Sunday, October 25, 2009
Audio software for creating high quality podcasts
If you're going for the highest quality possible in a podcast (and I realize not everyone needs or wants the highest quality), I’d suggest using several software programs. We use Sony Sound Forge for recording and editing our voice, Adobe Audition for “painting out” extraneous noise, and Cockos Reaper for compression (we use the “Smile” setting ReaXcomp plug-in). And finally, we use Sony Vegas Pro for mixing our voice with a podcast intro, outro and short music transitions. Vegas Pro has a fairly low learning curve and there are some nice plug-ins you can use to enhance the sound quality. We use PreSonus Firepod for our equipment (and Presonus Firebox when we’re traveling) because we like to record at 88kHz 32bit (then downsample our podcast to a 128 MP3 file). Of course, once you records, edits, and mix a podcast, then the real fun begins. Promoting it.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Making your voice recordings sound better
Although we produce voice overs and production music at Audiobag, our specialty is post-production work (audio editing). In fact, we have a section on our website dedicated to audio editing at http://audiobag.com/audioediting.html. We love to improve the sound of your voice recordings.
The most common problem in recordings customers send to us is background noise (room ambiance) such as air conditioners, refrigerators, reverberation caused by nearby walls, and of thumping the microphone. We can eliminate most of the thumping noise and decrease the other background noise, but it's impossible to totally eliminate it all. However, there are a few things you can do to improve your recordings.
Place pillows against nearby walls to help decrease wall reverberation noise. If you're in your home or office where you can turn off hum generating equipment without causing any problems with your associates or family members, temporarily turn off the air conditioner, refrigerator and any other noise makers. Just don't forget to turn that refrigerator back on.
One more item that will definitely improve your recordings is a windscreen on your microphone to knock out the plosives (or "popped P's" as we call them). We eliminate plosives every day (sounds like Rolaid's, doesn't it?), so don't worry too much about them if they happen even while using a windscreen.
These are just a few tips to help you improve your recordings. If you'd like expert editing of your recording, visit us at http://audiobag.com/audioediting.html. You'll find a description of what we do to improve audio.
The most common problem in recordings customers send to us is background noise (room ambiance) such as air conditioners, refrigerators, reverberation caused by nearby walls, and of thumping the microphone. We can eliminate most of the thumping noise and decrease the other background noise, but it's impossible to totally eliminate it all. However, there are a few things you can do to improve your recordings.
Place pillows against nearby walls to help decrease wall reverberation noise. If you're in your home or office where you can turn off hum generating equipment without causing any problems with your associates or family members, temporarily turn off the air conditioner, refrigerator and any other noise makers. Just don't forget to turn that refrigerator back on.
One more item that will definitely improve your recordings is a windscreen on your microphone to knock out the plosives (or "popped P's" as we call them). We eliminate plosives every day (sounds like Rolaid's, doesn't it?), so don't worry too much about them if they happen even while using a windscreen.
These are just a few tips to help you improve your recordings. If you'd like expert editing of your recording, visit us at http://audiobag.com/audioediting.html. You'll find a description of what we do to improve audio.
Monday, September 21, 2009
New Mobile Podcast Service
Recently we've been busy adding new services at Audiobag. One we're particularly excited about is mobile podcast recording. Starting in mid-October, we'll come to your location in the Austin, Texas area and record you and your associates (or guests). We'll arrive about an hour before recording to set up our microphones and audio board. Then we'll head back to our studio to edit the audio (taking out long pauses and flubs), add an intro and outro to your podcast, and deliver it via the Internet as a MP3 file -- ready for you to post on the Internet for the world to hear.
Learn more about our service at http://audiobag.com/mobilerecording.html. If you're interested, contact me to discuss your project and to reserve a date and time for the recording. I can be reached by email at jack@audiobag.com, or by phone at 1-800-773-5259.
Learn more about our service at http://audiobag.com/mobilerecording.html. If you're interested, contact me to discuss your project and to reserve a date and time for the recording. I can be reached by email at jack@audiobag.com, or by phone at 1-800-773-5259.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Why you might need audio editing help
1) You want to create a presentation (like a podcast, for example) using a portable field recorder (you know, one of those cool handhelds) but you don't want to spend the time, energy, or money buying extra equipment and software to edit it into a professional presentation.
2) You've recorded an interview and you want to omit all of the coughing, lip smacking, and extraneous chatter.
3) You have a recording that simply needs sweetening (improving). Perhaps you need more volume, or maybe you want it less muddy sounding.
4) You want to preserve, clean up, and transfer a tape recording to digital format.
If you find you need help with your audio editing, I hope you'll visit us at Audiobag.
2) You've recorded an interview and you want to omit all of the coughing, lip smacking, and extraneous chatter.
3) You have a recording that simply needs sweetening (improving). Perhaps you need more volume, or maybe you want it less muddy sounding.
4) You want to preserve, clean up, and transfer a tape recording to digital format.
If you find you need help with your audio editing, I hope you'll visit us at Audiobag.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Noise keeps us in business
We deal with noise everyday in our business. We're sent audio from customers who don't sound proof before recording. Air conditioner hums have to be filtered out with just the right equalization without making the speaker sound like he or she is talking through a tin can. Dogs barking, telephones beeping, doors closing, and people coughing have to be carefully edited out without omitting any words.
And then we've got our own noise to deal with. The mourning doves outside our studio say, in only a way melancholy birds can, "I waaant some fooooood. I waaant some foooooood." Chewy the Chihauhau likes to do an occasional yip to scare .... uh ... something. I'm not sure what a yip scares. Nevertheless, that is one ferocious dog. And throughout the day, bells ring from an elementary school a couple of blocks away. Thanks to high quality sound deadening acoustical tiles in our sound booth, we've managed to kill the sounds. Our voiceovers are noise-free, thank you very much.
If it weren't for all the noise in the world, we wouldn't be in the audio editing business. We're cool with noise. We know how to control it. It's our job. One man's noise is another man's treasure.
And then we've got our own noise to deal with. The mourning doves outside our studio say, in only a way melancholy birds can, "I waaant some fooooood. I waaant some foooooood." Chewy the Chihauhau likes to do an occasional yip to scare .... uh ... something. I'm not sure what a yip scares. Nevertheless, that is one ferocious dog. And throughout the day, bells ring from an elementary school a couple of blocks away. Thanks to high quality sound deadening acoustical tiles in our sound booth, we've managed to kill the sounds. Our voiceovers are noise-free, thank you very much.
If it weren't for all the noise in the world, we wouldn't be in the audio editing business. We're cool with noise. We know how to control it. It's our job. One man's noise is another man's treasure.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Revamping your business
Have you done anything bold in your business lately? You know, have you tried something that seems like it's, well ... out there? I know what you're thinking: Who can afford to be bold in economic times like these (I hate the phrase "economic times like these" and have tried to avoid using it)? Perhaps you're thinking you need to take a conservative approach with business decisions. Because, after all, every dollar counts. I agree that every dollar counts, but I don't agree on the conservative approach to making decisions.
Staying the course got us where we are today ... in debt, nobody buying our products, and feeling like we need to get a night job frying chicken. Not that there's anything wrong with frying chicken (except that you smell like fried chicken to everyone you meet). Staying the course means sitting on your thumbs, doing nothing, and hoping for success. There is a better way.
I believe the way to be successful is to offer up something new and desirable. Redbox offers a $1 movie rental -- not $5 like everyone else. Toyota offers a car that gets 50 mpg --- not 25 to 30 mpg like everyone else. Apple's iPhone is a computer and communicator in your pocket.
Always look for ways to improve. Offer more than your competitor. Offer a better product. Offer better service. And don't get greedy with your pricing. Be nice. Live and breathe your product or service. Mainly, don't give up. Don't get the night job frying chicken. Or, get it temporarily if it helps you keep your business open while you revamp it. And do just that. Revamp your business. Rethink how you've been doing things. Redo shoddy work or products. Refund when you can't fix a problem. And reward yourself by enjoying your life.
Staying the course got us where we are today ... in debt, nobody buying our products, and feeling like we need to get a night job frying chicken. Not that there's anything wrong with frying chicken (except that you smell like fried chicken to everyone you meet). Staying the course means sitting on your thumbs, doing nothing, and hoping for success. There is a better way.
I believe the way to be successful is to offer up something new and desirable. Redbox offers a $1 movie rental -- not $5 like everyone else. Toyota offers a car that gets 50 mpg --- not 25 to 30 mpg like everyone else. Apple's iPhone is a computer and communicator in your pocket.
Always look for ways to improve. Offer more than your competitor. Offer a better product. Offer better service. And don't get greedy with your pricing. Be nice. Live and breathe your product or service. Mainly, don't give up. Don't get the night job frying chicken. Or, get it temporarily if it helps you keep your business open while you revamp it. And do just that. Revamp your business. Rethink how you've been doing things. Redo shoddy work or products. Refund when you can't fix a problem. And reward yourself by enjoying your life.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
How to sound your best when recording
Yesterday I received an email from a client who asked me if I had any favorite voice exercises I do before recording to keep my voice in shape. Here's what I told him.
I don’t have any particular voice exercises. However, I have learned that my voice is at its best in the morning. When my voice starts to sound a bit strained, I drink very warm water (not coffee – because the acidity will hurt the vocal cords). I also avoid whispering because that’s bad for the vocal cords. As a side note, I record every sentence at least twice. When doing my post-production, I use the best sentence (or grab a word from the other sentence if necessary). All breathing noises are knocked out digitally and I use a fade-in for popped P’s.
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard is when you speak about half as loud as you normally do, you’ll sound more natural. Of course, sometimes the customer wants a more upbeat delivery and I’ve got to throw that piece of advice out the window.
I don’t have any particular voice exercises. However, I have learned that my voice is at its best in the morning. When my voice starts to sound a bit strained, I drink very warm water (not coffee – because the acidity will hurt the vocal cords). I also avoid whispering because that’s bad for the vocal cords. As a side note, I record every sentence at least twice. When doing my post-production, I use the best sentence (or grab a word from the other sentence if necessary). All breathing noises are knocked out digitally and I use a fade-in for popped P’s.
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard is when you speak about half as loud as you normally do, you’ll sound more natural. Of course, sometimes the customer wants a more upbeat delivery and I’ve got to throw that piece of advice out the window.
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