User:Robert Elliott/RE1Test

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This page is for material on sound recording - what you need to record sound, and how to get started. Please add ideas or information if you have any knowledge or interest in the area.

What is Sound Recording?

Sound Recording essentially means capturing a piece of sound onto a storage media, so as to archive it and review it afterwards. It is not just storing sounds but also maintaining its quality i.e. the playback of the recorded sound must be an exact immitation to the original sound that was recorded. To do this we need the proper equipments, and some essential skills and knowledge.

What do you record sound with and what do you record into? =Digital Recording=

Microphone

 * Condenser or dynamic microphone. The microphone article offers a better description of the differences, but for those interested in solely the "what" and not the "how", here is an overview.
 * Both types convert variations in air pressure or sound into electrical signals. The dynamic mic is overall less responsive, and the condenser mic is more responsive, picking up sounds clearly. However, this does NOT mean that condenser mic's are superior to dynamic mics. A condenser mic can be irreparably damaged if exposed to incredibly loud sounds. Thus, you should use dynamic mics when recording guitar amps or other loud instruments.
 * Further more, a mic can be classified as uni- or omni-directional.
 * A uni-directional microphone will only pick up soundwaves coming from straight in front of it. These are ideal for vocals, drums, and guitar amps when you do not want any background noise. For example, you do not want your vocal microphone to pick up the drums in the background.
 * An omni-directional microphone will pick up any sound in the room. These are mainly used as overtop microphones for drum sets in order to record the cymbals. The microphone picks up the general sound of the drum set and picks up the cymbals much better than a uni-directional microphone.

An overview of which mics to use when recording:


 * Guitar or any amplifier - Uni-directional Dynamic mic
 * Drums - Uni-directional dynamic mic
 * Overhead drumset - Omni-directional condenser
 * Vocals - Condenser for recording, uni-directional dynamic for live performance (although this is not a live performance article, the reader should be aware that that there is a large risk in breaking the condenser mic when playing live. They are very fragile. A small drop could destroy it)
 * Acoustic guitars/instruments: Condenser, any directional.
 * Other instruments. Trumpets, etc: Condenser mic, unless the instrument is overly loud. Unless there is too much background noise, omni is much easier to use and set up(you do not have to point the microphone at the instrument and then deal with issues of inconsistency. More later)
 * Non-instruments-Same as "other instruments." Although every item is technically an instrument by definition.

Alternative conversions of sound to electrical signal

 * Many amplifiers have 1/4" output jacks. Also, keyboards have similar output jacks or USB outputs. Set-up will be explained later.

Computer

 * If you use a computer to record and/or edit, you will need two items: a soundcard and recording software

Soundcard

 * Any sound card will do. Your integrated soundcard will work but not with optimal results. Many companies such as Digitools will sell soundcards that work directly with the programs.

Converter/Pre-amp

 * Although sounds waves are converted into electrical signals by the microphone, the results will not be good if one simply plugs the microphone into the computer. There are a number of different items that will convert the signal to something your computer can read easier. For example, the pre-amp on a behringer mixing board, the M-box by digidesign, and similar products by other manufacturers.
 * Note: This is not required, if one simply wishes to record with low-quality on his/her computer.

Adapters

 * You will find that the microphone output does not match the line-in input on the computer. If you do not own a converter then you must obtain the right adapters:
 * A 3 hole microphone output )or 1/4" output depending on the microphone) female to a 1/8" male(mono).
 * If you have a converter the adapters will vary. If you have a USB output, use that. If you have a 1/4" adapter you will need a 1/4" female to 1/8" male adapter (mono or stereo depending on the make).
 * If you have two outputs, one left and one right, you will need a mixer cable which will mix the two mono channels to one stereo output.

Computer software

 * Windows come with Sound Recorder, but this program has next to no features and can only save in .wav to begin with.
 * Macs come with a much better program, GarageBand, which in fact is used by many top artists.
 * Here is a list of software for recording and editing. It is recommended that windows users download freeware before they do any recording:
 * Goldwave - This is freeware (free sample software to tryout, expected to buy complete package if you like) that is very good for the entry-level recorder/audio engineer
 * Protools- A solid program with plenty of plugins
 * Cubase- The ferrari of audio-editing, it is expensive but with tons of features
 * Live- Used for live performances becuase of its real-time rendering. It is still a very solid program
 * Lamewin: This is not a recording program but a free .mp3 converter found on the Goldwave website under downloads.
 * Audacity: Free, Open Source software that has a lot of features and is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
 * Ardour: Free, Open Source Digital Audio Workstation.  Record, edit, and mix up to 24+ track of audio.  It has more features then Audacity but is a little harder to learn.  Available for Windows, Mac  and Linux.

=Analog=

Analog effects

 * Compressor-
 * Expander-

=Links=

Recording sounds
These should probably be separate pages
 * How to record someone singing
 * How to record a (non-digital) musical instrument
 * How to record ambient noise
 * How to record soft sounds
 * Issues in recording sounds

External resources

 * Tips on sound recording
 * Recording live to a two-track - by Bruce Bartlett

Where can we take this?
Now that you've learned a bit about recording sound, Where would you like to go? You may wish to learn, teach, discuss and apply what you can do by going into more depth in Wikiversity's Audio Engineering Department which is developing the technology needed for producing the soundtrack for Wikiversity the Movie. Perhaps you are a musician interested in Jamming Online in a music genre such as Basic Blues & Rock with a GarageBand or the like. Maybe you are a linguist and would like to work on the development of audio resources for the Wikimedia Commons like spoken versions of important texts. The possibilities are endless.

You may have a completely novel application for advanced sound recording. Wouldn't it be great to be on the ground floor of Wikiversity's sonic potential? Hmmm. Just a thought.