Audacity Leveler to reduce background noise

Leveler is the compressor-limiter function of the free and open-source audio editing software Audacity.

A secondary feature of Leveler called Noise Threshold is extremely useful in reducing background noise.  You can fool Leveler into subtracting most of your background noise by first using Amplify to set the volume of your audio to a new peak amplitude of about -20 dB.  Then set Leveler to Light, and the Noise Threshold to -20 dB.  When you click OK, Leveler automatically deletes the softest sounds, such as background hum.  Then you can use Amplify to raise the volume again – the sounds that have been deleted will not come back.

Clip fix! in Audacity

Ah-ha!  I've been going through the Audacity online tutorials and manuals to make an instructional manual for CJSF, and I read about a plug-in called Clip Fix.  Tried it and it works! If you overmodulated your audio [that is, it sounds bad because it was recorded too loud], you can make it sound much better with this.  Find it under Effects drop-down menu in the Audacity audio editing software.

Inspiring story about prison radio in UK

It started in one youth facility and became a national policy. http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newbay/rwi_201403/

Current Audacity Tutorials

Audacity is the most commonly used audio editing software at CJSF.  It is free and open source, and cross-platform, so you can put it on your own computer without cost.  There are versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux.  
Sourceforge, the organization that coordinates the development of this software, has a collection of tutorials online at http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/Tutorials

Here's the table of contents:

• Editing an Existing Audio File

How to import an audio file into Audacity (for example, an MP3 music file), edit it, then export the result.

• Your First Recording

Detailed instructions on connecting your audio source (be it a microphone, guitar or keyboard) to your computer, and then recording that source with Audacity.

• Mixing a Narration With Background Music

How to edit a narration to fit the pace of the background music, and fade down the music so your listeners can hear your narration, useful in particular for podcasts.

• Recording Multi-track Overdubs

A set of tutorials on making multi-track recordings, using three different specialist hardware configurations or using your computer's on-board sound card.

• Copying tapes, LPs or MiniDiscs to CD or your computer

Detailed instructions on connecting your turntable, tape deck or MiniDisc player to your computer, recording from that device, then editing and exporting the recording so that you have separate audio files for each song on the original source ready to burn to a CD or import into a media player such as iTunes.

• Recording audio playing on the computer

How to record audio that is playing on the computer such as streaming audio from Internet websites.

• Vocal Removal and Isolation

Techniques which on some stereo tracks may allow you to remove or isolate vocals (or other parts of a recording) from the rest.

• Making Ringtones

How to make ringtones for your cellphone with Audacity and move them to the phone.

Example Workflows

The following tutorials provide sample workflows for common tasks using Audacity:

• Sample workflow for LP digitization

• Sample workflow for exporting to iTunes

• Recording 78rpm records

Tutorial: Audacity Audio Editing for the Sight Impaired

Audacity Audio Editing using the JAWS screen reader for Windows -

• Using Audacity 2.0.5 with the JAWS screen reader for Windows - includes useful tips for the visually impaired (and others) who want to use Audacity without a mouse. 

 http://vip.chowo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/jaws/Audacity-2.0.5-Guide.html

Audacity is a free and open-source audio editing software widely used at CJSF and other campus and community radio stations.  The latest Windows version (2.05) can be downloaded at:  http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/windows

JAWS software, including a free demo version, can be found here:
http://www.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/jaws-downloads.asp

Fire Safety in a Studio (video)

Exciting video of a fire in a studio while announcer is on the air.  Stalwart announcer sticks to his script the whole time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ineWV8BGXo

Skype for Interviews - a tutorial

"After years of discouraging the use of Skype for interviews here at The Conversations Network, we’re now saying a resounding Yes!
Paul Figgiani and I have prepared this audiovisual presentation that covers all you need to know in order to get true broadcast-quality Skype recordings." - Doug Kaye

http://www.blogarithms.com/2007/12/23/skype-for-interviews/