Digital Audio Digital Audio Editing-Editing-

Cool Edit ProCool Edit ProBy Kimberly GinsbachBy Kimberly Ginsbach

CSCI 30CSCI 30

DefinitionDefinition

Audio Editing=Audio Editing=

process of taking recorded sound process of taking recorded sound and changing it directly on the and changing it directly on the recording mediumrecording medium(from Wikipedia)(from Wikipedia)

HistoryHistory

Middle part 20Middle part 20thth century: century: Magnetic tape recordingMagnetic tape recording Reel-to-reel tape machinesReel-to-reel tape machines Edits made with straight razors and Edits made with straight razors and

special tape- cutspecial tape- cut

History History (ctnd)(ctnd)

Late 1980s, early 1990s:Late 1980s, early 1990s: Microcomputer technologyMicrocomputer technology Digitize recordingsDigitize recordings Edit on hard diskEdit on hard disk

Earliest program:Earliest program:

Wave editor called Sound Wave editor called Sound DesignerDesigner

by Digidesignby Digidesign

Cool Edit ProCool Edit Pro

By Syntrillium Software- created By Syntrillium Software- created 1995 to “produce creativity 1995 to “produce creativity enhancing software products”enhancing software products”

Cool Edit ProCool Edit Pro Digital audio workstation packageDigital audio workstation package 2002: lastest version 2.02002: lastest version 2.0

ApplicationsApplications

Studio recording: Studio recording: usually used to complement hardware, usually used to complement hardware,

for use on the road, or by groups on a for use on the road, or by groups on a budget with little technological abilitiesbudget with little technological abilities

ex: Phunk Junkeezex: Phunk Junkeez Poor MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Poor MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital

Interface), though improved in latest Interface), though improved in latest versionversion

Applications Applications (ctnd)(ctnd)

Radio: Radio: major presencemajor presence used at some major stationsused at some major stations Examples:Examples:

Sportstalk 980 in DCSportstalk 980 in DC WFAN in NY WFAN in NY

FeaturesFeatures

Digital editingDigital editing Mixer windowMixer window Sound files: over 20 formatsSound files: over 20 formats

Windows PCM (.wav): better qualityWindows PCM (.wav): better quality mp3PRO (.mp3): compressed, easier to mp3PRO (.mp3): compressed, easier to

transmit and store, but lower qualitytransmit and store, but lower quality Next/Sun (.au ), Diamond Ware Next/Sun (.au ), Diamond Ware

Digitized (.dwd), Windows Media Audio Digitized (.dwd), Windows Media Audio 8 (.wma), etc.8 (.wma), etc.

Sound LevelsSound Levels

Normalizing: proportionately increasing Normalizing: proportionately increasing the sound intensity of a file to obtain the sound intensity of a file to obtain maximum quality without any distortionmaximum quality without any distortion

Important to ensure that a sound file Important to ensure that a sound file reaches its full potential audio outputreaches its full potential audio output

When creating multiple tracks, When creating multiple tracks, normalizing allows all tracks to sound normalizing allows all tracks to sound the samethe same

Example: making a CDExample: making a CD

Sound levelsSound levels

Boost/Reduce Volume: increase or Boost/Reduce Volume: increase or decrease the sound volume on a entire decrease the sound volume on a entire file or of a highlighted section of a file file or of a highlighted section of a file by a set decibel valueby a set decibel value

Limits fluctuations in volume within a Limits fluctuations in volume within a sound file or tracksound file or track

Ensures that every sound bite is audibleEnsures that every sound bite is audible Cosmetic feature- improves the natural Cosmetic feature- improves the natural

fluctuations of soundfluctuations of sound

EditingEditing Cutting: highlighting allows to cut Cutting: highlighting allows to cut

pauses between speech or music, pauses between speech or music, remove excess material, and tighten a remove excess material, and tighten a file, improving quality and decreasing file, improving quality and decreasing file sizefile size

Noise reduction: useful in recordings Noise reduction: useful in recordings to minimize background noise and to minimize background noise and improve quality of sound in foregroundimprove quality of sound in foreground

Fade in/Fade out: allows progressive Fade in/Fade out: allows progressive increase or decrease in volume at increase or decrease in volume at beginning or end of track or segmentbeginning or end of track or segment

MixingMixing Up to 128 tracksUp to 128 tracks Allows user to place multiple sound files Allows user to place multiple sound files

together to create a single blended tracktogether to create a single blended track Example: playing a sound clip of a Example: playing a sound clip of a

homerun by the Mets, with music mixed homerun by the Mets, with music mixed in the background- called a music bedin the background- called a music bed

2003: Adobe Takeover2003: Adobe Takeover

May: Adobe Systems Incorporated May: Adobe Systems Incorporated acquired technology assets of acquired technology assets of Syntrillium SoftwareSyntrillium Software

August: Re-branded release of Cool August: Re-branded release of Cool Edit Pro as Adobe AuditionEdit Pro as Adobe Audition

April 19April 19thth, 2004: Adobe Audition 1.5, 2004: Adobe Audition 1.5 Cool Edit Pro last version still Cool Edit Pro last version still

preferentially used over Adobe preferentially used over Adobe Audition 1.5 (blog)Audition 1.5 (blog)

Other SoftwareOther Software Dalet Digital Media Systems by DaletDalet Digital Media Systems by Dalet

used in radio broadcastingused in radio broadcasting more advanced functionsmore advanced functions used by NPR used by NPR used by XM Satellite Radioused by XM Satellite Radio

ProTools by DigiDesign: ProTools by DigiDesign: more use in music industrymore use in music industry excellent with MIDI files, integrates excellent with MIDI files, integrates

well with hardware that connects well with hardware that connects instruments to computerinstruments to computer

Ethical IssuesEthical Issues In radio: respect principle that the In radio: respect principle that the

intention of a statement must never be intention of a statement must never be alteredaltered

Possibility of changing what people sayPossibility of changing what people say ““doctor” a recordingdoctor” a recording zooming in to the 1/1000 s makes it easier zooming in to the 1/1000 s makes it easier

to make editing seamless and undetectableto make editing seamless and undetectable FCC guidelines: increased pressure to FCC guidelines: increased pressure to

comply with strict standards of decency comply with strict standards of decency since technology enables to “clean up” since technology enables to “clean up” pre-recorded material efficientlypre-recorded material efficiently

SourcesSources http://www.forestpro.net/Johnny5/cool-edit-pro-20.htmhttp://www.forestpro.net/Johnny5/cool-edit-pro-20.htm http://www.prosoundnews.com/stories/2002/january/0104/http://www.prosoundnews.com/stories/2002/january/0104/

0104.4.shtml0104.4.shtml http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio-editinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio-editing http://nfo.zackdesign.biz/wp/index.php?p=41http://nfo.zackdesign.biz/wp/index.php?p=41 http://bg.mixonline.com/ar/audio_phunk_junkeez_rely/http://bg.mixonline.com/ar/audio_phunk_junkeez_rely/ http://www.computermusic.co.uk/reviews/cool/cool.asphttp://www.computermusic.co.uk/reviews/cool/cool.asp