Ragamuffin
New member
How to get the best recording quality, using Cool Edit Pro, from original live concert recordings, and artist interviews, recorded originally upon a mini disc.
I operate an internet radio station. Travelling light I record live acoustic concert events, and interviews with performers using a mini disc system.
I bring the original recordings back into home studio and record them into Cool Edit Pro via an 8 channel Eurorack MX 802A Behringer mixer, into the on board sound card which is N Force NVIDIA R.
As is normal the volume levels of the various recording do vary a great deal, due to various factors (even the simple fact that whilst interviewing, the person being interviewed will often turn away from the mike and thus the levels drop off)
I use Cool edit Pro extensively when back in studio to ‘refine’ original recordings, and in Multi Track mode to cut and past my program edits together. I was advised that the best method to ‘refine’ original interview recordings was as follows:-
Using the master recording normalise the track to 98%, then effects, amplitude, dynamic processing, settings :
cmp 50 : 1 above -20 dB
exp 2 : 1 below -20 dB
flat 1 : 1 below -30 dB
Compensation Gain = 10dB
Then normalise again to 98%.
The end result is somewhat disappointing, with the final sound quality ‘blurring’ and becoming somewhat ‘like water running through a tap’?
To date the best results with Cool Edit Pro have been by the following method:-
Normalise the original recording to 95% to leaving yourself some ceiling space for adjustments. Then Effects, Amplitude, Hard Limiting, settings:-
Max amp = -1db
Boost input by 6db
Look Ahead Time 7ms
Release time 100
Generally the end results using this method are reasonably good, but I do feel that they could still be significantly improved upon.
My question is simply this, when you are retransmiting performances by quality performers, there is a need to maintain as good a quality sound recording as can be achieved using software techniques available to us from within packages like Cool Edit Pro. In short we Broadcasters can make or break the reputation of a performer or Band, by putting out ‘crap quality audio web casts’. I do not consider that I am an expert in the usage of Cool Edit pro, although I suppose I get to work with this amazing software package far more than most.
If you have any suggestions regarding the above scenario I would be both grateful and pleased to hear from you within the forum or by direct email.
Our Web Radio site can be found at:- http://www.ragamuffin.fsbusiness.co.uk/ragaradiohome.htm
If you’re into acoustic music, Folk, Blues, feel free to drop by and listen in: you will be most welcome. Please note we are NOT D.J’s flicking through, and presenting a Play List: we DO produce real acoustic, music programs to a theme!
Thanks for your time. Most obliged: any input will be most gratefully received.
Ragamuffin Brian.
I operate an internet radio station. Travelling light I record live acoustic concert events, and interviews with performers using a mini disc system.
I bring the original recordings back into home studio and record them into Cool Edit Pro via an 8 channel Eurorack MX 802A Behringer mixer, into the on board sound card which is N Force NVIDIA R.
As is normal the volume levels of the various recording do vary a great deal, due to various factors (even the simple fact that whilst interviewing, the person being interviewed will often turn away from the mike and thus the levels drop off)
I use Cool edit Pro extensively when back in studio to ‘refine’ original recordings, and in Multi Track mode to cut and past my program edits together. I was advised that the best method to ‘refine’ original interview recordings was as follows:-
Using the master recording normalise the track to 98%, then effects, amplitude, dynamic processing, settings :
cmp 50 : 1 above -20 dB
exp 2 : 1 below -20 dB
flat 1 : 1 below -30 dB
Compensation Gain = 10dB
Then normalise again to 98%.
The end result is somewhat disappointing, with the final sound quality ‘blurring’ and becoming somewhat ‘like water running through a tap’?
To date the best results with Cool Edit Pro have been by the following method:-
Normalise the original recording to 95% to leaving yourself some ceiling space for adjustments. Then Effects, Amplitude, Hard Limiting, settings:-
Max amp = -1db
Boost input by 6db
Look Ahead Time 7ms
Release time 100
Generally the end results using this method are reasonably good, but I do feel that they could still be significantly improved upon.
My question is simply this, when you are retransmiting performances by quality performers, there is a need to maintain as good a quality sound recording as can be achieved using software techniques available to us from within packages like Cool Edit Pro. In short we Broadcasters can make or break the reputation of a performer or Band, by putting out ‘crap quality audio web casts’. I do not consider that I am an expert in the usage of Cool Edit pro, although I suppose I get to work with this amazing software package far more than most.
If you have any suggestions regarding the above scenario I would be both grateful and pleased to hear from you within the forum or by direct email.
Our Web Radio site can be found at:- http://www.ragamuffin.fsbusiness.co.uk/ragaradiohome.htm
If you’re into acoustic music, Folk, Blues, feel free to drop by and listen in: you will be most welcome. Please note we are NOT D.J’s flicking through, and presenting a Play List: we DO produce real acoustic, music programs to a theme!
Thanks for your time. Most obliged: any input will be most gratefully received.
Ragamuffin Brian.
