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Notes 2013 Audacity Online Session 3 Katie Wardrobe Midnight Music
Notes 2013
Audacity Online Session 3
Katie WardrobeMidnight Music
Live Recording for Absolute Beginners 4
Why record? 4
Recording options 4
What do I need? 4
Basic requirements: hardware 4
What to consider 4
Computer 5
Microphone options 5
Inbuilt laptop mic 5
Gaming headset 5
iPod, iPhone, iPad 5
Handheld recording device 5
USB microphone 6
Dynamic microphones 6
Condenser microphones 6
Audio interface 6
What is it? 6
Do I need one? 6
How does it connect to my computer? 7
Headphones 7
Why headphones are important 7
Overwhelmed by choice? 7
Consider “what” and “why” 7
Recording in a noisy classroom 8
Setup tips 8
DIY vocal booth 8
Examples 8
Recording directly into Audacity 8
Settings in Audacity 8
Check levels 9
Setting up a click track 10
Recording using a handheld device 10
Settings 10
Check levels 10
Getting the recording from device to Audacity 10
Applying effects 11
First, top and tail the recording 11
Applying effects 11
Effect #1: equalize 11
Effect #2: Compress 12
Effect #3: Reverb 12
Effect #4: Normalise 13
Useful articles 13
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Live Recording for Absolute Beginners
Why record?
There are many reasons for recording students or having them record themselves:
• To allow instant reflec8on on a rehearsal or performance
• To archive student work
• To showcase your school’s performing groups
• To allow students to create podcasts and digital stories
• To assist the learning of ensemble parts
• And more...
Recording options
In addi8on to the edi8ng of exis8ng audio that we’ve already covered, you can use Audacity to enhance and edit live recordings that you might make with your students.
There are two basic op8ons:
• You can record directly into your computer (straight into Audacity) by connec8ng a microphone to your computer
• You can record on to another device and then import the recording into Audacity. Other devices might include iPhone, iPads or handheld recorders
What do I need?
In this session we’ll look at a range of equipment op8ons: from very low-‐budget, to more expensive.
Basic requirements: hardware
To record and edit live performances, you’ll need the following:
• A laptop or desktop computer
• A microphone or handheld recording device
• Headphones
• Speakers
What to consider
Buy the best you can afford, but don’t forget that you can s8ll make recordings on a 8ght budget. Hardware choices depend largely on:
• What it is you want to record (speaking, singing, class ensemble performance, final-‐year student performances, large ensemble or a duo)
• How good the quality needs to be
• Budget
Let’s look at a few op8ons in each category.
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Computer
You can record on to a laptop or desktop computer. The laptop has the bonus of being more portable, so you can take your recording studio with you anywhere.
When considering which computer to use, the more RAM the computer has the beRer.
Audio recording requires a lot of processing power, so if you have a very slow computer it’s more likely that things can go wrong.
Microphone options
There are lots of microphone op8ons: something to suit all budgets. Buy the best you can afford.
Inbuilt laptop mic
The cheapest op8on (free with your laptop!). It’s possible to use the in-‐built laptop mic and is OK to use if you have nothing else. The problem with using laptop mics is that they are very sensi8ve (and not direc8onal) so they pick up a lot of surrounding noise.
Gaming headset
A gaming headset has headphones with a mic built in. These are best for narra8on, story-‐telling and podcasts. When singing into a gaming headset, the sound oUen distorts because the singers mouth is so close to the mic. Again, these are OK if you have nothing else.
iPod, iPhone, iPad
You can use a mobile device with or without an external mic aRached. If you want to aRach an external mic, there are a couple of op8ons:
• Purchase the Apple Camera Connec8on Kit ($35) and a USB mic. The Camera Kit includes a small adaptor which will allow you to plug a USB microphone into your iPhone/iPad
• Purchase a specially-‐designed microphone that plugs into your device’s headphone port (such as the iRig; see image, right)
• Once you have recorded onto your mobile device, you can synch your device to your computer and then import the recording into Audacity for further edi8ng
Handheld recording device
A handheld recording device is portable and records excellent quality audio. It has in-‐built microphone/s and hard-‐disk space on which your recordings can be stored. Well-‐known brands include the Edirol R09 and the Zoom H4N (see image, right). It’s some8mes also possible to connect dynamic or condenser mics to the handheld device.
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USB microphone
USB microphones are very simple and straighcorward.
• They’re easy to use -‐ they plug straight into your USB port on your computer
• They’re portable
• You don’t need to install drivers
I use a Blue Snowball mic (the white one, far right) and Blue also make a more expensive model called the Ye8 (the silver one).
Dynamic microphones
Dynamic microphones very rugged and are most frequently used for live performance. They can work for studio recordings too (or in this case, school classroom recordings).
The most commonly used dynamic mic is the Shure SM58 (see right).
In order to connect the mic to your computer, you’ll need an audio interface (for more informa8on, see below).
Condenser microphones
The most expensive op8on (usually around double the price of a dynamic mic), but also the one that will give the best results for “studio” recording.
Condenser microphones need a supply of power in order for them to work. Some have a baRery inside the mic body that provides this power, but most need an external power supply known as “phantom power”.
Condenser microphones are more fragile than dynamic microphones and are therefore best suited to studio recording.
Audio interface
What is it?
A small box-‐shaped device that allows you to connect a microphone and/or guitar to your computer.
They come in varying sizes -‐ some allow you plug in just a couple of microphones or guitars, while others allow you to plug in many.
Do I need one?
You need an audio interface if:
• You want to record directly into your computer and you’re using a non-‐USB dynamic mic or condenser mic
• You’re using a condenser mic that requires phantom power
• You want to record a guitar straight into your computer. The guitarist can plug their instrument into the audio interface
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How does it connect to my computer?
Current models of audio interfaces allow you connect via USB or Firewire (which is quicker).
Headphones
Why headphones are important
Headphones are very important when recording audio. There are two main reasons you’ll need them:
For you as the recording engineer to monitor the recording (ie. check what how recording is sounding)
For your performer/s if they are overdubbing a track (ie. they’re going to record a new track with an exis8ng track)
Again, use the best you can afford. The cheapest op8on are the bud-‐style headphones that come with your iPod or iPhone. BeRer ones will cover your ears, and even beRer ones are noise-‐cancelling (they’ll block out any background noise).
Overwhelmed by choice?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the different op8ons, just start simply. Use the in-‐built mic on your laptop or your mobile device, then upgrade to a USB mic or audio interface+microphone set-‐up.
Once you start doing a liRle recording you’ll soon discover what works and what doesn’t!
Consider “what” and “why”
It’s also best to think about what you want to record and why:
• My grade 5 classroom ensemble so the students can reflect on their performance
• My year 7 students who are crea8ng podcasts for their term 1 assignment
• My choir rehearsal so the choristers can beRer learn their parts
• The vocal/guitar duo in year 9 that want to share their music online
• The year 12 students who need to submit a “digital” version of their composi8on for assessment
The first couple of scenarios here would be OK with an in-‐built laptop mic, handheld recorders or mobile devices.
The choir rehearsal would probably be best with a microphone or two placed near the centre of the choir so that all the parts are picked up. One op8on is a USB microphone switched to the omnidirec,onal seong so that the mic picks up sound from all sides.
The duo would work well with one microphone each, plugged into an audio interface. They could record their parts at the same 8me, or one at a 8me.
For year 12 assessment, you want to aim for the best quality possible. Record in a very quiet seong (access a recording studio if possible) and use the best quality microphones you can.
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Recording in a noisy classroom
Setup tips
• Find a quiet place to record. Although it’s possible to remove some unwanted noise in Audacity aUer you have recorded, the best thing is to avoid the unwanted noise in the first place :)
• Place the microphone near to the performer/s
• If you have mul8ple student groups recording at the same 8me, try to spread the groups out physically or take turns to record
• If you are recording singing or speaking, you might also consider making some homemade vocal booths (see below)
DIY vocal booth
A number of schools that do recording for digital storytelling and podcas8ng on a regular basis have created homemade vocal booths to overcome sound problems.
They usually consist of:
• A cardboard box with one side removed
• Acous8c foam cut to size, which lines the box
The box is placed on its side and the microphone is posi8oned just inside the box. The students speak towards the microphone and the box/foam prevent unwanted surrounding sounds from being picked up.
Examples
Here are three examples (the last one is a “pro” version you can purchase):
Recording directly into Audacity
If you’re recording directly into Audacity, you’ll need to check a few seongs and do a liRle test recording.
Settings in Audacity
• Plug your mic or audio interface into the computer and make sure it’s switched on (if applicable)
• Open Audacity
• Select your microphone in the Input Device drop-‐down menu on the Toolbar
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• Go to Edit > Preferences (PC) or Audacity > Preferences (Mac) and select Quality in the list on the leU. Make sure the Default Sample Rate is set to 4410 Hz and the Default Sample Format it set to 16-‐bit. This will ensure that you’re recording at CD quality (there are op8ons that allow you to record at a higher rate, but will result in a very, very large file)
If your performer will be singing/playing over a track that’s already recorded (ie. overdubbing), you’ll need to make sure that they can hear the first track while they record the new one:
• Go to Edit > Preferences (PC) or Audacity > Preferences (Mac) and select Recording in the list on the leU. Make sure the box next to Overdub: Play other tracks while recording new one is checked
Check levels
Next, you’ll want to do a liRle test recording.
• Press the Record buRon and ask the student/s to play or sing a verse and/or chorus, or count to 30. You need a decent length sample to check the levels.
• While they’re singing/playing, check the levels displayed on the Meter Toolbar at the top of the screen (see image below). The Meter Toolbar displays the amplitude of audio being played or recorded in the project. It is an easy way to see if the audio is clipped, which results in distor8on
• The green bar shows the playback level, and the red bar shows recording level. L is the leU channel and R is the right channel
• If you see some liRle red lines appear at the very right of the recording level meter, it indicates that clipping has occurred at some 8me during the recording (as indicated in the image above)
• Listen to the recording you just made and check the levels
• If clipping was present, reduce the input level in Audacity or move the microphone away from source
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For more informa8on about the Meter Toolbar, see hRp://manual.audacityteam.org/help/manual/man/meter_toolbar.html
Setting up a click track
Some8mes you might want your performer to play or sing along to a click track. It’s possible to generate one in Audacity at a chosen speed:
• Go to Generate > Click Track
• Choose your preferred seongs in the window that opens (choose tempo, number of beats per bar and total number of bars)
Recording using a handheld device
Settings
As with recording directly into Audacity, there are a few seongs to choose on your handheld device.
• Set the device to record at 44.1kHz/16-‐bit (CD quality)
• If you don’t have much space and quality is not an issue, you can choose to record using MP3 format which will create a smaller file (which is of a lesser quality)
Check levels
As before, do a test-‐run to check levels. You want the audio to be loud enough, but not to distort (clip).
• Press the Record buRon and ask the student/s to play or sing a verse and/or chorus, or count to 30. You need a decent length sample to check the levels.
• While they’re singing/playing, check the levels displayed on the device’s meter. If the levels go all the way to the right , clipping may have occurred.
• Listen to the recording you made
• If clipping was present, reduce the input level in Audacity or move the microphone away from source
Getting the recording from device to Audacity
Once you’ve made a recording on a handheld device, you’ll need to get the recording off the device and on to your computer.
• Usually you’ll connect the device via a USB cable and the files will appear in Explorer (PC) or the Finder (Mac). It’s just like moving files from a USB flash drive on to your computer
• In the case of iPhones and iPads you will need to synch the device to your computer
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Applying effects
First, top and tail the recording
Select and then delete any unwanted audio at the beginning and end of the track.
Applying effects
Once you’ve topped and tailed your recording, you might like to consider adding some effects. Effects can help to “correct” a recording: give it more warmth, boost a bass instrument, add crispness, smooth out the dynamic range and make your ensemble sound as though they performed in a concert hall.
NB: Before you add any effects, save a copy of your project. That way you can come back to the original recording if necessary.
Effect #1: equalize
Equaliza8on is the process of edi8ng the volume of individual frequencies in a recording. When you think back to the “older” style amplifiers, radios and car stereos they usually had two or three knobs that allowed you to adjust the low (bass), mid or high (treble) signal.
• Low: increasing the low/bass frequency will boost the kick drum, bass guitar and some low vocal sounds. It will also add some warmth to the recording. Over-‐emphasising these frequencies might result in a “muddy” sound. Decreasing the bass frequency too far might mean that some of the low sounds disappear
• Mid: mid-‐range frequencies include most of the common vocal sounds: speaking, singing
• High: increasing the high or treble frequencies will boost high sounds such as upper woodwinds, upper piano keys, high vocals. You can boost the high frequencies to add clarity, crispness and brightness. You can also reduce them to eliminate “S”, “T” and “Z” sounds and hissing
General rule: it’s beRer to take out frequencies than add them in. Take out unwanted frequencies, then boost the overall sound.
• In Audacity, go to Effect > EqualizaQon
• The Equaliza8on window will open
• Select the Graphic EQ op8on at the boRom of the window
• If you want to reduce the high frequencies for example, drag the sliders on the right side downwards
• You can also use the preset “curves” in the Select Curve drop-‐down menu
• Once you’ve adjusted the frequencies you can Preview your changes by using the Preview buRon
• Go easy when making changes – even a small adjustment can have a big effect
• When you’re happy with the changes, click OK
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Effect #2: Compress
Compression is used to smooth out the peaks in a recording. That is, it reduces the dynamic range of the recording. First of all it’s best to work out what the peak levels are in your recording.
To look at the dynamic range of your recording:
• Clicking on the drop-‐down menu next to the track header
• Choose Waveform (db)
• Now look at the waveform and iden8fy the peak levels
• For example, if your peak levels are around -‐8db, go to Effect > Compressor and use these seongs:
Effect #3: Reverb
Adding reverb will “extend” the sound in your recording. By applying a reverb effect you can make it sound as though your students recorded their performance in small hall or a large concert hall.
• Go to Effect > Gverb
• For a concert hall, try these seongs:
• For a small hall, try these seongs:
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Effect #4: Normalise
A normalisa8on effect is usually applied at or towards the end of the edi8ng process and will increase the amplitude to the maximum level without distor8ng the audio.
• Go to Effect > NormalizaQon
• Type -‐3.0 into the db box
• Click the Preview buRon to preview the change
• Click OK
Useful articles
The 15 Minute Mix
http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mixing-mastering/the-15-minute-mix/
35 Audio Tutorial Sites That Will Keep You Learning
hRp://audio.tutsplus.com/ar8cles/general/35-‐audio-‐tutorial-‐sites-‐that-‐will-‐keep-‐you-‐learning/
DIY Portable Vocal Booth
hRp://www.instructables.com/id/Portable-‐Mini-‐Vocal-‐Booth/
Audio Interfaces (a well-‐wriRen, simple guide)
hRp://www.bhphotovideo.com/indepth/audio/buying-‐guides/audio-‐interfaces
Guide to the Direc8onal Proper8es of Microphones
hRp://www.mediacollege.com/audio/microphones/direc8onal-‐characteris8cs.html
TweakHeadz Guide
hRp://tweakheadz.com/
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