Forum Home
Press F1
 
Thread ID: 55824 2005-03-20 09:16:00 Application to auto-adjust recording volume levels Chilling_Silence (9) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
336135 2005-03-20 09:16:00 Greetings,

Im after a program (Currently using Goldwave, not sure if its able to do it) that will automatically adjust the input volume levels so it doesnt peak, nor go too quiet.

I do recordings every week, but sometimes the person speaking can get louder or softer, enough to make the recording a real mess and sound incredibly bad.

Basically I set the output levels from the mixing desk to a level that means the PC input volume averages about 50%, however this frequently gets change +/-20-30% to accomodate the changes in volume of the speaker.

Im after a program that is able to adjust the levels appropriately for me automatically.

Any ideas?

Cheers


Chill.
Chilling_Silence (9)
336136 2005-03-20 10:22:00 This may be somewhat of a Heath Robinson way of doing it. Using Nero, after your voice tracks are recorded,add a recording that has the average level you seek and Select Volume Normalisation. You're right, there must be an easier way! I'd be interested in such a utility too. Cheers. Shortstop (632)
336137 2005-03-20 10:32:00 I believe Soundforge does it- you could check out the demo to check Edward (31)
336138 2005-03-23 14:16:00 Id rather not normalise the sound after recording....

I will look in to Soundforge :)

Any other suggestions?

This is for WinXP BTW (Yes, not my PC....)

Cheers


Chill.
Chilling_Silence (9)
336139 2005-03-23 20:44:00 I know this is probably out of the question, but there is "auto gain" hardware which is used in professional audio applications to do precisely what you want to do with software. somebody (208)
336140 2005-03-23 21:53:00 If you can afford to buy it forme, then sure I'll use it :D Chilling_Silence (9)
336141 2005-03-23 22:17:00 You haven't got a musical buddy who may have a compressor you could borrow to try on the input side ? - often guitarists will have one sometimes as part of a multi-fx pedal [ differing impedances but often will work - ] or vocalists may have one built into a vocal processor/ reverb unit .
Software compression after the mixing desk may be problematic [ background noise thru the whole mic->cable -> desk -> cable to computer will be boosted , thus a noise gate may then be needed too ] . I'm sure DSE once had a kit for a mic preamp / compressor ... will look into it :)
KatiMike (242)
336142 2005-03-24 05:50:00 realise I may be barking up the wrong tree here ... from your original post Chill I think your setup is mic -> mixing desk -> line-level output to PC soundcard input [ ? ] In this case a hardware compressor as early in the chain as possible [ ideally before mixing desk ] should help attenuate the peaks and allow you to set the gain on the desk to get a "smoother " result . If your setup is mic -> mic amp -> soundcard in -> software mixer the situation is different , and a software compressor +/- expander / noise gate could work well - Edward's suggestion of Sound Forge is a good example , there are others .
DSE no longer have a audio compressor kit I can find , however Jaycar have one for $41.50 - no specs at all mentioned wrt audio performance / noise [ or even input voltage ...] , but as it happens I'm off to Auckland this weekend , and will drop into Wairau Park and have a look at one ... I hope all have an enjoyable Easter break :)
KatiMike (242)
336143 2006-03-09 00:10:00 [spam removed] Todd1 (4859)
1