🎙️

Audio Editing and Optimizing Techniques

Jul 10, 2024

Audio Editing and Optimizing Techniques

Introduction

  • Speaker: Amish from Audio Imperfect
  • Focus: Sharing secrets of audio recording and editing process including equipment and techniques.
  • Emphasis on watching the entire video for full context.

Importance of Source Quality

  • Everything starts at the source.
  • High-quality gear cannot fix poor source audio (e.g., a talent with a cold).
  • Example: Improve guitar sound by replacing old strings.
  • Two ways to improve source audio:
    1. Room Acoustics: DIY acoustic treatment with affordable materials.
    2. Microphone Distance: Closer proximity minimizes room reverb but can increase bassiness.

Demonstrations

Room Acoustics

  • Comparison between DIY treated room and untreated room:
    • Cheap acoustic foam and everyday items like thick curtains can significantly improve audio quality.
    • Non-treated rooms result in noticeable reverb making audio unusable.
    • Example: Demonstrations with the Zoom H1 microphone.

Distance from Microphone

  • Closer microphone results in cleaner audio by increasing the direct sound over reflected sound.
  • Example with Zoom H1 settings:
    • Demonstrates increased audio clarity and reduced reverb when the microphone is closer.
    • Beware of excessive proximity effect causing boominess.

Equipment Recommendations

  • Microphones

    • Neumann U87 Ai: Too high-end for most users; more of a novelty and collector’s item.
    • Neumann TLM-102: More affordable with negligible difference on platforms like YouTube.
    • Samson C01U Pro: USB microphone, highly recommended for beginners.
  • Audio Interfaces

    • Focusrite Scarlett 8i6: Chosen for additional inputs/outputs and loopback feature.
    • Loopback Feature: Allows internal routing and recording of desktop audio.

Audio Editing Process

  • Software Used: Adobe Audition; RX8 Advanced from iZotope.
  • Sample Editing Workflow:
    • Noise Removal: Using RX8’s Spectral De-noise; sample clean noise and apply learning.
    • Amplify: Ensure consistent levels (-12 to -6 dB range).
    • EQ and Compressor: Using parametric equalizer to improve clarity and multi-band compressor for balanced audio.
    • Mouth Noise Removal: RX8’s Mouth De-click.
    • Breath Noise Control: RX8’s Breadth Control, typically reducing by -14 dB.
    • Sibilance Reduction: Using RX8’s DS plugin.
    • Additional Filters: Fine-tuning with more parametric equalizers, focusing on removing unnecessary high frequencies (above 16k Hz).

Creating Presets

  • Creating and saving personalized presets for consistent audio quality with different recordings.
  • Suggests adjustments tailored to individual voices and environments.

Conclusion and Final Tips

  • Final Steps in Editing:

    • Normalize audio levels post-editing.
    • Hard limiting to remove excessive peaks.
  • Emphasis on ongoing adjustments and learning.

  • Acknowledge costs of software/hardware and need for continuous trial and error.

  • Support Request: Encouragement to support through Patreon to keep content free.

  • Ending thanks and call to action for feedback and further support.