The Fundamentals of Adobe Audition

The Fundamentals of Adobe Audition: 

The Fundamentals of Adobe Audition By Andrea Monasmith

Introduction: 

Introduction Adobe Audition is a helpful software used to record and edit audio tracks. This is a tutorial on the Fundamentals of Adobe Audition, as well as troubleshooting and helpful links. The tutorial is split up into 7 sections, each with unique subsections: Recording Etiquette Troubleshooting Adobe Audition How to Properly Set Up a Recording Track Common Terminology Basic Effects Basic Tools in the Program Helpful Links and Conclusion

Materials for this tutorial are:: 

Materials for this tutorial are: An external microphone (recommended) Headphones (non ear-bud headphones recommended) A computer Adobe Audition CS3 or higher

The goal of this tutorial is to…: 

The goal of this tutorial is to… …refresh your memory on the basics as well as clear up any minor questions you have, without having to inquire to your professor. The difficulty level of the items presented in this tutorial are: beginner. If you are at the intermediate or advanced levels, please refer to the “Helpful Links and Conclusion” section for more information.

Recording Etiquette: 

Recording Etiquette A good recording is not completely produced in the software- a good recording starts outside the computer and with you. Here are tips on how to ensure your recording gets off to a good start.

How do you properly handle the microphone?: 

How do you properly handle the microphone? The first step to producing a successful recording in Adobe Audition is to know how to properly use your recording equipment. If you are using an external microphone to record, be sure to thoroughly read its instructions to insure proper usage. Place your external microphone at chest height . There is no need to lean towards the microphone while recording. If your recordings are too soft, read the troubleshooting section of this tutorial. Speak towards the direction of the microphone. If you must read off a prompter or a paper, have the paper in front of you, not to the side. Practice your lines and record multiple takes of everything. Stuttering or slurring your speech is not optimal for producing a professional recording. Allow 3 seconds of silence before and after your recording. This ensures enough room to capture a noise reduction profile, or edit your track.

How do you avoid “puffs” appearing in your recording?: 

How do you avoid “puffs” appearing in your recording? Puffs are common noises that can sometimes ruin recordings that occur when an abnormal amount of air is suddenly passed through the microphone. Here are a couple tips on avoiding this: Cut your “ s”s short. In most recording cases, hissing into the microphone is undesirable. Do not whisper into the microphone. When you whisper, you exhale more air while speaking, thus creating puffs in your recordings.

Troubleshooting Adobe Audition: : 

Troubleshooting Adobe Audition: Are your recordings too soft? Are levels not being visually displayed on your screen? Here are some common Adobe Audition problems and ways to troubleshoot them.

How to enable your input and output devices: 

How to enable your input and output devices Is your computer prioritizing your built in microphone instead of your external microphone, or relaying sound through its speakers instead of to your headphones? This is a common problem, and fixing it on a windows platform is simple. First, disable Monitor Record Levels by going to: Metering > Record Monitor Levels. This disables Audition from accepting any inputs and enables us to make our desired change. Go back to Metering and select Windows Recording Mixer. Click the Input tab and disable everything but your desired input device ( i.g . your microphone). Click the Output tab and disable everything but your desired output device ( i.g . your headphones). Note: these changes will only effect the settings in Adobe Audition, NOT the default input and outputs for your computer. Apply these new settings. Go back to Metering and enable Monitor Record Levels. The levels should now be visually displaying properly.

How to adjust your microphone's levels: 

How to adjust your microphone's levels Are your recordings coming out too soft? Are they coming out loud, with very high noise? The remedy for this dilemma is to adjust your microphone's levels, or how sensitive your microphone is to sound. First, disable Monitor Record Levels by going to: Edit > Record Monitor Levels. Go back to Edit and select Windows Recording Mixer. In the Windows Recording Mixer, locate your Input device (in this case, your microphone) Right click your device and select Properties In this new window, click the Levels tab. It will display a range from 0 to 100. This represents how sensitive your Input device (microphone) will be to sound. If your recordings are being played back as too low, increase your Levels in this tab. If your recordings are too loud or are picking up too much noise, decrease your Levels in this tab. Apply your changes and exit the tab. Exit Windows Recording Mixer. Go back to Metering and enable Monitor Record Levels.

How to Properly Setup a Recording Track:: 

How to Properly Setup a Recording Track: There is more to recording than just pushing the red record button. These steps will ensure you are getting the best recording quality you can get.

What are Kilohertz and where should mine be?: 

What are Kilohertz and where should mine be? Kilohertz (or kHz) is a measurement of the intensity of your audio's frequency. The recording you hear from your voicemail differs from the recording you hear on a CD, and it is important to obtain the correct kHz for your desired project. 11 kHz is voice only (voice mail or automated calls) 22 kHz is used for more dynamic voice quality, and captures harmony from music (the quality of a ring tone or a music box) 32 kHz is used for digital broadcast (TV) 44 kHz is CD audio quality, which is usually the desired kHz.

What is the difference between Mono and Stereo sound?: 

What is the difference between Mono and Stereo sound? The ability to queue sound through different channels is possible through Adobe Audition. Do you recall ever listening to a song in which the singer is heard through just one headphone? Or perhaps the instruments to a song were split between your two headphones, instead of the same sound emitting through both headphones? This is called panning, and is done through manipulation of different channels of sound. Monophonic sound refers to 1 channel being used, or the same sounds coming out of both speakers or headphones Stereophonic sound refers to 2 channels being used. This is the desired choice. Split Stereo: 1 monophonic file that is Right Base and one that is Left Base. True Stereo: 1 file with 2 audio outputs Surround sound refers to 5-6 monophonic directional outputs.

What is bit depth? Where should mine be?: 

What is bit depth? Where should mine be? Bit depth, or the number of sample units in a second, will determine the “resolution” of the audio. The different types of bit depths are: 8-bit 16-bit (audio quality) 32-bit

Common Terminology:: 

Common Terminology: Attack = how harshly an effect will modify a selection. Bit depth = the number of bits (or sample units) in a second. Current Time Indicator = or the CTI is a yellow dotted line with a yellow triangle on top. Its location represents the area you are currently working with in your recording. Frequency = the rate at which a sound wave vibrates. Latency = the delay in information processing between the user's input and the computer's output rate. Waveform = the visual representation of an audio file.

Basic Effects:: 

Basic Effects: Adobe Audition has many ways to further modify your newly recorded track, and these are the two most effective methods of doing so:

How do I normalize my audio?: 

How do I normalize my audio? After you have maxed out your microphone levels and are still struggling with soft recordings, the normalize tool is a great go-to recording saver. Press Control+A on your keyboard to highlight your entire track, or simply highlight the desired area you wish to normalize. Go to Effects> Amplitude and Compression> Normalize. Normalizing to 100% sometimes digitalizes a recording. If this occurs, undo the normalization (Edit > Undo or Control+Z ) and repeat the second step. Reduce your normalize % until digitization is not present.

How do I use the noise reduction tool?: 

How do I use the noise reduction tool? Did faint talking or the hum of an air conditioner appear in your recording? Before you rerecord that track, try out Adobe Audition's Noise Reduction tool first. The noise reduction records kHz for a selected area and deletes sound matching those kHz and anything below it, eliminated noise. Highlight an area of your track that contains just noise. Go to Effects > Restoration > Noise Reduction. From there, click “Capture Profile”. What this does is records the kHz of your highlighted area. Push Reset. Click OK. Now that you have captured a noise profile, highlight your whole track and repeat step 2. Instead of making a new noise profile, simply click OK. This will apply your old noise profile to your whole track. If your track sounds digitalized, undo the setting (Edit > Undo or Control+Z ) and repeat step 2. Adjust the rate at which the noise reduction tool will attack your audio selection by moving the bar below the visual representation of your noise profile.

Basic Tools in the Program:: 

Basic Tools in the Program: How do I utilize the equalizer? The equalizer is a strong tool used to adjust pitches. The ability to edit the amount of sound channels you wish to manipulate allows for more precise sound editing. Go to Effects > Filter > EQ > Graphic Equalizer. The 10 vertical sliders displayed represent your lows, mid tones, and your highs. The left slides will edit your lows, the middle slides will edit your mid tones, and your right slides will edit your highs. The EQ can turn a scratchy low voice into a higher more audio pleasing voice. Press OK when you are satisfied with your settings.

When is panning good for me?: 

When is panning good for me? Panning is an excellent tool to help identify a foreground and a background in your recording. In order to pan: Right click on your audio track in the Multitrack View (located on the top, or simply View > Multitrack View) Select Track Properties Move the slider to your desired channel of sound. The slider by default shows only 2 channels, Right Base and Left Base. Click OK

How do I add echoes and reverb to my audio?: 

How do I add echoes and reverb to my audio? Echoes and reverbs are popular for public service announcements on radios. These effects, aside from the noise reduction or the normalize effects are the most popular. To add reverb to your audio, go to Effects > Reverb. Press the preview button and preview your changes live. Adjust the sliders to your liking To add echoes to your audio, go to Effects > Echo. Press the preview button and preview your changes life. Adjust the sliders to your liking.

Helpful Links…: 

Helpful Links… For more information about Adobe Audition or other helpful tutorials, visit: http://department.monm.edu/cata/Goble/pdf/AdobeAuditionTutorial.pdf http://www.lakeland.cc.il.us/ctpd/tutorials/audition/ http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/audition/articles/aud2it_editing/aud2it_editing.pdf For sound effects to use in your Adobe Audition file, visit: http://www.sounddogs.com/ http://www.freesound.org/

… and Conclusion: 

… and Conclusion Adobe Audition can at times be daunting, and mastering the basics will prevent poor software habits from developing or possible file corruptions/ errors. By refreshing your memory with this tutorial, you ensured that: A) The only place left to go is up, and B) The chances of a project getting ruined due to mal habits or misuse of the program are virtually nonexistent. Thank you for taking the time to read this Fundamentals of Adobe Audition tutorial.