Digital Audio Editing- Cool Edit Pro By Kimberly Ginsbach CSCI 30

Definition Audio Editing= Audio Editing= process of taking recorded sound and changing it directly on the recording medium (from Wikipedia)

History Middle part 20 th century: Middle part 20 th century: Magnetic tape recording Magnetic tape recording Reel-to-reel tape machines Reel-to-reel tape machines Edits made with straight razors and special tape- cut Edits made with straight razors and special tape- cut

History (ctnd) Late 1980s, early 1990s: Late 1980s, early 1990s: Microcomputer technology Microcomputer technology Digitize recordings Digitize recordings Edit on hard disk Edit on hard disk Earliest program: Earliest program: Wave editor called Sound Designer by Digidesign

Cool Edit Pro By Syntrillium Software- created 1995 to “produce creativity enhancing software products” By Syntrillium Software- created 1995 to “produce creativity enhancing software products” Cool Edit Pro Cool Edit Pro Digital audio workstation package Digital audio workstation package 2002: lastest version : lastest version 2.0

Applications Studio recording: Studio recording: usually used to complement hardware, for use on the road, or by groups on a budget with little technological abilities usually used to complement hardware, for use on the road, or by groups on a budget with little technological abilities ex: Phunk Junkeez ex: Phunk Junkeez Poor MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), though improved in latest version Poor MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), though improved in latest version

Applications (ctnd) Radio: Radio: major presence major presence used at some major stations used at some major stations Examples: Examples: Sportstalk 980 in DC Sportstalk 980 in DC WFAN in NY WFAN in NY

Features Digital editing Digital editing Mixer window Mixer window Sound files: over 20 formats Sound files: over 20 formats Windows PCM (.wav): better quality Windows PCM (.wav): better quality mp3PRO (.mp3): compressed, easier to transmit and store, but lower quality mp3PRO (.mp3): compressed, easier to transmit and store, but lower quality Next/Sun (.au ), Diamond Ware Digitized (.dwd), Windows Media Audio 8 (.wma), etc. Next/Sun (.au ), Diamond Ware Digitized (.dwd), Windows Media Audio 8 (.wma), etc.

Sound Levels Normalizing: proportionately increasing the sound intensity of a file to obtain maximum quality without any distortion Normalizing: proportionately increasing the sound intensity of a file to obtain maximum quality without any distortion Important to ensure that a sound file reaches its full potential audio output Important to ensure that a sound file reaches its full potential audio output When creating multiple tracks, normalizing allows all tracks to sound the same When creating multiple tracks, normalizing allows all tracks to sound the same Example: making a CD Example: making a CD

Sound levels Boost/Reduce Volume: increase or decrease the sound volume on a entire file or of a highlighted section of a file by a set decibel value Boost/Reduce Volume: increase or decrease the sound volume on a entire file or of a highlighted section of a file by a set decibel value Limits fluctuations in volume within a sound file or track Limits fluctuations in volume within a sound file or track Ensures that every sound bite is audible Ensures that every sound bite is audible Cosmetic feature- improves the natural fluctuations of sound Cosmetic feature- improves the natural fluctuations of sound

Editing Cutting: highlighting allows to cut pauses between speech or music, remove excess material, and tighten a file, improving quality and decreasing file size Cutting: highlighting allows to cut pauses between speech or music, remove excess material, and tighten a file, improving quality and decreasing file size Noise reduction: useful in recordings to minimize background noise and improve quality of sound in foreground Noise reduction: useful in recordings to minimize background noise and improve quality of sound in foreground Fade in/Fade out: allows progressive increase or decrease in volume at beginning or end of track or segment Fade in/Fade out: allows progressive increase or decrease in volume at beginning or end of track or segment

Mixing Up to 128 tracks Up to 128 tracks Allows user to place multiple sound files together to create a single blended track Allows user to place multiple sound files together to create a single blended track Example: playing a sound clip of a homerun by the Mets, with music mixed in the background- called a music bed Example: playing a sound clip of a homerun by the Mets, with music mixed in the background- called a music bed

2003: Adobe Takeover May: Adobe Systems Incorporated acquired technology assets of Syntrillium Software May: Adobe Systems Incorporated acquired technology assets of Syntrillium Software August: Re-branded release of Cool Edit Pro as Adobe Audition August: Re-branded release of Cool Edit Pro as Adobe Audition April 19 th, 2004: Adobe Audition 1.5 April 19 th, 2004: Adobe Audition 1.5 Cool Edit Pro last version still preferentially used over Adobe Audition 1.5 (blog) Cool Edit Pro last version still preferentially used over Adobe Audition 1.5 (blog)

Other Software Dalet Digital Media Systems by Dalet Dalet Digital Media Systems by Dalet used in radio broadcasting used in radio broadcasting more advanced functions more advanced functions used by NPR used by NPR used by XM Satellite Radio used by XM Satellite Radio ProTools by DigiDesign: ProTools by DigiDesign: more use in music industry more use in music industry excellent with MIDI files, integrates well with hardware that connects instruments to computer excellent with MIDI files, integrates well with hardware that connects instruments to computer

Ethical Issues In radio: respect principle that the intention of a statement must never be altered In radio: respect principle that the intention of a statement must never be altered Possibility of changing what people say Possibility of changing what people say “doctor” a recording “doctor” a recording zooming in to the 1/1000 s makes it easier to make editing seamless and undetectable zooming in to the 1/1000 s makes it easier to make editing seamless and undetectable FCC guidelines: increased pressure to comply with strict standards of decency since technology enables to “clean up” pre-recorded material efficiently FCC guidelines: increased pressure to comply with strict standards of decency since technology enables to “clean up” pre-recorded material efficiently

Sources