Questions tagged [audio-recording]
Audio recording is the process of creating a sound wave representation in an electronic medium. Use for questions directly related to the audio recording process.
741
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What are the most common newbie recording mistakes?
What are the most common mistakes that new engineers tend to make when recording and mixing down their tracks?
Willbill
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6
answers
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How do you use gain effectively?
Have read a few descriptions and understand basically what gain is, but I am quite the novice with audio work.
I've never heard gain or it's usage described by those who are really familiar with it ...
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12
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Cheap DIY solutions, like using egg cartons
I record and produce as a hobby, so funds are limited. What are some nice do it yourself solutions people have found.
As an example, you can line the walls with egg cartons instead of paying for ...
brian_d
18
votes
2
answers
369
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What is Mastering?
Can anyone explain mastering? What is it for and why should anyone care? Should I have all of my recordings mastered?
Donn Felker
15
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3
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What is "clipping" distortion? What causes it, and how to avoid it when recording audio?
What is "clipping" distortion?
What causes it, and how to avoid it when recording audio?
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6
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Monitoring multiple USB microphones
I am in the planning stages of producing a podcast consisting 2 or more people in the same room. I have a large diaphragm USB condenser mic, and another non-USB mic. At this point, I need to decide ...
Tom Miller
11
votes
1
answer
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Audacity - cut without repositioning.
Using Audacity if I trim an audio track the remaining audio is shifted to the left. I want it to stay in position since it is in time with another track. How can I accomplish this?
Thanks!
Josh M.
10
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4
answers
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Are there any Audio Interfaces supporting USB 3.0? If not, why?
I like to record my sounds of my amp (VOX VT40+) using a microphone (e.g. the Shure SM57-LCE) and an audio interface (e.g. Focusrite Scarlett 2i4), but I did not buy one of these, yet. I was wondering ...
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1
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How can I multitrack record my band practices?
I would like to start recording my band practices. Current configuration is bass, guitar, and drums. I would like to record individual tracks to my computer so that we can add other parts, work on ...
yossarian
10
votes
3
answers
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What should I look for in microphones for home audio monitoring "nanny audio cam" system
When building a home monitoring "nanny audio cam" system, the main component seems to be microphones/sound pickups.
The qualities that I think I need for such microphones for this system seem to be:
...
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3
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What audio interfaces/mixers work well under Linux?
I'm looking for an audio interface with about 8 inputs that serves as a mixer as well, so I could record several channels and play them back to a PA at the same time. An example would be the Behringer ...
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10
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1
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Equipment setup for recording a podcast
I'm helping a non-profit set up a podcast and want to make sure I pick out the right types of equipment. The podcast will usually have 2 people talking. I'd like to put together two different ...
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9
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3
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Can I record a sound frequency I can't hear and play it back so I can hear it?
Can I record a sound frequency I can't hear and play it back so I can hear it?
If yes, How?
Phill Pafford
9
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6
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Is it possible to separate voices from one mp3 file?
I want to separate 2 or more voices from one audio file,
is there any software to this ?
I have done some googling and seen that the answer is NO in most cases.
But I think at least there should be ...
arnab
9
votes
3
answers
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How to record from two PC microphones with one computer?
I am using audacity to record conversation between myself and a friend in the same room.
I am currently using two instances of audacity on two separate computers to record each individual headset.
...
Yoshiyahu
9
votes
4
answers
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Is it better to use a DI unit or USB audio interface to connect guitar to PC?
I'm looking for an economical way to play my guitar and possibly record on my computer without purchasing an amp. I'm hoping this will save me some money and still produce reasonable quality output ...
Lèse majesté
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6
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Miking a grand piano
I have a SM57 and RHODES NT1 microphone and I was wondering what the best way to mike a grand piano was. I tried opening the grand piano and pointing the SM57 at the strings and then placing the ...
gwc
9
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4
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Can someone explain 'phase' and related terminology in audio production?
I've looked a lot of places for info about this, and I've never found anything that was clear and satisfactory.
I've been working with various DAW software for awhile and I always run into 'invert ...
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9
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3
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What is the best order in which to record instruments?
I am teaching myself home recording using GarageBand. I play guitar and piano, and have a Korg padKontrol to enter drum data.
My question is, what is the best order in which to lay down tracks? ...
Mark Richman
8
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11
answers
70k
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How do you remove white noise from recordings?
Specifically from recordings that other people made.
divided
8
votes
2
answers
230
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Soft synth vs. hard synth
I did a lot of project work about 15 years ago. Due to a limited budget, I arranged most of the drums, bass and keyboard tracks on a MIDI rack synth. I became increasingly annoyed with the process ...
Kim Burgaard
8
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3
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Are dialogues recorded separately while filming?
Usually when filming, are the dialogues being recorded together with the scene of the shots or are the dialogues usually re-recorded by asking the actors to speak and record over the footages in a ...
xenon
8
votes
4
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In what units is a sample's amplitude value represented, and how it relates to the real world?
I'm new to digital audio signals and read about sampling rate on hydrogenaudio.
What this doesn't mention is how a single sample's value, ranging from -32768 to 32767 in a 16 bit, relates to any real-...
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4
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Why are all my recordings fuzzy and quiet!?
I originally thought I could just record my guitar using my laptop camera/mic, like I assumed many of the very-non-professional Youtubers I saw do. This (just the first part) was the result. I then ...
8
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5
answers
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Achieving uniform level in lengthy spoken word recordings
I often make lengthy recordings of spoken word for Internet distribution - lectures, public debates, etc. The resulting wave files have a highly uneven level - from whisper-quiet (questions from the ...
moodforaday
8
votes
1
answer
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How to get line-level record-out on Behringer X2442-usb?
My band uses a Behringer X2442-usb. We have it wired-up thus:
Inputs going along 10 of the channels (1-8, 9 & 11 -- we don't use the stereo input capability of the higher channels.)
We use Aux 1,...
Olie
8
votes
2
answers
2k
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Voiceover workflow tips? (Specifcally, workflow and processing...)
Does anyone have any good tips as to how I might record good quality voiceover for a short video series I'm editing?
I'm currently in the middle of editing together a short video project that needs ...
growse
8
votes
2
answers
22k
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Audacity records only 1 channel, inspite of being set to stereo
I use a Shure condenser mic with a Focusrite scarlett solo interface. However ever since the 1st time I connected it to the laptop , & recorded in Audacity & mixpad, It keeps recording only 1 ...
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7
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6
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How do I shout into my mic without distortion?
I have an Audiotechna AT2020 USB condenser microphone hooked up to my computer. When I'm recording sometimes I may shout or scream and my microphone goes all grainy and distorted. So I'm just ...
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5
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Voiceover drowns in music. How do I make it more dominant?
Total newbie here, not sure if this is the right place to post this. I'm trying to record some station IDs for an online radio station thingamajig I'm doing. I'm using a Samson C03U. My voiceovers ...
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How to reproduce any sound
This may be a silly question, but it is one I don't know and I haven't found an exact answer to it.
A speaker can reproduce virtually any sound through vibration sequences, using an electromagnet. ...
- 191
7
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5
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367
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Headphones to block outside noise
In a live recording environment, what "style" of headphones should I use to monitor what I am recording - in other words which block out the outside sound best.
Are in-ear headphones completely ...
fluteflute
7
votes
2
answers
185
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How to judge preamp and A/D quality on a USB audio interface?
I'm looking for an audio interface for casual recording. There are things it's easy to tell from specs -- number of channels, connectors, phantom power, etc. -- but I don't know any way to tell if an ...
thehiatus
7
votes
6
answers
336
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What key features should I look for when purchasing a mic for podcasting?
I'm looking to set up a podcast, and want to get started with the right equipment. My problem is I have no idea what I'm looking for in a mic, and what other things I need to record good quality audio....
Ciaocibai
7
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3
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1k
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Getting the kick drum to really come out in the mix?
When I get done with a mix, no matter how much I work on the bass drum it barely comes out. I'm mainly working with metal bands, so I was wondering if anyone could give me pointers/ suggestions/ ...
Jasper James
7
votes
1
answer
532
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Imitating a phone call?
I was wondering if there was an easy way to do a voice over of a phone call with it actually sounding like someone on the phone instead of just a voice over?
johnny1bucket
7
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3
answers
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What's the difference between dynamic and condensor microphones?
When someone talks about a dynamic or condenser microphone, what do they mean?
How do these classes microphones differ, and are they used for different things?
Are there any more subdivisions of ...
WLPhoenix
7
votes
4
answers
48
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How can I get a basic transcription of an audio recording using voice recognition?
I like to record the older folks in my family. I put my recorder on the table and we just chat. Just hanging out.
Most of the resulting footage is not interesting but occasionally, I get a gem. Some ...
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7
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1
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How to learn about audio recording and production
I have little knowledge in audio recording and production. I wonder how I shall learn about it?
As a beginner, some introductory
material that give general ideas and
big picture will be great.
As ...
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7
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1
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Any plugins out there using GPGPU/CUDA/OpenCL for horsepower?
It looks like the dedicated hardware plugin boxes (UAD etc) use traditional DSP chips like the Analog Devices SHARC for their horsepower. Is anybody using graphics card processors via GPGPU (General ...
Bill Gribble
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votes
6
answers
2k
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Doubling a track
I was reading an article about recording a guitar and the guy was recommending doubling the track by actually recording it twice. I realize that this thickens up the sound which is good but is playing ...
Micah
6
votes
1
answer
75
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Why does your voice sound different when you record it?
Is it just yourself, or can other people hear it too?
dvdhsu
6
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3
answers
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How can I record my singing voice the way I hear it?
When I hear myself sing, which I only do in my car to and from work everyday now just to practice (which is about 2 hours total), I actually like the way my voice sounds. It is at least tolerable.
My ...
- 1,141
6
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How to dress when recording Foleys?
Just discovered a 2014 short called The Sound of COS. It shows two guys creating Foleys for a fashion commercial. The short being sponsored by COS, of course the two are dressed sleekly. However, I ...
- 225
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2
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Planning a simple setup for recording violin
I am an amateur violinist. I would like to start to record my playing, doing the recording myself. I will be playing and recording classical, eastern European folk and Jazz. I would like your help in ...
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6
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2
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How do I mic a violin?
I have a Royer R-122 ribbon. My wife is a violinist, and I would love some tips on how to properly mike her violin for recording and mixing. I understand that ribbons are a little picky, so I would ...
Jduv
6
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2
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3k
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What do I need to make reasonable quality amateur recordings of vocals/piano to put on Youtube?
I have been recording myself playing piano and posting to Youtube, just so friends can take a look at how my progress is with the instrument for the most part, but also to post tutorials for some ...
Brian Schroth
6
votes
4
answers
771
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How do I mic an upright piano to get a nice stereo effect
I have an old upright piano (slightly out of tune). First of all, I took the front off of the piano and put an SM-58 right in the middle and got a great sounding recording. I really like the sound ...
- 3,464
6
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3
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How to cleanly punch piano?
When recording piano I've always struggled to get clean punches. I usually try to punch just ahead of a downbeat when the pianist is lifting the sustain pedal, but I often end up with some remnants ...
- 3,695
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2
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Rendering vs. recording in ableton live?
In Ableton Live, it seems like I get better (clearer, louder, better dynamics) results when I route and record my master track to an audio track instead of using the "render-to-disk" function.
Has ...
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