How to record high-quality sound on the headset. Record voice at home. Full guide. Standard tools of Windows

Sound recording

Hi, dear reader! Today we will analyze the burning question that worries many users: how to write a voice to a computer from the microphone.

Moreover, we will analyze even several types of household recording devices, with which it is quite realistic to record your voice at home in fairly good quality.

Up to the point that you can even record vocals for a minus one.
Those. In fact, you can on the usual home computer or laptop even write songs.

A kind of karaoke, only with the possibility to sign up and save the result in MP3.

But we will talk about it separately. And today we'll see, with what you can record the voice of the house.

To do this, it is not at all necessary to run and buy some expensive professional equipment. For a start, it is enough that you probably have at home.

As a last resort, you can go to any hypermarket and, spending only about 200-300 rubles, acquire a good instructor for recording.

Especially for you, I recorded a free video course, fully dedicated to the topic of voice recording on the computer at home.

Watch one and a half way video:

Pick up completely free it you can here.

Well, now I will proceed.

1. inexpensive dynamic karaoke microphone.

It would seem that it could be more convenient? But, in my experience, the entry is on inexpensive microphones of this class represents a pitiful spectacle.

Having tried several models from budget class The cost up to 800 rubles, I made sure that the use of such devices to record directly into a computer or laptop gives a very high quality result.

Very unstable dynamics, frequency painting scarce, great amount A variety of noises and a pale alarm drowning in them ... the impression leaves much to be desired.

Even subsequent processing helps little. The fact is that…

In general, I will now reveal one secret to you, known to all sound engineers: the quality of the result directly depends on the quality of the source material.

In justifying dynamic microphones, I can say this: Of course, you can get a very good result, and I wrote a cool voice and vocals on a dynamic microphone. But…

It was a professional concert dear microphone company AKG. For years, I no longer remember exactly his model. Its cost was around 6000 rubles in 2005 ...

As you understand, it goes beyond the scope of our today's article. After all, we want to sign up without professional equipment. And today.

2. Record voice via built-in laptop microphone.

This method still uses many.

For example, info-businessmen who record their learning video courses. Or poets that write their poems.

Sometimes, in such a way there are audiobooks ...

The charm of him is that it is not necessary to connect anywhere anywhere anywhere. Just click the record button and talk.

What you say here. You yourself understand that to convey your speech information to the listeners this method, in fact, quite real.

He is very unprecedented. But it is not necessary to talk about any qualitative result.

If you are simply a speech, it is still possible to write down the vocal entry to the backing track almost unrealistic.

Yes, and speech will be recorded in distant from the desired quality.

A huge amount of reverb is penetrated into the signal, plus the noise of the laptop itself.

In short, this method can be used for purposes that do not require any quality requirements. You can say on the ambulance hand.

3. Record voice through stereo headset.

In my opinion, this method for home recording is one of the most acceptable.

The microphone of such a device is located close to the speaking or singing person, at a fixed distance.

In addition, this distance can be changed in some limits. Due to this, the signal is turned out quite stable and readable.

In addition to speech itself, it is very convenient to record vocals even. A accompaniment and recorded voice or vocals in real time are heard in the headphones.

To record vocals, it is necessary to take care of getting rid of the sound delay caused by the passage of the signal through the audio system of the computer.

For this purpose created special driver ASIO4All, who perfectly copes with the task at home.
This driver speech will go in another article.

I tried several such headsets. And big and small. All of them have one disadvantage that can be corrected by software.

This disadvantage is a certain level of constant background.

The background has a pretty decent level, but as I said, you can get rid of it almost completely, using either processing tools built into the audio editor or built into the editor-editor by plugins.

In her free video course"High-quality voice recording at home today" I show on examples as it can be done.

The signal recorded from such a headset is well amenable to frequency and dynamic processing.

Naturally, high frequencies are roasted here. However, as in all devices considered in this article.

But the area in which high frequencies is riveted is within the very top of the frequency range perceived by the human ear.

Therefore, their absence does not particularly affect the overall perception of the recorded voice and the main spectrum still lies just within the framework of the greatest hearing susceptibility.

Included two plugs into a computer or laptop and can be recorded. Although speech, at least a song.

I think questions with how the headset is connected, should not be. But if they are, then downloadmy free video course and see that these are two seconds of business.

4. Recording a voice through a desktop USB microphone.

Immediately make a reservation that we are talking about the record it is through such a desktop microphone, which is depicted in the photo above.

In this case, I had a home microphone Logitech.

This device was quite popular for several years ago in infobusinessmen who recorded their training programs and lessons.

Now they are increasingly using professional USB microphones, but we will not touch this topic, because it is a professional tool.

And as part of this article, we are talking about voice recording at home without such external equipment.

The fact is that if you manage when writing a voice to be at a permanent distance from the microphone, it may turn out quite well.

But in practice it is quite difficult. We are moving, somehow gesticulating, etc.

In addition, as I tried, but all the same in the microphone there are low-frequency interference from the movement of the mouse on the table, from touching hands and click on the keyboard.

In order to record speech, this is quite an acceptable option.

The vocals are increasingly harder. Honestly, I didn't even try to record vocals to music through this device, but I think it will not be the best undertaking.

The microphone catches and transfers the reverb of the room in which the record is recorded.

So if you have naked walls, it will be especially noticeable.

In Pain video course I also consider in detail the signal that is recorded through such a microphone.

5. Record voice from a domestic camera.

For the completeness and purity of the experiment, I also recorded a voice in an ordinary miniature household camera.

In this case, it is not possible to say that the record was made in the computer from the microphone.

But, nevertheless, this method is also often used.

Of course, in this case, the quality of the recorded signal directly depends on the device itself, from the microphone built into it and can be significantly different both in the worse and for the better, depending on the model.

In my case, it is not possible to boast a special brilliance. Yes, the voice is heard, but I didn't want to call his quality acceptable.

This version may well, of course, apply. After all, the main thing is that the talking person can convey its information to the listener.

In addition, if you try to process and improve the sound quality in the audio editor, you can somewhat smoothed the impression.

I have a friend, my former student who even recorded songs with the camera. I must say that his fotik wrote significantly better than mine.

If you have a decent camera that adequately copes with this task, then such a way may well give a good result.

6. Record voice from a webcam.

At my disposal there is a fairly old webcam at home. I do not use it for its intended purpose.

Overview of the sound file and methods for improving its quality I also consider in detail in my free course.

Of course, just as in the case of a camera, it all depends on the camera itself and its sound capabilities.

But the experiment is an experiment. And I used all the means of unprofessional records that I had at home at the time of creating the course.

7. Record voice from a mobile phone.

I think the picture would not be complete if you don't touch such a common recording device as a regular mobile phone.

I did not resist the temptation to explore this sound file..

A test record was done and the material obtained, like all the previous ones, got under my sound microscope.

It must be said that, to his surprise, the source was very good. And with a small standard processing, a relatively decent result turned out.

All of this you can find detail in my free video course.

I no longer make recordings from the voice recorder and other all kinds of devices. Including because I was simply not available.

But I think the approach to the unprofessional home recording of the voice is more or less clear to you. I reflected my own conclusions from the actual experiment in the same course.

To do not argue in this article for a long time, just download it and look.

Also show all the machining devices and make the source projects that were considered in the video course.

I will finish this.

By the way, if you are interested in this issue for recording songs at home, I invite you to participate in a music competition for my blog.

Record the song and send. Prizes, diplomas and gratitude for you. Details.

Press the corresponding flag and that's it!))

Share with friends and click on the buttons of your favorite social networks))!

Tweet

It does not matter if you want to record your speech for a podcast or so that in Skype the interlocutors heard well - my microphone setting instructions will suit everyone. I will show how to write a sound, tell about the order of action when processing recording: the normalization of the volume, sound compression and noise cleaning.

Preface

(My subjective opinion)

In search of new information, I prefer to read articles and instructions. Video on Youtube I look extremely rare. Do you know why? Because the authors of the training video in their desire to convey the information forget about common sense. As a result, all the screensystems (records from the screen) can be divided into several levels of quality:

1. Categorically dislocate. The narrator shows his desk, then opens a notebook and ... starts typing. Silently. Fixing typos, the author tickles the keys. And where is the sound where a live speech? I close such videos right away, for I consider it a waste of time to watch how someone is typing the text.
2. Hardness. The use of imposed titles is the next step of evolution. As an option, the record is cut into pieces and, as if in a mockery over the traditions of silent cinema, the interfaces of acid colors are inserted between the clips. COMIC SANS font. With errors and typos, of course. Nausea music is a mandatory attribute.
3. Well, so-so / well. This category includes videos with voice comments made with varying degrees of professionalism. Depending on the voice and quality of sound, the screenwheel can be both mediocre and wonderful. For example, about my video constructions about how to restore remote data from flash drives You can say "go", because I don't really have a dictation, but I showed necessary information Briefly and understandable.
4. Elegant videos. As a rule, a speaker with experience is used for such rollers. The creation is involved, perhaps more than one person. There are few such videos on YouTube, usually all in a hurry to tell and lay out our creations to the network without processing.

How to make a high-quality screenwheel, I will tell you somehow later when I will acquire a baggage experience. Now focusing on an important component of any video capable of living separately - sound.

In fact, many technologies are not as developed as it seems at first glance. Some at the beginning of their life path, another hundred years in lunch and improvement is not foreseen. Batteries - an example of fully frozen technology, because of which the phones are embrying to the outlets several times a day.

Prospects for the development of microphones better. The principles of transformation of the acoustic signal into electrical were developed almost a hundred years ago, since then there were no significant changes since then.

• Condenser microphones - 1916.
• Electretny (such stand in telephone headsets) - 1920s.
• Dynamic microphones with a coil - 1931.

BUT B. lately There were promising developments. In the next couple of dozen years, ultra-sensitive condenser microphones with graphene-based membrane will appear on the market, but so far humanity will have to work with what is, squeezing out of existing technologies.

Any sounds falling into the ears are processed by the brain. Therefore, we can allocate a voice in a crowd and get used to constant noise. It is cool, but unfortunately, repeat such a trick with the help of technique is difficult.

If you think that the record does not need to be processed, think about it: what are you ever recorded a teacher's speech on lecture to listen later? Did not listen to the vague phrases, trying to remember that it was the lecturer who spoke before the board? Do not spoil porridge with oil, any entries can be improved using a sound editor.

What you need to write sound

You can record sound on the camera, camcorder or phone, but the quality of the recording will leave the best. The camera rarely put high-quality microphones, in the camcorders are also far from always, in the phones a solid lottery.

If you want to separate Device for recording sound, take (semi) professional digital voice recorder. At least such:

My experience suggests that the voice recorders are cleaned with cleaner than from a cheap microphone connected to home PC. Of course, provided that the device settings set maximum quality. Records made on the computer are different high levels noise. There are two reasons for it.

The first of the culprits is an electromagnetic radiation that distributes electronic components Working computer. The radiation is perfectly caught by a sound card and any sound amplifiers, if such are embedded in the microphone. In laptops, the effect manifests itself stronger, because their components are located denser, radiation sources closer. Even worse when the microphone is wireless and cheap, usually such love to use for karaoke - noise will be even more. This is not a reason to wear a hood from foil and hugging with cacti, just keep in mind this fact.

Second - the quality of sound cards. Even the highest quality microphone is useless when docked with poor-quality sound card. One-dollar sound cards with aliexpress typical example. Do not even think to record sound with this:

An ideal choice for recording sound on a computer - a bunch of high-quality microphone and external sound card. Unfortunately, good sound cards are from 8 thousand rubles and more.

M-Audio M-Track 2x2M sound card - a good choice For home studio

Either you can take a microphone connected to a computer via USB, there is an audible card built. Excellent example - Blue Yeti microphone, loved by many jutups.

Although, if there is enough budget for such a microphone, think about buying a professional recorder like Tascam DR-40 - it can not only be put on the table, but also take with you for recording, for example, in nature. Then for the same money you will receive a universal tool that works independently of the computer and the place of action.

All microphones, as I have already written above, are divided into several types depending on the principle of operation. The most common:

• Dynamic - Popular type of microphones. Not very sensitive, but cheap. Typical example - karaoke microphones.
• Condenatery - Not very sensitive, they catch sounds in a limited radius, the sound is subjectively "clean." By the way, when buying microphones of unnamed brands on Aliexpress, do not get on the word "condenser" in the title - as a rule, this is a marketing trick. Inside there may be an electret capsule.
• Electretny - subspecies of condenser. Thanks to compactness and low cost are used in headsets and the overwhelming majority of inexpensive microphones. Sensitivity is good frequency characteristics also.

More microphones differ in the direction of the sound source: circular or "Omni" (catches the sound from all sides), cardiode (on one side sensitivity above), directed, etc. What is needed - to solve you.

Connect too different ways. The easiest way to purchase with 3.5 mm TRS, that is, the most common minijack, like headphones:

This is the most common way to connect a microphone to a home computer.

What to do if the microphone is quiet

I often complain that a recorded voice or any other sound sounds too quiet. When the sound enhancement, too much noise is manifested, from which it is almost impossible to get rid of. Who is to blame - a microphone or sound card? The buyer is to blame, which did not understand what he has and what sound recording equipment he needs.

All microphones, with the exception of dynamic, requirephantom nutrition. Contrary to popular belief, all Sound cards it is, but the spread of the supply voltage is wide. I met from 2 to 5 volts from those that are built into the motherboard. For computer sets, it is acceptable, but professional microphones need 48V. In the absence of the required recording, it will be very quiet and you will have to buy either a sound card with the corresponding characteristics, or a separate source of phantom nutrition.

I repeat: the required phantom power supply voltage can be different. For some microphones, 48 \u200b\u200bvolts are required, others are designed for 24 or even 12 volts. And some microphones (usually dynamic) are generally working from the battery, they do not need separate food.

Another problem - the sound card can not always qualitatively Strengthen the signal, mixing noises due to interference and imperfection of the scheme. Usually they sin chips from Realtek embedded in Matplatu. Then you need to buy a high-quality card or connect the microphone through the preamplifier like this:

If you have straight hands, you can fed the microphone amplifier on one or two transistors. Schemes are easy to go, electronic components can be reached in any decent store of radio components. Either buy a 50-ruble scarf with a microphone with an amplifier on a specialized MAX9812 chip.

Despite the fact that the handker is positioned to work with Arduino, in fact this can be powered by the battery and connect to the linear input of the computer. The quality of the recorded sound will be very decent.

Useful additions to the microphone

It is advisable to buy a microphone or make a couple of utilities that improve the recordable sound.

1. Pop filter.

During recording air, exhaled by speaking, creates an unpleasant explosive sound. The design is elementary: several layers of nylon stretched on the frame.

It is important that neither the filter itself, neither its mount concern the microphone, because the transfer of vibrations from the filter will reduce its operation at zero. You can make a pop filter yourself, stretching nylon tights on a wire ring.

2. Wind protection.

Without wind protection, microphones are useless outdoors. For windshield filters, pieces of foam rubber or long wool are used.

Even woolen sock will fit! For example, the famous video brogeher Dmitry Shamov pulls the cropped slice of woolen sock to its action-chamber so that the subscribers can listen to the records made in windy weather:

The cost of manufacturing such filters tends to zero, but the effectiveness is at the height.

3. Elastic suspension.

SHOCK MOUNT is needed to protect the microphone from external vibrations. A typical suspension looks frightening, not in vain in the people called "spider":

Thanks to the suspension, you can protect the microphone from vibration, which comes from the computer and hands if you move something on the table. You can make yourself, if you have gum and metal ring.

How to connect a microphone

IN desktop computer At least two microphone connector: on the front panel with the microphone icon and on the back of pink (orange) color:

Front (left) and rear (right) computer panel. Linear input It is useful for digitizing cassettes from a tape recorder.

On desktop PC Connect only to the rear connector, The sound will be cleaner due to smaller interference.

In laptops, instead of a separate entry under the microphone, it can be combined as in phones. To check if the microphone input is contained by the connector of your laptop, connect the telephone headset and look at the sound indicator in windows settings (on this further). If reacts to sound - buy an adapter. Googles in online stores on request "3.5mm STEREO Audio Male to 2 Female Headset Mic Y Splitter Cable Adapter":

Pay attention to the plug: there must be four contacts

There are reverse adapters that connect the telephone headset to the PC.

How to check the microphone

Right-click on the Volume Adjustment icon and select "Record Devices":

If the microphone is connected, the indicator on the right will respond to the sounds:

The indicator does not respond if the microphone:

a) incorrectly connected;
b) requires phantom nutrition;
c) disabled in the settings (click on the string and see if it is active to "enable");
d) disabled physically (the microphone can be a switch and battery compartment);
e) its volume in the settings is reduced to a minimum (on this further).

How to set up a microphone

Sensitive microphone can be adjusted. Depending on the sound card model, in the settings connected Microphone (right-click on a microphone line - "Properties") will be one or two regulators:

1. The first slider under the inscription "Microphone" will always. This is the main microphone sensitivity regulator.
2. Setting "Microphone Strengthening" is encountered responsible for the additional amplification of the audio sound card already received. Sometimes this item may not be depeted of the sound card model.

I advise you to put the amplification (lower slider) by 0.0 dB and move only the top. Thus, noises, if they are when recording audio, will not once again programmatically enhance.

If the recording is overloaded when recording, when the loud sounds turn into wheezing), it is necessary to reduce the microphone sensitivity. In practice, cheap (up to 2 thousand rubles) microphones are not sensitive enough to cause overload, so you can safely put 100% sensitivity.

Volume adjustment is good. It is even better when the audio card supports the imposition of filters immediately upon receipt of sound. For recording, this is not very useful, because the quality of processing leaves much to be desired, it is easier to clean the sound then. To communicate in real real time, on the contrary, the sound filters will serve a good service, removing the noise and adjusting the volume. See the "Improvements" tab:

The "Improvements" tab will only be available if the microphone is connected and the sound card supports filters.

Typical filters available on most modern sound cards:

• Removal of a constant component - helps to get rid of the "husky" sound. Simplistic speaking, makes too loud sounds quieter, because of which they are heard instead of rumbleing interference. You can enable if your goal is to communicate over the Internet. When you are moving away or, on the contrary, too close to the microphone, the removal of the constant component eliminates the sound interference. To write podcasts, the text of the text when you do not run away from the microphone, it is better to turn off this filter and simply configure the recording volume.
• Noise suppression - When monotonous noise occurs, the filter cuts its frequency. When communicating across Skype, you can enable, but it is better to turn off and clean the recording from noise later, because Because of the noise suppression filter, the speech loses frequencies and sounds like from the can.
• Echo suppression - Theoretically should help with an echo when the sound from the columns is captured by the microphone, reproduced by speakers and so on until the docked sound turns into a screech. In practice, working out of the hands is bad, worsening the entry and passing echo. In general, if the interlocutors complain that hear themselves, turn on the filter - may help. Or put on the headphones so that the microphone heard only you.

Depending on the sound card model and the filters installed, the filters may be called otherwise, the list can be different. Write in the comments if you have any additional audio filter, which has been useful.

Two Councils:

1. Disable listening to the recording from the microphone: Listen to the Microphone Properties - remove the daw with "listening to from this device."
2. Make Microphone Device Default: In the "Sound" window on the "Record" tab of the right-click on the microphone - "use by default", the default communication device. If gray items mean, the microphone is already used as the main means of recording sound. Without this program will not understand what to use to record first.

Microphone Setup for Skype

To communicate in Skype, turn on the noise reduction in the microphone settings (see above the list of filters), exhibit the slider to the maximum and make sure that in the Skype settings ("Tools" menu - "Settings") a microphone is selected as a communication device:

Delivery "Allow automatic microphone setting" allows Skype to adjust the microphone sensitivity.

This is all you need to configure this communication program.

FREE AUDACITY Sound Editor

Of all the free Audacity sound recording programs, perhaps the most functional one. There is where to grow, but the functionality is abound.

Green I noted the items responsible for working with the project. In the process of working on the entry, you must save the project to the Save Project team. The project opens (you never know, suddenly closed Audacity) using the "Open" item.

Highlight marked import and export items.

To edit the finished entry (music, speech), you need import Sound file "Import" command - "Sound File".

Without the LAME MP3 codec installed, the link to which I gave above, will not save to mp3. Then choose OGG Vorbis is a more efficient sound compression format, just less common compared to MP3. Unfortunately, Ogg Vorbis is not supported by little, so I still advise you to put the MP3 codec. Save to WAV I do not recommend - the file size will be huge.

Recording Sound in Audacity

Since in the Windows settings you have already installed a microphone as a default recording tool, Audacity knows where to take sound from. You can immediately start recording. To do this, run the program and click the start button on the top panel:

The program will start writing the sound. To stop there is a button "Stop":

Once you start recording, the first track with sound will appear in the main window of the program. After stopping the recording, it will be completely formed, it is possible to highlight its sections and produce manipulations. For example, impose effects or delete individual words. You can compare the audio track with the text: the sound can be copied, cut and pasted.

The sound tracks themselves may be several. Older versions of the Audacity After each pressing the recording button created a new track, but now, obviously, because of the complaints of users, writes in one. You can return the old behavior through the settings: Edit - Parameters - Recording - Always write to a new track. Then, when pressing the write button again, the recording will continue in the new sound track.

Volume Normalization

After recording you need to bring the sound in order. Excess rumble, the distortion of individual tones can be corrected by the equalizer, but first need to give the volume of the recording in order.

Inexperienced speakers after the inhalation speak loudly, as the lungs are devastated by the downstream voice. Event records are also not distinguished by uniformity, because sound sources are moving. To record at least minimally put in order, in Audacity, like any normal sound editor, there are sound filters. They are in the "Effects" menu, they can be applied both to the entire record and separate areas, depending on how to highlight. Without selection effects apply to the entire sound track.

Limiter

There are conditions under which the order of filters proposed by me for cleaning and improving sound will not suit. The result will be a hoarse noisy something. Therefore, be sure to listen to the record before and after applying each filter. Ideally, you need to experiment by changing the settings, and compare the results.
For example, if the received entry was quiet, first make the signal ignition, suppress the noise and only then process Limiter and compression.

The Limiter filter ("Limiter") suppresses a sharp, loud noise. For example, the head of the table of the microphone on the table, if during the record they decided to move it. Explosive sounds can be seen with the naked eye:

Therefore, allocate the entire record, then the effects - Limiter and put such settings:

Limiter type must be put in Hard Limit. This is a strong, aggressive suppression of sharp loud sounds. In other programs, this type of processing can be highlighted in a separate Hard Limiter filter.

The value "Limit to (DB)" regulates the degree of muffling of sharp sounds. Since it can be seen that the sound was loud times in three other sounds, you can safely put in -10 dB.

Do not forget to press PREVIEW to listen to the result immediately after setting the parameters. If the voice on the records began to hoarse, "Limit To" need to be increased, weakening the filter action of the filter.

Signal normalization

Maintains a general volume of recording. Apply with setting up the normalization of amplitude in -3 DB:

Compression

Unlike the normalization of the signal, which increases the volume of the entire record as a whole, the compression of the dynamic range enhances the quiet sounds, making the sound saturated. In Audacity, this menu item Filter - Dynamic Range Compressor:

Standard sound compression settings will fit in most cases. If you wish, you can move the slider and see how the explanatory schedule changes and how the entry sounds. It is usually necessary to adjust the first two sliders, less often - the third (ratio). The Preview button will allow you to listen to the filtered entry without closing the filter settings window.

After working the filter compression, quiet sounds will increase, and the loud will remain unchanged ... Almost:

Loud sounds will stop cutting the rumor, the overall "saturation" of the record will continue:

How to remove background noise

Under noise, I understand the uniform quiet sound accompanying the record. No wind noise, periodically drowning all sounds, and uniform background sound. To remove it, the filter is built into Audacity Noise suppression.

Find the place where the noise is heard clearly and there are no extraneous sounds. You need at least a second pause. In my case, noise is well heard at the end of the record. Highlight it:

Now the filter knows the frequency characteristics of noise and can remove it. Remove the selection and start the filter again. Pay attention to the Second Stage section:

I can not prompt universal settings, because they do not exist. It all depends on the recording. Standard help in most cases, but you may have to sort out the parameters by listening to the result.

What is responsible for each tuning filter-noise:

• Noise suppression (dB) - noise removal. The higher the value, the stronger the volume of noise will decrease. If you put great importance, the recording quality will decrease, because the frequencies that need to be left were to leave. The optimal value is usually between 10 and 20 dB.
• Sensitivity (sensitivity) - the higher the value, the greater the sensitivity of the filter. With a maximum value, the filter will consider even the noise that noise is definitely.
• Frequency Smoothing (Bands) - how many adjacent frequencies will be covered when the noise is suppressed. Standard 3 - optimally for 99.99% of cases.
• The REDUCE / RESIDUE switch is responsible for choosing - remove noise or leave only it.

Tip: If noise has disappeared the noise after the filter operation, but the record began to sound "both from the bank", do not hurry to correct the recording by the equalizer. It is better to reduce the sensitivity of the filter from standard 6 to, for example, 3. If the sound has become cleaner, the call, but noise manifested itself - increase the noise suppression value. Combining the degree of noise suppression and sensitivity, you can delete noise without a significant impairment.

The procedure for applying filters and disposal from noise

When processing sound, I usually use filters in the order in which listed above. Judging by the articles on the Internet, I invented a bike and do it all. However, in the official instructions for the noise, the Audacity advise first to remove the noise and only then do the sound compression. As I said at the beginning of the article, the order may vary depending on the situation, it is necessary to think independently and work with cleaning against interference - just such a case.

It is not always easy to get rid of noise. After many filters, its volume, like all other sounds, becomes different throughout the record. Where there were explosive sounds, he would also go away. Where was the quiet whisper, after the normalization, became distinguishable - it will manifest themselves with tenfold strength. Alas, noise suppression filter most effectively works only with uniform volume interference. Try to first bring the record volume to an acceptable level using the "signal amplification" filter, then remove the noise and only then apply the compression of the dynamic range and the limiter.

Other Audacity filters

Processing the sound as I wrote above, the recording will be if not perfect, then at least normal volume and no noise. Such can be used for a podcast or as a track for video. It is possible to achieve crystal clean record, but then the article will grow to the volume of the book. It is better to list useful filters whose work can be studied independently:

1. Equalizer (Equalization) - as in audio players, only functional. To strengthen the voice, you need to raise average frequencies. To muffle the sound of wind, muffle low frequencies (in the equalizer on the left).
2. Click Removal - To remove the cod and clicks. It will be useful when digitizing old cassettes.
3. Signal gain (amplify) Increases the overall volume of recording as much as you specify. Not so intelligently as the normalization of the signal, can be useful to enhance very quiet entries.
4. Notch Filter. For NYQUIST cuts a certain frequency from the record. For example, whistle. To determine the frequency, you need to build a spectrum schedule (see Menu Analysis) and see if there are sharp peaks on the chart. This will be the frequency you want to enter in the notch filter.
5. Desser. For NYQUIST, Tsykanya elimination filter in recorded speech. Plugin is non-standard, it can be found on the Audacity Forum. It starts through the effects - entering the NYQUIST commands - Load - the Desser.NY file.
6. Declicker For NYQUIST - filter to clean the cod, you can download on the link above there, where the Desser lies. In contrast to the removal filter, it can remove a strong crackle.
7. Names and tops - recording tone adjustment. Personally, I am impressing for the correction of the voice of the voice, making it clearly sound when the original quality of the record is bad (recording lectures from the dictaphone in a noisy room).

Names may differ. I noticed that the version to the version of the translation into Russian is different. For example, "compression" has become the "dynamic range compression".

Proper addition of background music

The Council is useful for screenshots and podcasts. Speech under light background music listen easier, the recording receives emotional color. I will share a secret that will keep the volume of music at an acceptable level, but at the same time I will save speech intelligibility.

First you need to import music. It will appear in the project as a separate soundtrack:

It is necessary to slightly form a record with a volume controller (see Screenshot below). It is necessary to achieve volume at which the background music does not distract. If at the same time the voice is "clogged" - nothing terrible. In most cases -12 dB - optimal value.

Then you need to raise this track over all the transfer command to the very top of the mounting table:

The track with the phonet should be over a speech path. Now the most important thing is: in Audacity there is a filter that will lift the loudness of the track in those moments when something sounds on the bottom. A similar filter is used with the voice acting of films and shows, drowning original character voices. The filter is called AUTO DUCK. Highlight the top track with background music and apply the auto-configuration filter with such settings:

By default, the filter defines the track as much as 12 decibels, which is felt like a sharp decrease in volume and only distracts. -4 dB - optimal option For unobtrusive quiet music. 0.2 seconds (default 0.5) - the time for which the track will change its volume. After applying the filter, you will hear and see that some of the sound has suffered, and only in those places where phrases were uttered:

Thus, the music will sound clear when it is necessary - to be muffled, giving way to speech. Useful trick. I do not understand why so few people use it.

Smooth rapidization and recovery

The effect is useful to apply to background music, so as not to stun the listener with sharp sounds. Just select the first 2-3 seconds of the sound track and press the effects - smooth increasing. Then 5-10 seconds at the end of the sound track - effects - smooth attenuation.

Smooth increasing sound at the beginning of the recording must be done no more than 3 seconds, and it is desirable that it starts up after reaching the maximum sound volume so that the listener is used to the sounds. Not good when music appears after the start of the story. The person automatically listens: "And what is it rooted there?" And distracted. It can be avoided, smoothly introducing the founding, then including speech.

At the end of the recording, the music can fade very smoothly, at least 10-15 seconds. If the music ends before speech, it becomes clear that the podcast comes to an end and the listener begins to "catch" the last words, which is very convenient for seeding the topic of the next entry and create a sense of total completion. However, you can simply finish speech, and the music to muffle later, this is also not reborn.

Afterword

In this article I talked about basic recording and sound processing techniques. This is the set, thanks to which you can call a room with a computer and a microphone "Home Studio". If something missed or you know more effective techniques - write in the comments, add.

How to write vocals

Starting to the cycle of articles on recording unconditionally made sense to start from the main element - vocal. Without it, it will not be clear what advertising or a song. And from unsuccessful doubles do not collect successful work. Let's deal with together, how to get a good double? Suppose the singer or announcer is physically and psychologically healthy, learned the text and rehearsed well the material, and so it came to the moment when he came to the studio.

1. Convenient sound of vocal in headphones
The first thing that the singer is facing in the process of work at the studio - the sound that he hears in the headphones is not the way he is used to hear it usually. The main factor affecting the perception of his own voice is that we hear it not only from reflections from the surrounding walls and objects, but also directly through the cranial bone. Slightly scares, right? And yet the tone that we hear in the headphones closest to the sound, which really hears the audience. How to cope with discomfort? First of all, adjust the sound in the headphones is comfortable on the volume and balance of vocals and music. Can help remove one earphone and listen to the natural sound in the room. Occasionally I met the way when a cardiac or hypercardoydoor microphone was used and an acoustic system was put in the maximum sound suppression zone. However, it is rather an imitation of concert conditions than studio practice.

2. Choosing a suitable microphone
The second, which can make a problem, is the microphone itself. We make a double and terrify how our voice sounds - the consonants began to whistle and drove the ears, the bass tambourite as if in a bucket. In this case, it is important to find a microphone in which the timbre will most correctly sound, and determine the point of removal of sound. Often the microphone is the complete opposite of vocals: more matte sounding equipment is suitable for a bright voice, and, on the contrary, the cap compension with raised medium and high frequencies will help. Thus, balancing is achieved. However, it is worth considering music. In a bright mix of vocals, it has the right to sound brightly, but in a warm and relaxed lounge track, a caustic voice can completely knock the listener from the gauge. You should try to squeeze the timbre as close as possible to the desired result. Equalizer will not fix the performer's sound so natural and beautiful as the faithful microphone and its position.

3. Defense characteristics
There are many different types of microphone capsule. The table below horizontally lists the types of microphones, and vertically their characteristics (from top to bottom): Corners of the gripping and maximum sound suppression, a signal attenuation that comes from the back of the microphone, the sensitivity to the surrounding noise and the distance factor (with respect to OMNI). This is a coefficient to which you can enlarge the distance to the object when recording to get a similar sound.

For example, recorded several samples from the lamp microphone Octave μL5000. The close distance is the lips on the pop filter, the average - about 40 cm to the filter, far - 80-100 cm.

What conclusions can be made? First, by themselves, different regimens can sound differently. In our example, "eight" sounds more smooth than the cardiomide and an omnidirectional option. Secondly, at close range, the circular orientation sounds more naturally, with a smaller lifting of the bass. Thirdly, at the far distance of the cardiomide and the eight more winning type, as the room reflections less.

4. Optimal distance to the microphone
In many directional microphones, there is a pronounced effect of "approximation". The closer the person sings, the more low frequencies in sound. With omnidirectional microphones, this effect is much less pronounced. The space between the singer and the microphone depends on what the timbre will be and whether it will require "artistic thread" on the equalizer. If the whisper is worth searching for a closer distance to create "intimacy" of the sound, then for screaming and loud, it would be worth a given gap to significantly increase. First, to preserve the integrity and performance of the finest membrane of the condenser microphone, and secondly, in order to obtain the right sound plan. Human hearing perfectly understands what "virtual" space is a voice. With a close voice recording, it is necessary to cut down enough and low middle enough to sit in the mix. Extra treatments worsen the quality of the recorded signal, can create phase problems, an attack may be lost. The good initial distance to the microphone is 30-40 cm. In some cases, it is worth trying to a meter. By the way, at a greater distance, air and turns of the head are less noticeable during singing. Pop filter does not save when recording from close distance from dirty sound sounds "S-Ch-Z-sh is." Also decreases the number of "saliva" and the chamber in the record, because the membrane simply ceases to capture them. If the recording room has good acoustics and plugged enough, then the increase in the distance to the microphone will not lead to a catastrophic increase in the gym and noise.

5. Microphone position
Angle microphone caps Turn relative to the vocalist, also affects the sound. Sometimes you can turn the microphone by 30 degrees, and overly whistle tops are disappeared.

The position of the microphone is slightly left or the right of the rokalist's mouth also affect the sound. The person sings not symmetrically, but a little twisting one half of the face. Sometimes experiments with the position of the microphone bring interesting results.

Placing the microphone on the rack below or higher from the mouth of the soloist can be achieved smaller in the membrane and get different shades of the performer. For example, a microphone located at the chin level can give a slightly better sound than the membrane at the height of the nose or somewhat higher.

6. Dynamics of vocal
The singer is important to try to get the correct voice dynamics on the record. Yes, compression and automation of the volume level will save the situation, but they can make their distortion. It would be true if the vocalist would slightly moved away from the microphone during high-profile notes and approached quiet. An extremely small distance gives a tangible result and lines the dynamics of the recorded batch. In doptop times, when writing the opera diva, to obtain the effect of smooth attenuation, they were dried on a small platform on the rails from the microphone during singing.

7. Recording level and format
IN digital recording There are two important parameters - the depth of quantization in the bits and the frequency of sampling in Hertz.

If you believe the Neuquist-Kotelnikov Theorem, the recording frequency range will be equal to half the sampling frequency. In other words, the theoretical range of 44.1 kHz recorded in format will be 44.1: 2 \u003d 22.5 kHz (!). This is more than enough for human hearing.

The depth of quantization determines the possible dynamic range of the signal. One bit "accommodates" in itself 6 dB.

Most often a voice is recorded in 44.1 KHz / 24 Bit format for audio and 48 KHz for video, which is multiple video format in 24 frames. The recording format can be determined by the final carrier in order to avoid re-recalculating the signal at another frequency - oversampling. This process can sometimes make their distortions.

The average digital record of the indicators is desirable to keep in Area -12 dB with peaks in -6 (one bit). Do not fear too quiet levels, because 24 Bit depth of quantization allows us to achieve the theoretical range of 144 dB. This is more than enough and often exceeds the dynamic range of the microphone and the preampa. But exceeding the level of recording can lead to digital distortion - clipping, and spoil the double to the root.

So, configuring everything as it should be pressed, press the button. "Record" And get ready for the execution of the hit!

How to turn the iPhone into a real recorder or external microphones For iPhone June 24th, 2015

How to turn the iPhone into a real recorder or external microphones for the iPhone.

You need to record high-quality podcasts, intervention, sound for video rows, live performances or video for Y Outube from good sound And you probably noticed that the built-in microphones from your iOS devices iPhone, the iPad does not always cope with the task. How to fix it or turn your iPhone to a real recorder?

Everything is quite simple, today there have been many special microphones designed in a sphere for iPhone and iPad, which are compatible practical with all popular applications,for example: Apple "S GarageBand, Jammit, Sunvox, Standard iOS Camera App, SoundCloud, etc.

Consider some of them.

Perping microphones are connected to the same iPhone / iPad connector as headphones or wired headset (TRRS connector) and secure on clothes. It is also worth noting that suitable for smartphones based on Android (here you need to look depending on the phone, for example, with Nexus5 or with good samsung will work, and with cheap LG there is no). It is worth considering such models:

Key Features:

Microphone capsule MID-SIDE (M-S) Stereo (90 ° / 120 ° / M-S)

Switchable microphone modes (90 ° / 120 ° / M-S)

Rotary element, you can perform sound recording both in the position vertically and horizontally to record video

Record Quality 44.1KHz / 16Bit, 48KHz / 16Bit

Maximum SPL 120db.

Gain controller on the housing +3 to + 43db

Mini Jack Connector for Connecting Headphone or Linear Sound Output

Free app Zoom Handy Recorder App for Sound Recording Available on the App Store

Key Features:

Stereo Condenser Microphone Capsule X / Y
. Turning microphones from 90 to 120 degrees
. Record Quality 44.1KHz / 16Bit, 48KHz / 16Bit
. Maximum SPL 130DB.
. Gain Regulator on Case -11 TO + 51DB
. Mini Jack Connector for Connecting Headphone or Linear Sound Output
. Free Zoom Handy Recorder App for Sound Recording Available on the App Store
Designed to record only sound, due to constructive features To write video, it is better to consider other models.