SOUND FORGE RECORDING AND BASIC EDITING
Sound Forge, by Sonic Foundry, is one of many professional sound-editing
programs available today. The basic version, Sound Forge XP, is available for
about $50.00.
Sound editors are kind of like word processors. If youve
used one, the others come pretty easily.
Sadly, sound programs are pretty platform dependent. Sound
Forge works on the PC platform, but Mac users will find that most techniques
translate to Mac sound editors just fine. If youre using a MAC, a good free
sound editor is: Pro Tools Free, available at:
www.digidesign.com
Downloading Sounds
You can use your own WAV sounds for the following exercises,
but youll probably want to download the sample sounds at:web design course
Well use them later.
Using Sound Forge
There are some basics youll have to know to effectively
work in Sound Forge.
Youll probably want to download sounds from:web design course
Opening a File
Sound Forge can edit WAV and AIFF files, but cannot edit or
open MP3 files. To edit a MP3, youll have to first convert it to a WAV.
To open a file, just click FILE-> OPEN
The sound will open in either stereo of mono.
Controlling Playback
1. Open
a sound file.
2. Try
all of the buttons on the above graphic. Dont forget to zoom in and out!
Selecting Sounds
Its easy to select a particular sound area. Just click and
drag over it. If selecting a stereo sound, drag between the left and right
channel to get them both.
1. Practice
selecting areas.
2. Adjust
the selection by dragging at the point where the selection ends.
3. Play
the selection. 
4. Play
the selection in a loop. 
5. Copy
and paste the selection to the end of the sound
6. Delete
sections by selecting them and hitting delete on your keyboard.
You can also select in smaller segments by holding SHIFT on
your keyboard and using the left or right arrow key. The more you zoom in, the
smaller area youll select.
Markers
You can mark certain areas to remind yourself about editing
points or to help you accurately select. An area. Adding a marker is easy.
- Click somewhere in your sound.
- On your keyboard, hit M
- You can rename the marker by right-clicking on its
handle and choosing Edit
Moving Between Markers
You can automatically skip from marker to marker by hitting Ctrl
+ or on your keyboard.
You can automatically select from marker to marker by
holding SHIFT + Ctrl + or on your keyboard.
Recording
Recording sounds into your computer is not too hard, but
does require understanding some key points. There are many programs that you
can use to record sound; your computer even comes with a free recorder. If
youve used one, youve used them all, so if you pick up the key concepts,
youre doing great.
Where You Record Matters
Youll want your recording space to be as free of ambient
noise as possible. Even low noises like the refrigerator running can show-up in
your recording as "white noise"
Close all the windows in your house. Tell the screaming kids
outside to ease up a little. Move the mic as far away from the computer as
possible to minimize recorded fan noise. Pros use a special "isolation room"
while recording to minimize all outside noise. Some people record in the
bathroom.
When making vocal recordings, position your mouth about an
inch away and an inch to the side of the microphone to maximize sound
absorption without breathing noise.
Levels
Level Meter
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When recording or adjusting the volume of sounds, you must
take special care not to make the sound vibration stronger than most speakers
can handle. If you do, youll get evil speaker reverb noise. On the other
hand, you want your sounds to be as loud as possible to avoid that "too
quiet" sound.
To the left is a level meter. The meter tops out at "0".
When recording or playing a sound, youll have to make sure that the level
meter never passes zero, or youll end up in reverb land. You actually want
the meters as close to zero as you can get without going over. Youll notice
if the meter goes above zero. The top will turn red and meter will get very
upset at you if you go "over level".
To avoid going over level when recording, you can turn
down the microphone input, or simply speak more softly. |
Mic Check. One, Two. One, Two.
Before you record anything, youll want to adjust the mic
input level so its not recording anything before you start-making noise.
Basically, the levels should be non-existent! You can adjust the microphone
volume by clicking:
START-> PROGRAMS-> ACCESSORIES-> MULTIMEDIA-> VOLUME CONTROL OPTIONS PROPERTIES-> RECORDING OK
In a minute well use the microphone balance volume to set
recording volume. Just remember that you need to adjust the mic level to start
out. Some sound cards give you direct control over Mic Volume
Starting a New File
To record, a new sound youll need a new file.
- Click FILE-> NEW
The New Window box will open.
- Choose:
Sample Rate: 44,100
Sample Size: 16 Bit
Channels: Mono
Stereo sound is twice the file size of Mono. For Internet sound, youre
better off going mono.
- Hit Ok
Recording into Sound Forge
You can record into a previously recorded file, or you can
make a new one. To record into a previously created file, simply click where
you want the recording to start and follow the steps below, be aware that any
sounds you record will replace existing sounds.
- Create a new File
Skip this step if youre recording into a previously created sound.
- Click the Record Button
The Record Dialogue Box should open
- Adjust the "Line-In" balance volume until the levels are
almost non-existent.
START-> PROGRAMS-> ACCESSORIES-> MULTIMEDIA-> VOLUME
CONTROL
If you cant get the levels to go away, thats okay. Do the best you
can. Well edit the sound later to get rid of any ambient noise. Well
also use cool features to boost the signal to make your voice seem full
and rich.
- Push the Record Button.
The record button turns into a stop button 
- Record your freakin head off.
- When youre done, push stop
Your new sound:
Dont worry if your sound is not as full as the above
sample. Well use handy tricks in a little while to fatten it up.
Continue to Advanced Sound Forge |
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