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Stages of Video and Audio Production
Introduction | Preproduction | Production | Post-Production | LINKSStages of Video and Audio Production
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Audio
Assignment #11 - PodcastAudio
Video
Assignment #10 - Clip ReconstructionAssignment #12 - Sequence EditingAssignment #13 - Lower ThirdsAssignment #14 - PSAOptional #15 - CG in filmVideo
SOUND RECORDING AND PROCESSING
SOUND RECORDING AND PROCESSING
Pure sound is hard to record and process. Humans have a very sensitive ear to what sounds "real" and not. Because we're a visual creature, when processing sound we use waveforms in sound-editing programs like Audacity, Audition, GoldWave, ACID. For music processing /recording we use programs like ProTools, AVID and Ableton LIVE. There is a fine art form of crafting audio for specific industries. For example, techniques for Foley sound artists are different than podcasters, who are different from music engineers, but the general toolset is the same.
The waveform is a visual representation of the oscillations made by the microphone (or speaker) diaphragm moving in/out and thus the electrical signal. It can further be broken down into a spectrograph of the sound and a frequency representation. This helps to visualize the sound based on frequency over time.
Generally human voice is between 300Hz to 3000Hz. Sounds like guitars generally go from 80Hz to 1200Hz, while sounds like the flute go from 250Hz to about 2000Hz.
Sound is processed in layers just like in graphics or video. Each new layer adds AND SUBTRACTS from the overall sound. Because we're dealing in waves, just like in a pond, a wave gets affected by the addition of another wave, and that addition may not be complimentary.
Also, much like in graphics or video editing, sound editors may apply filters & effects to sound. Because we're working in layers, these effects & filters impact selected layers at times we want them to.
Additionally, because we're working with frequencies in layers OVER TIME, we have an additional dimension to play in that doesn't exist in either graphic design or video (to an extent).
Finally, the old addage in any aspect of Comm Tech, LESS IS MORE is true here too. Proper planning and subtle manipulation of sound often yields FAR superior product.
AUDACITY/AUDITION
AUDACITY/AUDITION
Is a great music-editor. It is freeware and is quite useful in pre-editing sound clips so that they're about the right volume/length so as to reduce the time you need to spend in Premiere editing the sound clips.
List of tutorials:
View of a project in Audacity
View of a project in Audition
Links to sound websites
Links to sound websites
For both Music and Sound Effects
Recording Voicework in Class
Recording Voicework in Class
To Get Started:
In the classroom, we'll use the Spark microphone or one of the Zoom recorders. Recording in early morning, at noon or after classes is ideal to minimize background noise. Ideally you would record in a sound booth with noise-dampening walls so that all reflected sound is muted. At SC you'll have to settle for just hoping the class is quiet OR going into the studio at the side of the room.
If you are using the Spark microphone you will plug the microphone into the USB slot onto the front of the computer and THEN start Audacity or Audition.
If for some reason you don't see the Spark microphone in the dropdown list of available microphones once Audacity or Audition has started then check the recording inputs.
Audio Hardware in Audacity
Audio Hardware in Audition
Recording
Recording
Press the RECORD button and speak to TEST your recording levels. Adjust the Microphone slider if required:
MIC SET TOO LOW: This yields faint audio that sounds “hissy” when amplified.
>> (Hint - Try moving the mic closer to your mouth!)
MIC SET TOO HIGH: This creates CLIPPING resulting in unacceptable distortion.
IDEAL LEVELS: The waveform fills the “canvas” without “Clipping” at the loudest noises you'll be making
Close any test tracks by clicking the X in the top left corner in Audacity (or in Audition delete the Untitled clip in the file space at the top left)
Audition - too quiet. Adjust audio volume
WHEN YOU’RE READY TO RECORD
Position your script so you can read it
RECORD YOUR DIALOGUE
SPEAK SLOWLY and CLEARLY
SPEAK EMPHATICALLY! If you don’t use an emphatic, upbeat voice, your dialogue can get lost under any video or animation, and you’ll need to re-record.
Record ALL your lines at once with a slight gap between them. Hit the STOP button when you’re done.
PROCESS YOUR DIALOGUE
Highlight a chunk of dialogue and hit the PLAY button to preview it
Delete any chunks of dialogue that are flawed
Amplify chunks of dialogue that are too low in levels (highlight the sequence EFFECT>AMPLIFY in Audacity. Or use the Volume Meter in Audition (at right)
Trim and fade chunks to remove leading and trailing noise (EFFECT>FADE IN or FADE OUT in Audacity or FAVORITES>FADE OUT in Audition)
SELECT - SAVE YOUR DIALOGUE
Highlight the first bit of dialogue you’d like to save. Preview it by click the PLAY button
Use FILE | EXPORT SELECTION as WAV to save that first clip. Repeat the process for any remaining audio clips.
Record all your dialoque at once, but save them into separate files.
NOTE: Be careful NOT to simply use [CTRL-S] or SAVE PROJECT - that creates a complex series of files in Audacity's project storage format. It will NOT create any useful files for you to import into any other program.
Example of Audio Script
Example of Audio Script
Assignment #11 - Podcast
Assignment #11 - Podcast
You are to record a 2 minute podcast about a subject of interest (here's a list of top podcasts in Canada). It could be music, film, video games, art, science, life....you name it. You'll need to write down a script for this podcast including when you are going to add effects and sounds. Once this pre-production is done, you move into the production (recording) and post-production (tweaking sound and adding music/sound-effects). Link to music and sound effects
You must include the following vocal layers at a minimum. You may have more than these layers, but not any less.
1 - one voice layer
2 - one background music layer
3 - one sound-effects layer
Submission:
Exported MP3 or WAV file
Once you’ve completed your podcast in Audition, you will need to export it as an MP3 file.
First, save your project. Click on File and click Save. This step only saves the data file of your recording and edits.
Click on File on the top left section of your screen. Hover over Export, then Multitrack Mixdown, then click Entire Session.
In Audacity
To export a file from Audacity you need to have your an Audacity project open. To export the file click 'File' then click on 'Export'. You should now see the Export File window. This file browser gives you an option on where to save your files, what to call it (Name) and the file format you save it in. Take WAV since installing the mp3 codec is a bit of a pain
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