Audacity Forum

Hello Audacity / podcast / sound editing experts,

I have finished recording some audio spoken podcast (no music).

A. Here are the specs:
* Format: MP3. * Program Used: Audacity. * Bit Rate: 320kbps. * Audio Sample Rate: 44KHz.

B. I will use Audacity and apply the following effects on the MP3s:
1. Compressor.
2. Normalize.
3. Noise Removal.

I kindly need your help in guide me, to ensure that the sound quality is really good & to utilize all available tools/features.

So please tell me:
A. Are the mentioned specs good enough? Should I improve anything?
B. Did I miss any effect that makes the difference? (Please tell me the name of the effect, I will learn the how to later).
C. Other suggestions are truly appreciated.

I know it can never be studio quality, but I’m sure with your help, it can be above excellent quality & the listeners will enjoy the quality.

Thank you very much in advance.
DeeDats

deedats wrote: Here are the specs:
* Format: MP3. * Program Used: Audacity. * Bit Rate: 320kbps. * Audio Sample Rate: 44KHz.

A. Are the mentioned specs good enough? Should I improve anything?

You should really be working with an uncompressed master format e.g. WAV or AIFF.

320kbs MP3 is a high quality format for end-use on a player. - but for editing work the MP3 has already been compreesed and that compression damage will remain in your Audacity project and will be made worse when you re-export to Audacity after your edits

WC

deedats wrote: I will use Audacity and apply the following effects on the MP3s:
1. Compressor.
2. Normalize.
3. Noise Removal.

Did I miss any effect that makes the difference? (Please tell me the name of the effect, I will learn the how to later).

I would do them in the reverse order - and I would remove DC offset first:
1) Use Normalize to remove DC offset - only check the DC offset removal box and NOT the amplitude adjustment box at this stage.

2) Noise Removal.

3) Normalization: note carefully that in the current Beta 1.3.13 and all previous Audacity version that Normalize works independently on each stereo channel of a pair. This can be useful if the original recording was unbalanced but if not than it can damage your stereo image. In the latest Alpha 1.3.14 Normalize can ce set to either use current behaviour or to operate on the stero pair equally as a pair. In the meantime I would recommend using Amplify instead of Normalize. I would not recommend normalizing to the max 0dB as some players do not work well at this level. I usually set my normalization to -3 or -2dB which is plenty loud enough.

4) Compressor: Audacity has a compressor, but also consider usuing "Chris's Dynamic Compressor" which gets good reviews on this forum. See this page from the Wiki - the link to Chris's is in the bottom section: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Compressor

deedats wrote:Other suggestions are truly appreciated.

Yes, do make sure that when you export your finished product that you export it to a (slightly) different filename. Do NOT overwrite any existing source audio files.

WC

I'd agree with all the points that waxcylinder made, but also, do you really need to use a compressor? If so, why? (the reason why you need to use one, if in fact you do, has an influence on which compressor and what settings will be most appropriate).