dynamics processing with Gold Wave has me confused.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tucci
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Tucci

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I am trying to learn how to use goldwave to edit my stereo mixes. The dynamics processing feature kind of has me confused. I don't understand how to use the little box with the movable lines in it. I read the help section on it but it didn't help very much.

Say I want to compress a piece - make the real soft parts a little louder and the loud parts a little softer: what do I do? How does the line graph in the little box correlate to the dynamics of the song. It just isn't clicking for me.

I don't know if I am explaining myself very well. Do any of you know what I am getting at? Thanks for any enlightenment.

Tucci
 
I'm sure we will Rusty. It's just a matter of how much you holler.

Tucci
 
Tucci,
Everyone here is mostly into multitrac computer recording. They're not too high on Goldwave stereo editing even though I got a couple of recomendations for it here. I record with a Sony digital four trac. After monitoring this forum for awhile I can see that multi trac computer recording is probably the best way to go, but I already have a lot of outboard digital gear that I've had good results with. For financial reasons I'll stick with it for awhile so I'm still trying to make intelligent purchases that will help me now as well as in the future. Stay in touch and I'll pass on anything usefull I find out. My email is r-dkeith@texas.net

Rusty
 
Tucci,

Have you emailed the author of Goldwave? I have a couple of times and he is very good about answering question perhaps because I'm registered. I Try not to pester him too much though.
His email address in on the Goldwave homepage.

Rusty
 
Hey, thanks Rusty. Yeah, I would like to be able to multitrack with computer but due to limited computer access I am multitracking with a Tascam 424 and using the computer for stereo editing and cd-burning only.

I actually am happy with the sound I am getting with my 424. It does have some advantages over using a computer exclusively: I can take it anywhere. I don't have to buy software or a fancy sound card. Plus, I like being able to actually touch the eq knobs and so forth.

What kind of stuff do you play Rusty. Have you posted anything yet?

Tucci
 
Do you mean posted here for crtique? No but I'm getting there. I play bass professionally but have always written songs as well,different styles, mostly R&B.

I use a Sony 4trac Mini Disc but I'm still making the transition from analog to digital, I mean mentally.

I've gotten some pretty good live recordings. It's so much easier to capture everything with the digital format, in particular bass. Now mixing bass seems to be continually rolling it off, though I've yet to nail down a really good sound.

Have you had any experience with the Goldwave pan feature. Right now I'm learning to isolate channels for individual processing but I'm still not sure if I can adjust their placement in the mix after.

As we say here in Austin, "onward through the fog".

Rusty K
 
It is far more simple than you think. I was initially confused with it, but, a little experimenting cleared it up, and showed how simple the dynamic processor is in GoldWave.

Looking at the box, you will notice number along two sides, the bottom and the right side. You will notice that their is a little dot in the center of the graph. If you follow that dot to where it correlates on the number lines, you will see that it correlates to zero. Also note that on either side of zero the numbers either go + or - . Now, look at the main editing window, notice that above and below the center line the number are + or - ? The plus and negative represent the phase of the signal.

Now, back to the dynamic processor.

So the dot is in the center. The line coming off of it goes to the upper right and lower left. This line is more of less how the current .wav file is dynamically controlled in both phases. Initially, it is linear, meaning that no compression or expansion is being done. What I mean is that the difference between input and output is the same in a linear sense.

So, lets say that you want to put a hard limit on the .wav file, but only for amplitude (volume) that is above + or - 7. If you follow the line from the dot it either direction a then click on it to corretlate at what volume you want to start the limiting at, in this case + and - 7, then, drag the upper part of the line to 7 on the graph. Now you have limited the .wav by telling the processor that anything above + or - 7 should only come out to 7. In effect, the processor will now turn down anything above + or - 7 to just go to 7, a limiter. Playing around with this can produce the effect of taking the lower volume stuff and making it louder by adjust the line. I am not going to go there as you should now have a good idea how to do this with the above help.

Good luck.

Ed
 
Once again sonusman to the rescue! Thanks for helping make that clear to me as well.

I haven't had a need for this processing yet but it seems it's main application would be fixing bad recordings, true?

Hey sonusman I've tried to listen to some of your work but I keep getting "this page cannot be displayed". What gives!

Hey and Tucci, I've figured out the pan thing. With the capability of isolating each channel for processing, this means that if you're processing the left channel, pan right actually means pan center. If you want it all the way right then flip the channels.

It seems every time I ask a question, 24 hrs. later I realize how stupid it was. Practice/undo, practice/undo, practice/undo.

Rusty K
 
I found that I was 18 MB over on my webspace and had to remove some mp3's. I hadn't updated the pages yet. Go to www.echostarstudio.com/Download.html for the current stuff on there. Also, any links that may be in the MP3 forum are no good now too.

The dynamics processor in GoldWave is a sorry excuse for a compressor/limiter/expander. Too limited for serious use.

Ed

[This message has been edited by sonusman (edited 03-24-2000).]
 
Sonusman,

I've listened to Stonegrinder so far. So without writing a book, how do you maximize volume like that. My stuff sounds good when I crank it up, but at the same level mine is a mere whisper compared to yours. Of course totally different styles of music but I want to mix that hot. I know you are going to tell me I need totally different gear, right?
24 bit?

Rusty K
 
Actually, Stonegrinder was recorded to my Fostex D5 DAT machine. I used a ART Dual Levelar and a ART Dual MP between the console and the Fostex. I didn't have my Lynx One soundcard when I did that mix. Download the song Neopolitan if you want to hear something I mixed through my Lynx One card.

I don't even know where to start about mixing hot. I would become pretentous if I told you what I really thought about this subject..... :)

Really, I am leaning towards the opinion that you either have good gear and a good ear, or you don't. No replacing either.

I KNOW my monitors. I KNOW my gear. I KNOW what works and what don't. From project to project the techniques I use change. That is why I don't give out many of my production techniques, it wouldn't really do any good friend! They more then likely wouldn't apply to your situation. That is my story and I'm sticking to it..... :)

I have primarily worked in 4 different studios in my area. Each has different gear for monitoring and consoles. I have not really cared for the three other studios because the sound is "fuzzy" to me. One of them uses a Yamaha 02R console, the other uses a DDA, the other uses a Trident. One use Yamaha NS 10 monitors, one uses KKR's, and the other uses Genelec's.

I use a Soundcraft Ghost, and Event 20/20's. I believe that my console and monitors offer a superior sound to the others. Hour to hour, I can back that claim. In the same amount of time I can produce better mixes with ADAT format than these studio using "superior" consoles and monitors can. Okay, fine.

I just keep getting back to the fact that you got have good tools to do a good job. Then, you really have to know the spec's of your gear, what is possible with it. Then, you have to have a good musical approach to mixing. You have to understand what you are listening to. The last is probably the most important, although, the first two are essential if you want to do something about the problems with a mix. Not much you can do with lousy software or low end components.

So, when you want to mix hot, you have to have the right kinds of tools and an idea of how to use them. I can probably produce fairly hot mixes with most anything but, it would probably take more time with the tools that many people use in their home setups.

That mix was done in about 2.5 hours. I think I spent like 15 minutes mastering it in GoldWave. I could certainly do a better job on the mix and the mastering with the tools I have now but that is a mute point, what you hear is what was released by the artist.

So I am rambling...... :) Well, what do you expect after all these beers.....LOL.

Anyway, when you have been engineering for 10+ years, I am sure that if you are diligent about learning, at that point your mixes will sound just fine.

Ed
 
Let me see 10+ years hmmmmm? I'll be in my sixties. I need to speed this process along somhow so that I'll have some time to enjoy.

Seriously, you get paid for your studio ability. My goal is to be paid for some of my music. With that in mind I'll never get the experience you have in mixing but I am intrigued by the capabilities of the digital format. I never was interested in sound engineering in the analog era. I don't know maybe something about so many knobs in the face. Scarry!

But this computer and mastering software has made it a lot easier for me grasp. Damn where was this 30 yrs. ago? Now I'm hooked!

I'm putting together a mix of one of my songs now and would like to have it critiqued. I have a website but I'm using it for my band's webpage so I don't want to put one of my balads on there. Does anyone have a suggestion.

Rusty K
 
Hey Rusty,

If it's space that you need, upload your song to:
www.idrive.com

or
www.freedrive.com

and many many others that offer free storage space in exchange for blatent advertisements that I never click on anyway.

Emeric
 
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