Audio Production Pt.

1
Unit 4: Learning Aim B
Understand the technical requirements
for digital audio production
RECORDING SOUND

 You just get a Mic and plug it in right?

NO

1. What format are you

saving to?

Digital File Formats

Digital Audio comes in a variety of
formats. Each one has their own use
and application.
The main difference in audio files is
whether they are compressed or not:
Compression:
Lowers the loud parts
and Amplifies the quiet
parts

Digital File Formats

Uncompressed file formats:
WAV
AIFF
+ High quality audio reproduction
- Large file sizes that cannot be sent easily
- Take a lot of processing power to edit

Compressed File Format

MP3
+ Can be sent from device to device or platform to platform
easily

- Some loss of audio quality- but depending on the use

might not be an issue
- Easy to convert a Wav. or Aiff. file to MP3 for sharing

2. How will the recording be played

back?

Computer Audio
Platforms
Used for listening back to music and
in the case of iTunes buying music
online.
RealPlayer
Quicktime
Windows Media Player
iTunes

Listening Systems
Mono recording:
Single channel recording.
Stereo Recording:
Left and Right channels
Surround Sound:
Multiple channels
L+R
Front and Back
Centre

3. And you know about sound,

right?

SOUND and ACOUSTICS

ACOUSTICS is the science and study of sound.
Sound is measured in WAVES
WAVES are measured in AMPLITUDE
and FREQUENCY
AMPLITUDE determines the VOLUME of the
sound (LOUD or QUIET)
FREQUENCY is measured in Hertz (Hz)
determines the PITCH (HIGH or LOW)
Hertz is the representation of vibrations or cycles
per second that a sound wave demonstrates.

Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs)

display sound waves in a graphic
format. The horizontal axis
represents time.

SOUND in Air
The DAW graphic is a simple way of
looking at sound.
In reality sound moves through the air
in every direction
Sound also REFLECTS in different ways
off different surfaces
This is important to remember when
we are placing microphones to record a
sound source.

This plane just broke the sound barrier.

We can see where the sound barrier actually is
because water condenses under the pressure. The pilot
will not hear the sonic boom as he is travelling faster
than the sound the plane is producing. Everyone below
will hear it and their windows will shake.

4. Where are you recording?

STUDIO ACOUSTICS
Given that sound travels in every
direction and also reflects off different
surfaces we have to be very careful in
the studio to capture the sound we
actually want.
The control room in a
studio is designed to give a
flat response (no particular
frequencies stand out in the
room).

Sound Insulation
Basic

Noise Reduction- blocking sound waves

(windows, doors, any gaps in the room)
Absorbing- insulating the room with
absorbent material to trap the sound.
Stops reflection of sound
Dampening- building solid walls and
doors that dont vibrate
Decoupling (also known as
soundproofing) - building a solid room
inside a room so vibrations cannot pass
from one to the other in either direction.
Complet
e

REVERBERATION- sound
reflection
In a sound proof, acoustically treated
room there will be little or no
reverberation
In a tiled room (bathroom) or church
hall there will be lots of
reverberation.

DRY vs REVERB vs ECHO

DRYSOUND PROOFED
ROOM

LONG REVERBCHURCH

ECHOREPEATS

Recording
So we may not always be recording
in the studio so we have to be aware
of the following:
Sound source- loud, quiet, bass,
treble, tonal quality
Purpose of recording
Room size
Surface types- reflection,
absorption, diffusion

Purposes of recordingWhat are

you doing?
Interviews (voice only)
Atmospheric Sounds- ambient noise used
for effect
Live performances
- Live Music, probably the most
complicated
- Conferences
- Presentations
- Group debate

1. What format are you recording to?

2. How will the recording be played
back?
3. Think about sound
4. Where are you recording?
5. What is the purpose of your
recording?

 Then you choose your

microphone/s

More on these next

PRACTICAL
After lunch we will log into the computers
and begin to use Logic.
Working in pairs I would like you to select
an instrument (can be voice) to record
One person will be the engineer and the
other the performer
Record and save a short (30 secs)
recording in AIFF and MP3 format.
Swap roles and do the same.