I’ve been using Audacity for a while now, I am not efficient with it yet, but I am rather familiar with some of its features
My problem is, I have recording which I would like to enhance using Audacity, but no matter what I do the sound remains either too hissy or too ambient as opposed to a “feel good” studio recording.
I played around with the Treble and Bass feature, but it is still sounding mediocre.
I am not using any expensive recording gadgets, cause I am on a budget, but I’d love to know if there’s a way to enhance pre-existing recordings using some of the audacity features to mitigate the too “Treble” or Hissy sounds.
I have attached a raw recording without any interference with audacity, I’d like to know if there’s a way to edit this recording and what are the steps I should follow if I am to emerge with a better audio quality (similar to professional studio sounds).
I have also tried to record on Audacity instead of loading a pre-existing track, the quality of the track gets better of course, but my vocals are rather low and lacking connection with the track, or at least that’s what I feel.
Thank in advance, and sorry if I have posted in a wrong Forum, I am new here, and I’d like to learn how to use this software.
Again, apologies for any inconvenience.
From your description I thought this was going to be some kid in the garage. You may actually be in a garage, but you know what I mean. You’re way further ahead than that.
You are popping your Ps and P sounds. The “plosives.” You’re spitting in your microphone. We can help that a little in software, but some of those tools damage your voice, so no, we’re not going to do that.
You need to back away from your microphone, reposition your microphone or add a pop and blast filter…or all of them.
That tennis racket thing will not pass wind (so to speak), but it will pass the vibrations of your voice. So that’s step one. You can make one with stretch nylon and a coat hanger. Google it.
Note her spacing. No closer than that.
Attached is an illustration I haven’t posted yet. Note her microphone is about the level of her nose and pointed slightly down. Most P Popping sounds go down, not up.
I’m going to predict what you’re going to say. “I can’t back away from my USB microphone because the volume goes down and the hiss goes up.” Which Audacity are you using? Noise Removal in earlier Audacity versions wasn’t all that good, particularly at music. Noise Reduction in Audacity 2.1.0 and 2.1.1 is much better.
Let’s clear out the pops and thumps first, then work up to detail corrections.
Do you have the voice track without the music? Raw? No Processing?
I assume you’ve heard of Wynonna Judd, but so you know who that other lady is? That’s “Thank you for using A T and T.”
Yes that is Josh Turner and yes he does appear in public and have exactly the same name as the Country and Western singer. What could possibly go wrong?
I’ll work on the quality of my recordings at first , before using them in Audacity.
I know I said I am on a budget, but A USB Mic just won’t do anymore, I’ll be looking forward to upgrading my gear by the end of September god-willing.
And To to answer your question, no, I do not have that particular track’s instrumental Version (Cajun moon by Randy Crawford), much to my frustration, I searched high and low for it online to no avail.
I will get in touch with you again, once I have a gear capable of producing noise-free, easy-on-the-ears audio quality.
Thank you so much for your valuable information, and your time.
I’ll be looking forward to upgrading my gear by the end of September
Remember, I didn’t say those words. I want you to get what you got working. There’s nothing like developing bad recording habits and then you’re horrified when the new microphone doesn’t solve all the problems.
So, no don’t write checks yet. Do that sound test.
If you have a rotten recording room, a new microphone may make things worse. Most times, padding the room to get rid of echoes, “slap” and noises is a terrifically good thing to do.
Hello Mr Koz
Do you think buying into beginner gadgets would be a bad idea, do you think the Radioshack USB mic that I own can produce quality recording, would it be a waste of time to at least get a good sounding condenser mic with an audio interface along with pop shield, stand, cable etc.
To at least get a good sounding mix for audacity to work on.
I am sorry for asking the same questions.
I will however try and make do with what I got until I get my hands on the new stuff
I think we should get the existing one working. You start writing checks when we run out or find something the existing one won’t do.
This recording thing isn’t easy and the basics can be learned with almost any microphone. This P-Popping thing is a technique for running the microphone. Any microphone. That Metrobus noise you may have in the background of the voice? That’s going to be there no matter who’s microphone you have. That’s a studio problem.
Buying a good quality microphone does not wave a magic wand. We will eventually hit something the existing microphone can’t handle. Then we look closely at how you’re doing so far and where you want to go and decide on the best way to get there.
I once produced a temporary voice track for a television commercial with a quiet room, a Production Assistant with a good voice and my laptop microphone. Nobody could tell what I did except the PA, and he’s not talking.
Ok I will follow your advice, and get a pop shield and a stand for now, maybe also see how to make the room recording- friendly.
I apprwciate your honesty and help.
Next recording I will upload part of it here and we will see how to get it to sound proffessional, hopefully.
That can be very handy if your microphone doesn’t happen to be the right size and shape for the clip you bought. I’ve used this recently holding up a personal sound recorder in proper voice position and it doesn’t look anything like a standard microphone.
I just played your test clip again. Do post back when you get your stand and pop filter working.
