In this article, Staff Writer Eli Kell-Abrams explains the tools needed to start with audio editing.
Sound is something very prevalent in the lives of every man, woman and child around the world. From something as quiet as a whisper, to as loud as a concert; sound is everywhere. As many technologies have advanced our capacity to record and edit video, so have audio technologies advanced as well. News articles are now turning into audio edited podcasts; new tools have been created to modify beats and soundtracks; and music has been more technically engineered than ever before. If there were ever a time to start familiarizing yourself with this kind of technology, now would be that time. Here is a basic introduction to the world of sound editing.
Let’s start with why you would need to edit or enhance an audio sample. Pretty simply, you do it to capture the attention of your audience. You can create a beat or soundtrack to match a video. Or you can piece together different audio recordings to recap a story, or conduct an interview. Audio editing is about using various technologies to create a connection between the artist/editor and their audience. The key to establishing this connection is creativity. In some cases it's using emotion, a mood or a feeling to fuse the bond. In others, it’s piecing together parts of others audio pieces, like using various basketball sounds (moving feet, bouncing basketballs) as a background soundtrack to play behind a basketball podcast or interview. There are many different ways to connect with your audience, and the creativity comes from within. Here are some cost effective tools to breaking down and polishing your audio editing skills.
One of my favorite tools is a program called Audacity. Audacity, as of 10 October 2011, was the 11th most popular download from SourceForge, with 76.5 million downloads. It is one of the user-friendliest tools out there for audio editing. It allows you to mix and match audio tracks, cut and splice others, along with recording its own recording track. For beginners, something as easy to learn and as cheap (free download) as Audacity is a no-brainer. You can get free access to Audacity by simply going to the Eduporium Store and clicking the download link.
If you’re looking for a more advanced program, there are two that really stand out from the rest of the field. The first is Logic Pro. Logic is an Emagic product that was bought out by Apple in 2002. This advanced technology has only been getting more and more sophisticated since Apple bought them out. The latest (10.0.5) version features synthesizers, royalty-free recorded beats and loops, and SoundTrack Pro. This version can be found here for only $199.99. Matthew Zani, an Emerson College student familiar with the program attested to the advanced aspects of the technology: “there is nothing they can’t do. You can adjust tempo, add audio fixers, auto tunes—it’s pretty incredible.”
The other of the two advanced programs is Ableton Live. Abelton first came out in 2001 with ‘Live 1’ and has grown like a weed ever since. The technology implemented in the newest version of Abelton is very similar to that of Logic Pro. Synthesizers, royalty-free beats and recordings, the whole nine yards. Some new features in the Live 9 version include the ability to record and edit automation into clips. The newest Live version also contains a sketch pad making it much easier do diagram ideas and plan out your editing.
The reputation of Abelton comes from the professional artists that use it. Among the most famous users are Pretty Lights, and Skrillex, both electronic music artists who use Abelton to sample multiple different tracks into one song. You can find three different price packages for Abelton Live 9, ranging from $79 to $599, the pricier versions contain more instruments, bells and whistles than the less expensive ones. You can find these versions on this page.
Another aspect to the world of sound is implementing this newfound sound to appeal to an audience, also known as DJ-ing. Read more about audio editing and production for DJ-ing in Part Two of "Intro to Audio Editing", coming soon!