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Audio Production Basics

Audio Production Basics. Pros and Cons of Digital Recording. Pros – Much easier for the average person. Much less cumbersome Will not deteriorate over time Easily manipulated. Cons – Technology and software changes rapidly.

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Audio Production Basics

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  1. Audio Production Basics

  2. Pros and Cons of Digital Recording • Pros – • Much easier for the average person. • Much less cumbersome • Will not deteriorate over time • Easily manipulated. • Cons – • Technology and software changes rapidly. • Question over the quality and longevity of the computer audio recordings. • Turn tables, tape machines, and other hardware devices are still being used. Software trying to duplicate the warm natural sounds of the original devices.

  3. Audio File Formats • audio file types • Most common • .WAV • .AIF • .MP3 • .MID(MIDI - Musical Instrument Digital Interface)

  4. .WAV • Standard digital audio file format used for storing waveform data; allows audio recordings to be saved with different sampling rates and bitrates; often saved in a 44.1 KHz, 16-bit, stereo format, • standard format used for CD audio.

  5. MP3 • Compressed audio format; uses "Layer 3" audio compression; commonly used to store music files and audiobooks on a hard drive; may provide near-CD quality sound (stereo, 16-bit) in a file roughly 1/10 the size of a .WAV or .AIF file. • The quality of an MP3 file depends largely on the bit rate used for compression. Common bit rates are 128, 160, 192, and 256 kbps. Higher bit rates result in higher quality files that also require more disk space.

  6. AIF • Audio file created using the Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF); contains uncompressed CD-quality audio, similar to a .WAV file; commonly used to store standard CD audio. • Apple Computer developed the AIFF format, basing it on Electronic Arts' .IFF format. Standard AIFF files use a sampling rate of 44.1KHz, are 16-bit, and have two channels for stereo sound.

  7. MIDI • file used by music authoring and mixing programs as well as MIDI hardware devices; • contains music data, such as what notes are played, when they are played, how long each note is held, and how loud each note is played. • A MID file can be used to change instruments on a MIDI hardware device or modify sustain pedal information. • MID files can be played back using software instruments that interpret this data.

  8. Audio recording

  9. Audio Waves • Audio is recorded into waves. • They can be edited and manipulated to add numerous effects

  10. Digital Recording tools • Mics, • Mixer boards • Interfaces • DAT

  11. Mixers • Digital Mixer with Firewire – top of the line • Digital USB mixer • Recording mixer setup.

  12. Mixer Walkthrough • Gain • Sliders • Levels • Phantom • DI boxes – what are they used for? • Performs level matching, and balancing, to minimize noise, distortion, and ground loops.

  13. Microphones • Microphones can be extremely fragile • Do not blow or tap into them • Do not drop them or throw them around

  14. Dynamic Microphones • Contains a mylar diaphragm attached to a small coil surrounding a tiny fixed magnet. • When sound wave strikes, the diaphragm vibrates. • A tiny voltage is generated based on the interaction between the magnet and coil.

  15. Condenser Mic • Very sensitive mic • two plates with voltage between them are used to create sound. • Require phantom power or on board power. • Not the best choice for recording louder instruments or amplified instruments, • Large Diaphragm and small diaphragm. • Large – vocals • Small - instruments

  16. Microphone Pickup Patterns

  17. General Mic Tips • Get your microphone as close to the source as possible. • Even directional microphones pick up a little sound from most directions, so the closer the better - as long as you're not getting negative effects (plosives, mouth noises, etc)

  18. General Mic Tips • Eliminate the Competition: Think about the OTHER sounds in the room where you are recording. Two main sources of unwanted sound are: • noise : this can be the noisy air conditioner, computer fan traffic outside, crowds in the hall. • ambience : may be the "live nature" of the room you're in, the unwanted echo.

  19. Windscreens and Pop filters • Foam ball-shaped accessory for the microphone • Used to reduce unwanted sounds

  20. Interface • Purpose is to send the signal into a computer to be processed and manipulated. • Best to use USB or Firewire to bypass soundcard.

  21. Steps to the recording process • Tracking • Mixing/editing • Mastering

  22. Let’s explore the software! • toolbars • Settings • Starting a new project (creating a new folder for each project) • Effects • Capture room sounds.

  23. Simple assignment /15 • Use Audacity or Audition (COPY THE FINAL VERSION ONTO YOUR U DRIVE!) • Import a piece of public domain instrumental audio into one track of a project file. • Copy it into a second track. Alter the second track’s volume and properties (add effects, fades,…) • Take part of track 2 and cut it from track 2 and place it in the precise position of track 3. • Save it as audio assignment 1. • Marks • Piece successfully imported 3 points • Track copied into a second track 3 points • Part of track 2 cut from the track and placed in the proper spot in track 3 4 points • Alterations to Properties of track 5 points

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