How do you add interest and variety to your audio?

Pitch shifting, changing tempo, using a plugin with randomized parameters can add unexpected happy accidents and can help transform your audio in new and interesting creative ways. This is especially useful in game and experiential audio when there are sound effects that are repetitive, but you want things to feel more fluid, organic and perhaps surprising.

Start with something catchy something that will get their attention and come back to the end of the song the same way you started. One thing I have learned from several friends of mine who are professional writers and people that I have interviewed on my conscious communication podcast show. If you are a good writer you only need to read the first and last sentence of the paragraph since that will tell you all you need to know. It is the same with music compositions. Always focus on a way to catch the listeners attention at the beginning moment and keep that attention during the song and then end the same way you began. Don't focus on technology, focus on quality in what you create. You want people to hum what you have in your mind!

Imagine your audio canvas as a palette of colors, each representing a different type of audio source. By blending voice, music, sound effects, ambience, and Foley, you're crafting a multidimensional auditory landscape that resonates deeply with your audience. These distinct layers serve as the building blocks of emotion, suspense, and engagement within your project. A character's voice infused with appropriate Foley can transport listeners to the heart of a scene, while carefully chosen music underscores the sentiment of a moment. The symphony of these sources interwoven harmoniously paints an auditory masterpiece.

A key element in my productions is the accurate use of background music. The whole idea is to create a mood based on the conversation, as well as to make the listener to feel comfortable. With background music we can make him feel deeper emotions and even project himself on the situation described on the conversation.

I've found a unique way to connect with my viewers on a deeper level through the power of ASMR noises. ASMR, short for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, is an incredible tool that taps into our subconscious and triggers a range of positive emotions. By carefully selecting and incorporating ASMR noises into my content, I've discovered an extraordinary way to establish a profound connection with my audience. The fascinating thing about ASMR is its ability to evoke feelings of relaxation, comfort, and even euphoria. These subtle sounds have an uncanny ability to transport us to a state of tranquility, making it the perfect medium to engage with our deeper emotions.

I totally agree. Editing audio is a little bit like composing a song. You have to do it carefully, creatively and with a sharp ear! I usually use an editing program with several tracks and move my audio-elements around until everything sounds perfect. This takes some time, but the time is well invested. Have fun!

Especially with speech on location, it’s important to record some “silent” ambient noise so you can layer this under cuts and then you can control pauses in dialogue a little better.

This is very informative in post production because finding that perfect sound to blend with the voice over helps to create an incredible aesthetic to the production.

The use of some fine tuning tools can accelerate a lot your workflow. For instance, personally, once I have completed the editing of a podcast episode, I need to make sure that the voices volume is balanced. The best way to do that is by using Auphonic. This tools uses AI to analyze the audio, identify any background music while balancing the frequencies of the sounds. The final result is a balanced episode ready to be heard one any device, with or without headphones.

One thing I’ve done to make my editing process more efficient in Adobe Audition is to favorite effects like DeReverb, DeNoise and the best Parametric Equalizer filters (in my opinion) like Loudness Maximizer & Vocal Enhancer. You can do so by taking advantage of the favorites menu/using the star button. You can adjust the strength of these effects to be minimal so you can test the amount needing correction on each project. I have the luxury of recording similar environments most of the time, so I can often predict the kind of adjustments my audio will need. Having these favorited settings on hand has sped up my editing process by miles and allows me to keep a sharper ear for any other issues that may present.

Mix carefully. I found that a good practice is I always listen to my mixes though different speakers. No one will likely listen to your piece through engineering monitors. Sometimes I cast what I am working on to my TV via my phone. It really helps!

In my experience, sidechain compression is a crucial technique in audio production for ensuring that essential audio elements stand out in a mix. It achieves this by dynamically adjusting the volume of one sound or a group of sounds (the "target") based on the presence of another (group of) sound(s) (the "sidechain"). This interplay between the two sounds creates a sense of clarity and balance, allowing the desired elements to cut through the mix.

I can provide solutions to problems specific to your project - love to hear from you. AI is useful for providing a summary of what you can already find on the internet - I can add further value by providing context, curation and solutions

Mixing audio properly is essential for achieving a balanced and professional sound. Here are some key steps to consider when mixing your audio: 1. Organize your tracks 2. Set levels 3. Panorama 4. EQ 5. Compression 6. Reverb and effects 7. Automation 8. Reference mixing 9. Monitor in different environments 10. Final checks following these steps and paying attention to detail during the mixing process, you can achieve a professional and polished sound that enhances the overall impact of your audio content.

Mixing can break a song or make it a record. Whenever you can, invest in a team and get a mixing engineer to work on your projects. The end results and goal will payoff.

Adding a patch bay and reamping a send output from my DAW through outboard effects and back into my DAW has opened up a new world of possibilities. There are interesting and exciting qualities that come from the interactions between the signal coming out of the box and the analog gear that I wouldn’t achieve otherwise.

I agree with the point made in this section about experimenting with audio. I once had a project that illustrates this perfectly. We were tasked with creating a brand film for a TV channel focused on traditional sports in the Gulf region. The challenge was to cater to both older generations deeply attached to their heritage and younger audiences with a more modern outlook. To bridge the gap between the old and new visually, we used CGI and careful visual storytelling. However, sound also played a crucial role. To represent the transition effectively, we combined historic cultural chants associated with these sports and blended them with electronic music. The result was impressive, and the soundtrack even won many awards.

Experimenting with your audio can lead to creative and unique results that capture your audience's attention. Here are some ways to experiment with your audio: 1. Sound design 2. Layering 3. Pitch and time manipulation 4. Reverse audio 5. Experimental effects processing 6. Sampling and sampling manipulation 7. Field recording 8. Mashups and remixes 9. Live performance and improvisation 10. Collaboration Remember to document your experiments, take note of what works well, and continue to refine and develop your ideas as you explore new audio territory. Experimentation is a valuable tool for pushing the boundaries of your creativity and discovering new possibilities in your audio production.

Get bored. Remove yourself from the project for an hour and do something monotonous. Come back. Forget everything anyone taught you about processing audio. Load ANY plugin (or patch ANY hardware if you're out of box) which processes audio onto your chain. Go wild. Then knock it back about 30-50% before reintroducing it into your mix. Voilà - your experimentation = innovation!

Hello. Another perspective considering that I generally work with real musicians is that the interest and variety is the responsibility of the performer where the goal is the expression. The engineer has only to insure to add or take away the minimum to deliver the intended expression through the desired artificial medium for the listener to enjoy the emotion. In other words if the musician is good just bring up the faders but this is hard in a world where musicians no longer work in band situations that often-

In the post production process, if you find out that there are some points on the recording that may have decreased audio quality, sometimes is better to cut off this part and critically redesign the flow of the remaining conversation.

Watch your edited piece with your eyes closed. I do it all the time. If your audio edit is clean and effective, you don't need your eyes to feel its effect.

I can provide solutions to problems specific to your project - love to hear from you. AI is useful for providing a summary of what you can already find on the internet - I can add further value by providing context, curation and solutions

Reviewing your audio critically is essential for ensuring quality and making improvements. Here are some steps to effectively review your audio: 1. Listen with fresh ears 2. Check for technical issues 3. Evaluate clarity and intelligibility 4. Assess pacing and flow 5. Evaluate emotional impact 6. Check for consistency 7. Listen on different playback systems 8. Solicit feedback 9. Compare to reference tracks 10. Iterate and revise critically reviewing your audio and actively seeking ways to improve, you can ensure that your content meets high standards and resonates with your audience effectively.

Just as a composer envisions the final crescendo of a symphony, set goals for your audio journey. Identify the auditory heights you aspire to reach – be it mastering a specific technique, delivering impeccable dialogue clarity, or harnessing experimental audio formats. These goals serve as stepping stones, driving you towards continual improvement and a deeper understanding of your craft.

Once you have some experience or you have done some recordings, try to listen back to them a few times to see if you would change something. This will help you to identify any mistakes that you may have done. Sometimes maybe is difficult to do this since it’s unusual to listen to yourself but you will get used to it.

Practice makes better! Continue to try new things and never get too comfortable in your editing process. Play around with enhancers and compressors. Listen to trivial effects you’d never use with curious ears and take something away from the experience. Have fun!

While precision is paramount, don't overlook the magic of imperfection. Some of the most iconic audio moments in history emerged from serendipitous mistakes. The iconic "wah-wah" guitar effect was birthed from a faulty potentiometer, while the eerie heartbeat in Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" was created by synchronizing a drum loop with a tape machine malfunction. Embrace the unexpected, for it often leads to the unprecedented.

While there have been a lot of very important technical tips to make audio feel great and engaging, I think still the most important part is content. The old saying - Content is King. Technical side is always an addition to interesting topics. I had the privilege to work at a small students radio, we didn't have great gear to produce, the DAW was a simple freeware software, but we touched topics that were interesting to our audience and managed to get great interviews (like Deep Purple, Soulfly..) and got lots of followers and great feedback!

A good producer knows what and where to 'add'. But a great producer knows what and where 'not to'. Some of the greatest audio tracks produced are so simple, to the point, hit like a bullet. And if you break them down, you will find how little they actually have when it comes to the 'elements' used in making them. They use 'empty space' as a production tool. It's mesmerizing, even hard to believe. But it's genius. The idea of using 'nothing' as 'something' can blow your mind.

When using voice overs, create sonic components to compliment the voice while simultaneously creating interest and dynamics between the voice and audio. Incorporate high-quality sound effects, ambient sounds, and music that complement the mood and content. Layering these elements can add depth and richness to the audio.

Take time to listen and review before committing to what you have created with fresh ears. Fatigue can really play a number especially when under a deadline. If its not possible to revisit the project several hours later or the next day, at least take time to rest your ears and nervous system from artificial stimulus. The pressure of completing tasks within a set timeframe can trigger the body's stress response, leading to the release of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress. Getting out in nature and deep breathing is an easy way to reset.