http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_Spangled_Banner.ogg In a-cappella ("instrument free") mode, I tend to rewrite tunes, too. I think I hav heard Star Spangled Banner sung this way at the beginning and the end. Could be my imajination. My middle is different from the usual, especially "gallantly screening". I looked around for MIDIs. All three that I found were more repetitive, and with a different beat than I remember. You are welcome to match what I sing. Girls might hav trouble matching my Bayse if they are Soprano. Mechanical experiments can be made if you make something up.
Is no try. Do or do not. --Yoda
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Spoken_Wikipedia/Recordin... I missed the part about putting the license and the source in the recording. If they aren't in the write-up, then I will put them there. One piece of advice that I happily ignore is that if I mess up a take, then I start from the beginning, with a reverse button. I did this one in about ten takes. I will probably write it in terms familiar to me, just in case I want to spend any time south of Calgary and memorize all three, now FOUR, verses. I should put this verse as verse two, then sing them backwards, like I do with O'Canada.
Under windows, there is a volume control, and typically there are different controls for recording and playback, plus a selection of devices to record. One way is to pick "Stereo Mixer". That might require a couple takes to get the mix about equal. It has a noise disadvantage, and such recordings can not be used to make real stereo separation. The other way is to pick "mic", so that your recording is isolated from anything you might be listening to. That allows me to synchronize, then mix later, which reminds me of something I should be doing.
The lyrics are here: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/The_Wikipedia-spangled_banner