Is it possible to make recording SOUND like a phone call?

[CGriesemer]

Is there a way in audacity to record someone speaking, and then make it sound like its a phone call?

The context for this is that I want to do the voice of a radio DJ, and then record a fake-caller into the show. If there is a way to make my second bit of audio (the caller) sound like he was calling in via phone (you know, that reduced fidelity sound you hear on radio call-in shows), I'd love to know how to do it.


Any thoughts?

[kozikowski]

Oh, sure. Select the clip and Effect > Equalizer. That blue line is a rubber band and you can pull it around with your mouse. Drop everything below 300 and everything above 3000. Make sure everything in the middle is at zero or boosted.

That's how a normal telephone works and it's pretty unmistakable. Mess with it more if you want to accentuate the effect. Another variation is to have it rise gradually between 300 and 3000.

Add noise and fading as appropriate.

Cellphones have the additional problem of compression bubbling that you hear on some radio call-in shows.

Koz

[kozikowski]

I'm trying to figure out how to get the bubbling. Select the clip and export MP3, but pick the worst possible quality. That should give you a very bubbly voice. Then mix that back into the original track here and there as the cellphone signal comes and goes.

You have to be reasonably good at Audacity for all these tricks. Let us know how it works.

Koz