Amplification PreSets

I hope this is a new idea
My purpose is to “Save Time” when editing long audio recordings.

  1. mouse-over a section ( e.g Applause= long, Coughing = medium, Door-bang =short ) and ask the computer to “Find Similar” - this is what a computer is good at.
    when done, you are faced with Presets: 1) mark all. 2) mark and Edit marks 3) Review Marked passages.
    ( I’m not sure these “Preset Marking Options” are the best suggestions )

The above would save a lot of time, IMHO, - e.g. avoiding missing a “Cough”
The Amplification process:
A) The “Effects” are too many ! Oh dear. Simply put them into TWO columns, separated by a narrow band - Useful for those with small screens, or large text… We can choose without having to Scroll the screen. . . . and Scroll back to continue !

B) The subject in hand:
When using the “Amplify” feature I’d like a Data-Box and “Radio-buttons” +2db +5dB +10db and also -2dB -5dB -10dB
This it is quick to apply a “correction” and should be satisfactory to an experienced ear, since you can apply one or several, by watching the Box-value. However, in my experience the ±2dB settings are almost imperceptable to the ear - but do allow clipping to be prevented when near the 0dB mark. The other values are arbitary but are those I find useful in my working.
However, I would suggest Time buttons:- Pre 10mS, 30mS 100mS 300mS as well as Post 10mS, 30mS 100mS 300mS
These will change the Amplification gradually - and again some Data-Boxes would be nice.
Also, it could apply a colour-tone to the time-line Selection, to allow the User to judge effects more accurately.
i.e before pressing “Apply”.

C) other Presets, which can be included: Tone - Could be moderately crude - LF cut, Mid-Cut and HF cut which would further supress regularly-heard “faults” which need to be kept, yet are required to be “adjusted” to suit the situation.
For Example: LF cut for “wind-noise” and HF cut for screetching.
I’d suggest also there should be “gain”, although I can only think… Cymbal… may benefit from a small HF gain.
This can be made after the initial “hit” to give the listener the perception of more-zing!
This is achieved by increasing the Time before - thereby moving the Tone-effect’s placement.

These may appear somewhat “complicated” - but that’s the point… by having them as Preset Buttons ( as described) I can move over any recording “errors” quickly: Whereas presently, it’s a lot of time spent at each.

Saving the file
Since the above preset amplification will be applied to a raw recording, there lies the possibility of changing it later . . . .
This requires the above to be contained as a Project, so when Saved As ( Audacity user =Export ) e.g. a WAV file, the Computer asks if the Project Settings are to be recorded . . . .
By reloading the Prijct and mousing over a particular section of the Timeline the User can investigate the “corrections” as previously applied - and change them - for example where a “Cough” was incorrectly amplified!

Thankyou
I note that (default) as installed, Audacity 2.12 uses a COPY of the original source audio, so I’m not destroying the original data when I save the Edited version. Thankyou for this thought.

It is, IF you have an algorithm that can precisely define what is being looked for and what is not being looked for.
Defining the difference between (for example) “applause” and “the sound of a waterfall” is very difficult (or the difference between a drum and a chair falling over, or between a TV and people talking …)
Some “classifications” are relatively easy - for example, the amplitude of a sound can be easily measured, so marking silences is relatively easy (see: http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/silence_finder_and_sound_finder.html#silence) but even then there are complications, such as crackles and clicks during “silences” between tracks on a record.