "Gverb" options are infinite and beyond the scope of this article. Use the "Gverb" website listed in references to find some commonly used settings.