We’ve reached the actual recording and editing stage of the process. Well done for making it this far!
This episode is full of recommendations for recording and editing software. Plus, why you should save your listeners’ ears from badly recorded interviews.
Suggested links and further reading:
Editing tools
Good free options:
- Audacity for Windows, Macs & Linux Users – https://www.audacityteam.org/
- Bandlab for those seeking a multi-track editing environment in their Chrome Browser or on mobile (careful: there’s a 15min limit per track!) – https://www.bandlab.com/mix-editor
- Garageband for Macs & iDevices – basic and without the steep learning curve – https://www.apple.com/mac/garageband/
Advanced options (more features, but steeper learning curve):
- Reaper – https://www.reaper.fm/index.php
- Pro Tools (free plan) – https://www.avid.com/pro-tools/comparison
- Adobe Audition (subscription!) – https://www.adobe.com/products/audition.html
File compression
Android – SuperSound (Advanced quality settings I used for this series: Stereo | 44100Hz | 192Kbps )
Online – https://audio.online-convert.com/convert-to-mp3
Hosting solutions
UCL Internal options:
- Moodle Database (smaller than 10Mb file size)
- Mediacentral (larger than 10Mb file size)
External options:
- Podcasts.com – https://www.podcasts.com/pages/faq
- Soundcloud.com (limited free plan, see https://checkout.soundcloud.com/pro?ref=t727 )
- Podbean.com (limited free plan, see https://www.podbean.com/podcast-hosting-pricing )
Music & Sounds
Creative Commons Licensed Music
- Free Music Archive – https://freemusicarchive.org/static
- ccMixter – http://ccmixter.org/view/media/home
Soundscapes
- Tabletop Audio – https://tabletopaudio.com
Sound effects
- Freesound – https://freesound.org
Misc Links
Mike Delgaudio on voice editing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYOuClAWokg
Ryan Freeman on podcast editing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev921CyMRQw
Tips & Tricks for recording vocals at home from BandLab:
https://blog.bandlab.com/tips-and-tricks-for-recording-vocals-at-home/
https://blog.bandlab.com/pro-tips-for-mixing-hip-hop-vocals/
My own Bandlab settings for reference:
Ryan Freeman’s preferred settings in Adobe Audition:
– Clean signal recorded from -24 to -12 db
– RE20 is my mic of choice
– Apollo interface
– De-Noise or gate
– De-click (for mouth clicks. Not seen in video tutorial)
– Low cut at 40hz and High cut at 20000hz
– Compressor – quick attack and release 4:1 ratio
– Compressor – slow release and attack 2:1 ratio
– EQ to taste. usually cut 450hz, boost 7000+hz, bump around 100hz
– De-esser (not seen in video tutorial)
– Limiter
My preferred recording/editing workflow:
- connect lapel mic (not clipped to my clothing!) to my Pixel 3 phone via USB-C
- record straight into Bandlab app (prepare multiple empty tracks if the recording is expected to exceed 15mins)
- use Nano Teleprompter app (Android) for the script on the Chromebook
- save recordings to Bandlab and pick them up on the Chromebook for more comfortable editing (can be done on mobile, but is very fiddly!)
- edit out bloopers and add music / additional sounds in a separate track, adding panning/fades where needed
- add additional equaliser / noise gate presets (as above)
- export to mixdown as “High quality mp3” (192kbps, 44.1kHz)
- compress (if necessary) using SuperSound app (Android)
Download the transcript
