Volume variation between adjoining tracks

[Carey]

I hope I can word this in a manner that makes my question understandable -- and do so without it taking a million words!

I record -- from the soundboard -- concerts at my venue. I then transfer them to my computer, and open them with Audacity.

Each track is around 45-50 mintues long -- the length of one typical set.

I then edit as follows:
* I select the entire track and increase the level as far as it will go, using the Amplify feature under Effects
* I then export this as a new WAV
* Using another program, because I just learned that Audacity can actually do it, I split this long file into separate files -- individual songs and separate tracks for between song patter

The problem is that a LOT of performers speak much more softly than they sing and play -- so the speaking tracks are lower in volume than are the song tracks.

When I burn a CD of this set of music (or, more accurately, music tracks interspersed with the between song spoken word tracks that are lower in volume), the softer tracks require you to adjust the volume control on the CD player -- and to then turn it back down as the next song track begins.

This constant adjustment of volume is far more prevalent and necessary when listening in a car, due to the road noise, air conditioner fan and so on. But that's where I do most of my listening to these CDs.

If I use Amplify to raise the level of the tracks AFTER they've been split into individual tracks, the softer tracks are raised to a much louder level than that of the song tracks.

This makes the point at which a song track ends and the spoken word track following it begins have a VERY noticable, sudden difference in volume.

I hoped I could fade in -- UP -- the first few seconds of the softer track, so that MOST of it was louder, but the increase in volume wasn't so sudden and noticable.

But I thought the beginning of the fade would start with the volume being the same loudness.......damn, this is where I knew I'd have a hard time putting this into words....

I hoped the first mili-second of the spoken word track would be the same loudness as the end of the preceding track, and that the fade would "feather" the volume up to the higher level I want that track to be (and do the same in reverse -- fade OUT -- at the end of the spoken word track).

Instead, FADE IN starts with ZERO volume and fades UP to the higher level.

Is there a solution to this problem?

Thanks-

Carey

[waxcylinder]

You can use the Envelope tool to vary the volume level at different parts of the recording.

The Envelope tool is the icon with two white triangles pointing to a little white dot with a blue line passing through. With this tool selected you can set the little white dots at various points and move them (and the associated blue lines up and down) - the blue lines control the volume at that point in the recording.

WC

[Carey]

Not surprisingly, in spite of having read and re-read, and then some, everything I could find on use of the Envelope tool, I can't figure it out.

I can see how to place the markers to define the section you want to apply the envelope to, but I can't figure out how to actually implement the action of raising the level of the selected section.

I'm one of those people for whom, when there's anything technical involved, observing is MUCH more effective than reading about how to do something.

Any suggestions on how I can learn/understand this procedure? It sure sounds like it'd do exactly what I want.

Thanks-

Carey

[waxcylinder]

Having set the control points you can then drag the blue line down to decrease the amplitude. I think you can get a lot tricksier with the controls from a brief play/experiment I just did. I can't really advise further as I don't actually use this functionality for the work I do with Audacity.

A poster in a previous thread asked Koz (user Kozikowski) if he could make a YouTube video of how to use the Envelpope tool - IIRC I think that Koz said he would do this - so it might be worth a look on YT.

WC

[Carey]

Thanks.

I think I might actually have been able to do it if my need was to LOWER the volume in certain sections -- which IS a need I have, but not the one I'd like to solve at this time.

My current need is to RAISE the volume of certain sections, but to do so in a way that increases it smoothly, not suddenly.

The problem seems to be that the blue lines I'd grab and drag are already at the very top of the track window, so I can't figure out how I'd drag them higher.

I'd grab a rosary and say some prayers, but apparently even rosaries are more hi-tech than my brain can comprehend.

[steve]

My current need is to RAISE the volume of certain sections, but to do so in a way that increases it smoothly, not suddenly.

There are two was to adjust - up and down. If you can't adjust something up, you will get the same effect by adjusting everything else down.

[waxcylinder]

... you will get the same effect by adjusting everything else down.

and then you can raise the level of the whole project with the Amplify function.

WC