ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on May 28, 2013 22:09:28 GMT
Apols if I've been misleading Andy - I don't use Audacity(I did dabble in it for a while though), but an old Cakewalk programme - however, the general principle you spotted does hold true for the way I approach recording - I only use a tiny fraction of the possibilites of Cakewalk because I seem to get the results I'm after without messing much with the raw recording.
Keith
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Post by colan on Nov 24, 2013 21:59:46 GMT
ity Audacity is a brilliant little piece of FREE kit. It's the standard for short Open University courses and it's really quite powerful. I agree with the ' simple ' approach to recording- I'm pretty much a beginner myself- and I always keep the ' raw ' version of any tracks I make. You can then tinker with them as much as you like and save any good results for later reference. I record in my home office which has no soundproofing or treatments whatsoever so I have to choose quiet times - particularly as there is a kindergarten next door . As I learn more I'll move my PCs and gear to a small dedicated room - so that's something to look forward to. ' Reaper ' is my recording software though . I decided to use ' Reaper ' a couple of years back in order to collaborate with some overseas friends- sending Reaper Project files to each other for editing and additions- but that never got off the ground. I liked it so I stayed with it. I'm still fond of Audacity and interested in it so I'll keep watch as this thread develops.
As a note to keithambridge, my recording rig has a fanless graphics card so that's one source of noise eliminated. The newish solid state drives are silent too and falling in price.
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Post by michaelm on Jan 4, 2015 0:28:34 GMT
I've previously recorded on my Zoom H2, then taken the SD card from the H2 and used a card reader, opened Audacity to import the file. I've just found that I can use the H2 as a mic and record using Audacity's red button! Not sure what the benefit of that is other than saving a few seconds I've also found that I can use Audacity to slow the tempo of a piece of music, and that I can multi-track using it. It's good to have arrived in 2013!
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Post by scripsit on Jan 4, 2015 1:34:55 GMT
You might want to at least do some experimentation with EQ, no matter what you're using to track and mix your recordings.
Where most of us record, in 'normal' house rooms, there is a lot of audio reflection and interference going on which is not so obvious when you are hearing the music live, like in Keith's example of sitting opposite someone, but this is picked up by microphones.
I find computer fans to be the main culprit, and because this sort of noise is low level and constant we tend to tune this out automatically if we're just sitting there playing or listening, but really notice it when playing a recording back.
The other noise which is always washing about is the very low frequency rumble, some of which is from household stuff like fridges and the like, but is also the original and desirable signal now concentrated and made muddy by reflection of the guitar and voice audio from walls, corners, ceilings and so on.
If you cut everything below about 50Hz you'll get rid of a lot of the unpleasant noise. This would kill the sound of a bass drum or thumping bass guitar, but really helps clean up guitar and voice.
Apart from that, I agree that adjusting levels and putting some reverb on is about all you need to do, unless you want to sound like the CandyRat people.
As long as you save the original track before you start mucking around, you aren't losing anything by trying a few things.
Kym
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