Fundamentals of Audio Production Chapter 8

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Fundamentals of Audio Fundamentals of Audio ProductionProduction

Chapter Eight:Chapter Eight:

Audio Editors and EditingAudio Editors and Editing

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Digital Audio Workstations

• Editing in the DAW environment is more precise, non-destructive and relatively simple

• Using many of the same edit commands as word processors

• “Cut, Paste, Copy, Delete, etc.”

• Recordings may be shortened, lengthened, re-arranged, combined, etc.

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Tape editing

• DAWs tend to simulate analog tape editing in their user interface and build upon that familiar foundation

• Analog tape editing used “cut & splice” techniques to achieve the effects of editing

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Tape editing

Analog tape placed in the splicing Analog tape placed in the splicing block ready for unwanted material to block ready for unwanted material to

be cut out be cut out

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Tape editing

Part of the analog tape containing Part of the analog tape containing unwanted material has been cut away – unwanted material has been cut away – the desired material has been retainedthe desired material has been retained

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Tape editing

New material has been put in place New material has been put in place next to the retained material and next to the retained material and

ready for splicingready for splicing

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Tape editing• Locating the precise location to cut the tape was

difficult• Involved moving the tape slowly over the

reproduce head

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DAW editing

• Editing on a computer based DAW allows edit points to be determined visually

• Some DAWs include a “scrub” function that allows the operator hear the material as the cursor is slowly moved across the wave form

• Scrubbing simulates the effect of slowly rocking tapes across the reproduce head

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DAW editing

To achieve noise free and unobtrusive edits, To achieve noise free and unobtrusive edits, make cuts at points where the audio signal is make cuts at points where the audio signal is

at zero amplitudeat zero amplitude

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DAW editing

A section of “silence” (no signal) highlighted A section of “silence” (no signal) highlighted for removal for removal

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DAW editing

A section of “silence” (no signal) highlighted A section of “silence” (no signal) highlighted for removal for removal

A section of “silence” (no signal) removed A section of “silence” (no signal) removed

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DAW editing

• Computer based DAWs offer tools for changing levels and mixing relative levels

• In some software, on-screen faders can store level adjustments and reproduce them on playback

• On-screen “envelope markers” can provide a visual referent for audio levels and adjustments

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DAW editing

Envelope markers Envelope markers indicating a cross fadeindicating a cross fade

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DAW editing

Most DAWs present a common look to their on-screen interface making it easier for operators to use a variety of applications for

various purposes

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DAW editing

• Control surfaces provide familiar tactile interfaces for editor operators– Faders control audio levels– Shuttle controls for record, playback, rewind,

fast forward, etc.– Jog control to scroll or scrub

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DAW editing

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DAW editing