Book Image

Getting started with Audacity 1.3

Book Image

Getting started with Audacity 1.3

Overview of this book

Using the Audacity software as the starting off point, we discuss what the software is, what it can do, how you can use it, and where you go to get started installing it. All of this information is grounded in some basic audio editing terminology and background for those that aren't so technology inclined.Then we'll start digging into a sample project! You'll learn about how to set up a project, create a voice track, record an interview with Skype, and basic audio editing techniques. All of this done in an easy to follow, task based approach with lots of examples. Here, we plan to go a step further, we teach how to wrap all of these steps together and create a podcast that can be posted on your own website or blog.There's always more you can do with Audacity! The last portion of the book is dedicated to just that - discussing more advanced editing and mixing techniques, using affects, adding music, adding additional plug-ins to the software. All still incorporating examples and easy to follow tasks you can try on your own audio projects.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Getting started with Audacity 1.3
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
Preface
9
Giving Your Audio Some Depth: Applying Effects
Toolbar, Menu, and Keyboard Shortcut Reference
Glossary of Terms
Index

Softening sibilants


Sibilant sounds are "s", "sh", and "ch" that hiss and seem a bit harsh in comparison to the rest of the audio track. The idea is to soften those specific sounds without ruining the sounds of your other consonants. Some people call this de-essing. There are a few effect plug-ins available to help lessen these sounds, such as Spitfish (http://www.digitalfishphones.com/main.php?item=2&subItem=5) combined with VST Enabler (http://audacityteam.org/vst/). But you can also do this manually in Audacity with just a few steps, which works well for shorter audio track editing.

Tip

Want to help minimize sibilant sounds BEFORE you record?

Before hitting the record button, hang your microphone above your head, or have it point slightly at your nose. That way, when you are recording, the sound waves aren't "hitting" the microphone at an angle that might create sibilants. Also, practicing your script a few times can help you sound more natural.

  1. Open you Audacity project.

  2. Listen to your...