Help…I sing incredibly loud. When I hit high(loud) notes, it sounds terrible scratchy on playback. How do I edit that? Any other good tips to a new user?
You should record at lower levels. Pros typically record at -12 to -18dB (at 24 bits). You don’t have to record that low, but if you go over 0dB you’ll [u]clip[/u] (distort) your analog-to-digital converter.
Then you can use the Amplify or Normalize effects to bring-up the levels after recording.
There is a Clip Fix effect but it’s a approximation because there’s no way to know the “original” height & shape of the waveform. Like most things, it’s best to avoid the problem than to try to fix it.
What kind of hardware setup are you using? If you’re using the mic built-into your laptop or a “regular cheap” computer microphone you could probably get better results with a better setup, but you still have to keep your levels under control.
Help…I sing incredibly loud
That’s a good thing! The biggest difference between a good home recording setup and a pro studio is that pro studios are soundproof (and sound absorbing). A good-strong signal gives you a better signal-to-noise ratio. That’s helpful in a pro studio too, but more important at home.
I am a new user, sort of. I am having issues with playback. Sometimes it appears that a recording is going ok but I can’t hear it when I play I play it. back. I am using windows 7.
Sometimes it appears that a recording is going ok but I can’t hear it when I play I play it. back.
If you see the waveforms you are recording. If you export to WAV can you play the file in Windows Media Player?
If you are recording from a USB device that can’t play-back (USB mic or USB turntable) Audacity might be trying to play-back through the same device. If that’s your situation, change your [u]Playback Device[/u] to your regular soundcard.
How do I edit that?
You don’t. Overload is one of the four horsemen. Guaranteed ways to kill your show.
Most if not all recording systems have a way to tell when you’re overloading. Even my silly Shure X2U has one light that changes color from Green (OK), Yellow (approaching trouble) and Red (sound damage).
Never let that light turn red.
If you have no such light, look at the Audacity bouncing sound meter. In Gradient mode, it changes from Green through Yellow to Red when you get too loud. Never let it turn red.
Yes, you do have to pay attention. You are the recording engineer.
If you’re truly nuclear (breaking glass, etc) then your microphone system has to have an attenuator switch (-10dB) someplace.That drops the volume to nearly a quarter to keep the microphone system from melting. If you’ve wondered what that switch does, you’re it. If you don’t have that switch, backing away from the microphone is the only solution left.
Shure does make a “third party” attenuator. That goes between your professional analog microphone and the mixer or interface.
Koz