[Elecraft] optimizing recorded audio

[Jim Brown]

On 4/21/2011 4:51 PM, Tony Estep wrote:
> I have been using Audacity

Yes, that's good software. I use Adobe Audition, which I bought because 
I'm a pro sound engineer. Gold Wave is another one.

> First, compress it. Use moderate or light compression and repeat until you
> notice some compression, but stop before it's really dense.
>
> Then use the effect called "leveller." This will selectively compress voice
> peaks and is extremely effective at making the audio punchy without seeming
> to change the natural sound.

This is NOT a good idea if you're using compression in the K3 (and you 
should be using about 10dB) -- if the K3 is set right for your live mic, 
it will be quite excessive on your pre-recorded material.  Excessive 
compression and leveling brings up room noise, which I hear FAR TOO MUCH 
of during contests. It IS very important though to get the recorded 
level right, and to use the same mic with your computer that you use 
with the K3.

> Finally, go to "change tempo." This can make your recording play faster or
> slower without changing pitch. Don't change the beats, but rather trim the
> time length of your recording. A little bit goes a long way. For example,
> when I recorded my call the clip was about 3 seconds long. Cutting it to 2.6
> seconds got rid of inter-syllabic pauses etc and made it sound urgent but
> didn't introduce any unnatural sound.

Time compression tends to make voices sound artificial. Time 
compression, or talking too fast with poor articulation, can make it 
difficult for others to copy your call. This happens FAR too often 
during contests!  A better way is to record each message, listen to it 
carefully, and do it again until you like it. I've learned to record 
each phrase or word quickly but with good articulation with pauses 
between each, then edit out the pauses. To do that, get the waveform on 
the screen and carefully remove parts of the longer pauses between words 
by highlighting the dead space with your mouse and hitting delete.  
Moderation is the key -- don't remove ALL of the blank space, only part 
of it. Listen and repeat if necessary.

73, Jim Brown K9YC