Audio Recorder

Unfortunately AQA is no longer able to offer the packaged AQA Audio Recorder as it has in previous series. Centres who have previously downloaded and installed the software are still eligible to use it for AQA MFL speaking tests. We are therefore providing centres with links to Audacity (where centres can download the free recorder software) and Lame (where centres may, if they so wish, download the MP3 encoder*).

We recommend centres use the free Audacity software to record speaking tests for Modern Foreign Languages.

To download the software please visit the Audacity website.

It is available for Microsoft windows XP/Vista/7 and Apple computers.

In addition, centres may choose to download LAME MP3 to encode recordings into the popular mp3 format. (Centres should know that MP3 use may require to acquire a license with Thomson Licensing).

Once the software is installed, we recommend changing the following settings in Audacity Preferences (Edit – Preferences):

Tab 'Quality':

• Default Sample Rate: 44100Hz
• Default Sample Format: 16-bit

File 'Formats':

• Bit Rate: 56

*If centres wish to use the Lame mp3 encoder, we recommend they contact Thomson Licensing to see if they require a licence.